Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
If you’ve visited us lately, you’ve likely seen the wide, flat stretches at the front of the farm. But as you go back toward the York County line, those flats give way to rolling hills leading to the creek bottom. This land has been the heartbeat of our family since my grandparents, Jim and Anna, first purchased it in 1979.
Today, as Noah and Abby grow up here, they represent the fourth generation of Watsons to call this soil home. But as we’ve watched the skyline of the Charlotte-metro area grow taller and the subdivisions of York County creep closer over the last 10 years, we realized that their future on this land wasn’t guaranteed by tradition alone.
A little over a year ago, our family—my parents, Gary and June, and Kelly, and myself—made it official. We partnered with the Farm Bureau Land Trust to put our entire 350-acre farm into a conservation easement.
What “Forever” Really Means
This was not a decision we made lightly or quickly. It involved a mountain of paperwork and a long, often laborious process with appraisers, attorneys, and our bank. But the result is simple: this land can never be anything but a farm.
By choosing this path, we were able to access conservation funding that helped us address “legacy debt” from our old turkey operation. But in the world of farming, the financial engine is always turning and requiring constant reinvestment. One of the greatest benefits of the easement is that it has allowed us to make needed investments—like the broiler expansion that we discussed last week—that will allow us to heal more land with your partnership.
The Truth About Farm Security
Many farmers avoid dealing directly with consumers, but we embrace it. (See the section below about Spring Farm Day!) We know that without your willingness to step out of the normal grocery store routine and shop with us, Watson Farms would cease to exist—with or without a conservation easement on the land.
In fact, as grateful as we are for the conservation easement, we know that customers like you provide more farm security across our country than easements ever will.
I can remember vividly in late 2019 when we made the bold decision to retain about 50 head of cattle to direct-market instead of sending them to the sale barn. It was a big risk. Then March 2020 came around. We were terrified, wondering how on earth we were going to sell all the beef that we were about to be flooded with.
But then, the world changed. As the pandemic broke out, countless customers like you saw the shortfalls of the industrial food supply chains and made the switch to feeding your family directly from a local farm. That return of so many consumers to sourcing from us saved our farm. This conservation easement is simply the tool that helps us continue moving in that same direction.
A Community Cannot Eat Concrete
The reality of why we chose this path is found in the numbers, and they are staggering:
- Nationwide: The U.S. lost 15,000 farms in 2025 alone. That’s 2.5 million acres of farmland converted to housing, warehouses, and factories in just 12 months.
- Locally: South Carolina now ranks as one of the states with the highest “threat scores” for farmland loss.
- The Charlotte Pressure: As one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, the Charlotte-metro area is losing its agricultural base at an unsustainable rate. Once prime topsoil is paved over, it is gone forever.
When we look at Abby and Noah, we aren’t just thinking about them as our children; we’re thinking about them as the future stewards of a food source that our community will need decades from now. Your partnership, combined with this easement, ensures that while the world around us changes, this soil remains dedicated to feeding you.
🍗 Spring Chicken & Beef Roast Sale!
Our Spring Chicken Stock Up has been a huge success—so much so that we’ve already run out of several chicken items. However, we still have a few favorites left to help you fill your freezer!
- Whole Broilers: We have plenty of birds in the 3–3.99 lb range ready for your Sunday roast.
- Wings (6-Pack): These are still available and perfect for the grill or air fryer.
New Addition: Beef Roast Special!
To keep the momentum going, we’ve just put our Beef Roasts on sale for $8.99/lb (normally $11.99/lb). This is a great time to grab a few roasts for those easy slow-cooker meals.
🚜 Save the Date: Spring Farm Day 2026!
We’re thrilled to welcome you back to the farm for our premier spring event! It’s the perfect opportunity to experience firsthand the legacy you are helping us protect.
When: Saturday, April 4th, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm.
Where: Watson Farms: 713 Colony Road, Chester, SC 29706.
Join us for:
- 🥚 Easter Egg Hunt
- 🛝 Bounce House Fun
- 🍔 Delicious Food Truck
- 🚜 Scenic Wagon Hayrides
- 🐄 See Our Animals
- 🛍️ Farm Store Discount
Click Here to See All Details and Plan Your Visit!
Final Thought
We often say “No Farms, No Food,” but it’s more than a slogan to us now—it’s a legal reality on our deed. Thank you for supporting a farm that is officially here to stay.
Stay grounded,
Matt Watson
Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from Laura:
“So pleased with Watson Farms! They are friendly, deliver timely and the meats taste devine! I’m happy to support local farmers that raise their meats ethically and grass feed so it’s way healthier than what you get in the mass produced grocery stores. Everything that I was looking for! Thank you Watson Farms. I’ve been telling everyone!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
Shipping Timeline and Store Hours
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
Farm Store & Pickup Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday & Sunday: Closed
Farm Store Address: 713 Colony Road, Chester, SC 29706
Tell a Friend!
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
