Kerry and Karen McNally resettled their family’s homestead in 1989 in Patten to farm on land that was first settled by Kerry’s great-grandfather and farmed by his grandfather. When they arrived, many of the fields had reverted back to trees from disuse and they began to slowly bring the land back into agricultural production with clearing fields and planting their first vegetables a few years later.
McNally Farm began as a part-time venture with Kerry working full-time as a pipe fitter at a mill in East Millinocket. When he was laid off from the mill in 2002, they decided to fulfill their long-held desire and farm full-time.
Contributed photo
ROOTS RUN DEEP — Kerry and Karen McNally of Patten’s McNally Farm.
The McNallys’ initial vision was to expand their operation but soon realized that they got the most enjoyment and satisfaction from selling their produce locally and remaining a size where both could manage the day-to-day farming, relying on family members for additional help when needed. During winters, Kerry works in the woods cutting wood. He joked that he hadn’t yet gotten Karen to drive the skidder for him and she joked back that she hadn’t been able to teach him how to make doilies.
During the non-winter months however, they work closely together growing potatoes, diversified vegetables and pick-your-own raspberries and highbush blueberries. They also grow 5-10 acres of grain that is sold locally to farmers. Richardson’s Hardware in Patten allows them to have a farmstand in the parking lot and they keep it supplied with fruit and produce from mid-July through October.
Karen calls Kerry her PR guy since restocking the farmstand tends to fall on her as her husband stays busy socializing with passers-by. This makes sense to me as Kerry tells me that he “just peddles” the four acres of potatoes grown. That’s a lot of potatoes and conversation but it’s apparent that they enjoy it.
Kerry and Karen both remarked how appreciative they are of the support from customers and the community and they feel that even better than growing vegetables is the customers. Karen said that people were the best part of farming. She mentioned the woman from Kentucky who summers in Maine. She is in her late 90s and comes to pick their blueberries every summer since she likes to make jam but only if she has picked her own berries.
The McNallys’ also participate in the Senior Farm Share program and provide vegetables and fruit to about 100 seniors. They both noted that the program is a very big deal for many seniors as they just don’t have the extra money to buy fresh food on their own.
Perhaps my favorite customer story is about their friend from Mapleton who has a camp on Shin Pond. Apparently, it’s not unusual for him to arrive at the farm asking to be weighed in. Once that happens, he proceeds to the blueberry patch where he’ll sit and leisurely eat blueberries, whiling away the hours. Upon leaving, he’ll weigh in again and request that he be charged based on the increase of pounds. If the story is to be believed, an average of two pounds is gained each time he visits their blueberry patch. Thankfully for everyone else, cost is determined based on number of blueberry quarts picked.
The McNallys’ on-farm pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries season begins end of July, about the same time as vegetables appear in the farmstand at Richardson’s Hardware. To contact the McNallys, call 528-2110.
Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via email at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net.
