As part of the national Farm Credit Fly-In, Doug and Michelle Patterson from China Grove recently sent jars of strawberry jam to the Farm Credit Farmers Market at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

The Farmers Market was the centerpiece of Farm Credit’s legislative fly-in aimed to educate members of Congress how Farm Credit fulfills its mission to support rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.

The Pattersons’ jam was part of dozens of Farm Credit supported products from all across the country. Doug and Michelle own and operate Patterson Farm, a 450-acre, fourth -generation family farm where they grow strawberries, tomatoes (they are one of the larges tomato-growers in the state), cucumbers, bell peppers, watermelon, squash, zucchini and winter poinsettias.

Throughout the year, they also offer multiple agritourism opportunities, including farm tours for children, summer fun camps, geocaching adventure tours and much more.

As part of the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, Patterson Farms is a destination farm for city dwellers, suburbanites and the news media when favorite crops are in season or when they want to be out in open spaces on a farm setting.

“The Pattersons want to introduce people to agriculture; they truly love agriculture and want to share it,” says Carolina Farm Credit Loan Officer Scott Lee.

Doug and Michelle Patterson, along with other family members, are always on the lookout for new ideas. “We try to add different crops or more acres of fruits and vegetables,” says Doug. “We also try to add new activities every year because we get a lot of repeat customers and we would like for them to have a different experience every year when they come.”

Scott Lee says Patterson Farm is a true testimony of an innovative family farm. “They are a farming family with a vision to make room for other generations coming on, to take it to the next level. They also give back a lot to the community.”

Watch a short video about their farm.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 30 branch offices. Other financial services available are credit life insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs, and financial planning.