MEET THE FARMERS
The farm team includes Drs. William and Nancy Walker snd their son Clifton. The entire team has homes on the farm. Walker Century Farms has been in their family for more than 100 years. Bill Walker is a physician at the hospital in Anderson, and Nancy Walker is a retired plant geneticist from Clemson University.
Local, family, sustainable farming is a lifestyle that includes a commitment to humane care of animals, hard work, and networking with other farmers, locally, nationally, and internationally. Devon breeders are stewards of the environment with a commitment to soil, plants, and animals.
My (Nancy’s) love affair with Devons began in 2006 when I met my first Devons at Charlie and Martha Trantham’s Lenoir’s Creek farm. I suddenly found there were cattle that did not run toward me or away from me highlighting the docility of this breed.
We purchased a few and it wasn’t long before I truly loved them as evidenced by a cold, sleety February day when I was out (all other farm team have day jobs) in the pasture opening up a new paddock. As the cows happily moved themselves I thought “I love these animals”; representing quite a change for someone who did not want anything to do with cows.
In the years following we have met fellow Devon breeders from throughout the United States and all over the world. It has been an amazing adventure. I write this to encourage any who are considering purchasing Devon cattle for the first time; Devons are livestock, but the Devon breeders represent a family of like-minded friends to me.
It is noteworthy that Bill has always been passionate about cattle and even more so now that I share his passion.
In the fall of 2018 we met Donald and Colleen Snow, owners of Providence Farm. We agreed to partner with them using our land for cattle and hog production; Colleen has managed our market since summer of 2019. The partnership has enabled us to develop more projects on the farm, such as the labyrinth and restoration of a section of our farm to a savannah-like area. Our future plans include spaces for visitors to come and enjoy a natural setting with no distractions.
Local, family, sustainable farming is a lifestyle that includes a commitment to humane care of animals, hard work, and networking with other farmers, locally, nationally, and internationally. Devon breeders are stewards of the environment with a commitment to soil, plants, and animals.
My (Nancy’s) love affair with Devons began in 2006 when I met my first Devons at Charlie and Martha Trantham’s Lenoir’s Creek farm. I suddenly found there were cattle that did not run toward me or away from me highlighting the docility of this breed.
We purchased a few and it wasn’t long before I truly loved them as evidenced by a cold, sleety February day when I was out (all other farm team have day jobs) in the pasture opening up a new paddock. As the cows happily moved themselves I thought “I love these animals”; representing quite a change for someone who did not want anything to do with cows.
In the years following we have met fellow Devon breeders from throughout the United States and all over the world. It has been an amazing adventure. I write this to encourage any who are considering purchasing Devon cattle for the first time; Devons are livestock, but the Devon breeders represent a family of like-minded friends to me.
It is noteworthy that Bill has always been passionate about cattle and even more so now that I share his passion.
In the fall of 2018 we met Donald and Colleen Snow, owners of Providence Farm. We agreed to partner with them using our land for cattle and hog production; Colleen has managed our market since summer of 2019. The partnership has enabled us to develop more projects on the farm, such as the labyrinth and restoration of a section of our farm to a savannah-like area. Our future plans include spaces for visitors to come and enjoy a natural setting with no distractions.
From back left to front: Clifton, Bill, grandsons Walker Reilly and Evan, and Nancy.
Left to right: Bill, Nancy, Colleen and Donald.
Nancy and Bill with other Americans at Forde Abbey, Somerset UK during the 2010 World Devons at Home Tour.
Walker Century Farms | 110 Walker Rd, Anderson, SC 29621 | Ph: (864) 226-2668 | E: walkercenturyfarms@yahoo.com