Austin Family History

Farming has been the Austin way of life for many generations. It began in the 1700s when our ancestors were granted land in Tennessee for serving in the military during the Revolutionary War. Surviving the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression and other climatic hardships has made our family more determined to inhabit and continue to improve the land. From the beginning, our focus has always been on sustainability. There were always animals, home gardens and cash crops such as cotton and sweet potatoes to provide for our family's daily needs. The original land in Tennessee continues to be farmed by Austin family relatives. In 1970, we moved our young family, including 4 children, out west to the North Fork Valley. We began by renting and working other growers' orchards, raising cattle and working in the local coal industry, including apple processing and bottling operations.