As I contemplate what's in store for Carlton Farms in 2023, I couldn't help but come away feeling a little boring. My plans for this year are initially to do a lot of the same things we've done in the past few years. Don't get me wrong. Building this business to its current state has been a dream of mine. The work has been and still is interesting and exciting. However, there's something stimulating about building something new. A new endeavor just stirs my soul more than incremental improvement. I know... sound management and incremental improvements lead to consistency and sustainability... I get it. I completely get it. But.
- In 2001 we opened one of the first corn mazes in Georgia, and subsequently built a respectable business that still thrives today. That was fun, and we are thankful.
- In 2005/2006 we took the very exciting step of ending our commercial dairy and pivoting to "pet milk" production. That decision changed our lives, and hopefully changed the lives of many others in a positive way. Milk continues to be our signature product and we do vow to try and produce more in 2023.
- In 2008 we bought a farm to expand into egg production. It was promptly hit by a tornado, so that was fun and exciting. After cleaning up from the tornado (2008-20010) the egg business has proved to be a positive addition to the farm. We'll try to produce more of those in 2023 as well.
- In 2011-2015 we expanded into more meat production. This took time, investment, and methodical growth. We now produce Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, and Turkey. Each of these species is a separate production model, and they have all been fun to create and manage.
- In 2017 We launched a home delivery service and then doubled down on that service in 2019. There was a steep learning curve in this business, but we threw ourselves into it and figured it out. Little did we know that 2020 was just around the corner and we would all need that home delivery infrastructure more than we ever imagined.
- 2020 was literally a blur. It tested us, and we survived. It demanded intense focus by the whole team, but because of that focus, I'd say we thrived through it. To say the least, it was exciting.
- 2021-2022 were management and recovery years. We needed some time to get our legs back underneath us from the trials of 2020. For the last couple of years, we have managed all the things we normally do, but haven't really added anything new.
What will 2023 bring? Some guru life coach would tell us to create the situation we want. While I do basically agree with that, life doesn't always happen that way. We do need to control the controllable, but sometimes... Tornados and Pandemics happen. What we do during those moments can help us survive, and what we do after those moments pass can allow us to thrive. It's now time to switch out of survival mode and switch back into innovation mode. If we want to create the best locally-grown farm products, and the best on-farm experiences for our guests, we'll need to put our thinking caps on. I'm not sure exactly what that next new phase is, but we can only create it if we visualize it first, and that is what we are doing right now.
What big thing would you like to see Carlton Farms accomplish in the coming years? (Making more milk and eggs is already on the list) What is something you want out of your local farmer? Is there a farm experience you are interested in? We truly covet your feedback. If you have an idea you would like us to consider as we create a vision for the next few years, please send it by replying to this email.
Plan to have a great new year, and as always, we are proud to be your farmer.
