Memories from the Homestead: Baker Creek Seeds Spring Planting Festival

     This past weekend I had the opportunity to perform at my "other" favorite Homestead, the current home of Baker Creek Seeds, not far from Mansfield, Missouri. Located in Wright County, not only is this property like going back in time, it's truly one of the oldest active farms in the state.

The historic Rippee Farm where Baker Creek Seeds is located goes way back in Wright County history. The 1907 house is the current residence of Jere and Emilee Gettle. I recall my first visit there for a performance in 2003. I was touring with Waterloo Boy Bluegrass out of Ebenezer, Missouri, and got a call to play sets at some sort of gardening festival that our guitarist Peter Sterpe had found out about.

Not knowing what to expect, we showed up at this rural farm property, an afternoon event hosted by then 23-year-old Jere Gettle and his family. A large tent was set up in their front yard and we performed all afternoon. Jere found out I was a Singing Cowboy in the Roy Rogers-Sons of the Pioneers style, and next thing I know, Jere is sharing with me his collection of 1940s’ era vintage Western wear, outfits created by Nudie, Turk and others. We've been close friends ever since.

Jere began his business in 1998 at age seventeen, starting the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. Today this business is the largest heirloom seed company in the United States. They have branched out to the east in Connecticut and to the west in Northern California. 

 I was always impressed with their mission statement and the importance of seed preservation. This sparked my interest in the non-GMO movement, proper gardening practices and healthier living. Jere's appreciation for the classic Western music from the Hollywood film era has always impressed me. I was invited back for their festival events from 2005 to 2019, a large spring planting festival in May, and a fall gardening festival in late September. I watched the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company grow from a small group of employees, to now a dedicated team of over 100 employees.

They ship out over 12 million packs of seeds per year. In nearby Seymour, Missouri, they have a 105,000 square foot shipping facility, but their property where this all began is still their public storefront. With amazing gardens, vintage style buildings and a farm to table restaurant with vegan themed specialties, they operate Monday to Friday from 8 to 5.  

While there this past weekend, my Sons of the Pioneers fiddler Trustin Baker joined myself and Randy Plummer, where we performed six sets in two days, four of them to standing room only crowds as an estimated 13,000 people attended the two-day festival. The legendary Bluegrass figure from the Darlin's – Rodney Dillard performed and sounded amazing at age 83. Also performing both days were our dear friends from The Creek Rocks, Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf.

Their next event is in late September, the National Heirloom Expo. In the past this event was held in Santa Rosa, California, but this year, Jere stated, "We decided to bring this event home."  

Visit the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company website for all kinds of information; go to rareseeds.com .

Make a day trip out and see what this is all about. It's a little over a 90-minute drive from Branson or about 45 minutes east of Springfield. 

Thank you, Jere and Emilee, for another fabulous festival and inviting Randy, Trustin and I back to perform.