History of the Farm

The land that is JL Adams Farms (and related organizations) has been in and out of the hands of the immediate family over the last 100 years. James Lee Adams, Jr.’s great grandfather, “Sawn” Palmer owned some of this land before its sale to the Spences, Baggs, and Whitings. James Lee Adams Sr. began buying portions of this land from others in the 1930s and James Lee Adams Jr. (and Sue, his wife), have continued purchasing additional properties into the year 2000.

At present, James Lee and Sue Martin Adams and their children (Vicki, Susan and Sarah) and their spouses, plus Nan Adams Williamson (daughter of James Lee Adams Sr. and Ruth Borland Adams)and her spouse, Eddie, and their children Boyd and Isle are the stockholders or sole owners of various properties that are contiguous and are generally known as JL Adams Farms Inc. The total acres in this one block of land exceeds 2,500 acres. Other properties which are not directly tied to these properties are owned by the principals.

James Lee Adams Jr is responsible for the day to day operations of the farm. Crops and livestock enterprises are composed of pecans, peanuts, cotton, corn soybeans, timber, hay, and cattle. Mark and Susan Adams Glass own several broiler houses and manage some for the other principals in the farming operation. In addition, Mark and Susan also grow about 45,000 alligators. All of the row crops (cotton, peanuts, corn, and soybeans) are grown under center pivot irrigation. The pecans are drip irrigated. JL Adams Farms has always been first and foremost concerned that the land and residents (including animals and birds as well as the people) be protected.

The farm’s crops are grown in an ecologically concerned manner with most of the fertilizer applied being organic. Since most of the principals live on the farm and eat its food and drink its water, they are all concerned that the environment be protected at all times and in all ways.