News

Johnson Farm thanks donors

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 13, 2020

Like many area non-profits, Historic Johnson Farm experienced an unusual spring.

This educational farm annually provides cultural heritage experiences to school students and the community. Its biggest event was to be the 30th Spring Festival that provides a major percentage of annual income. Enter the coronavirus, ending not only the festival plans but school visits and tours.

Executive Director Mandy Gibson shifted gears, quickly designing online programs and field trips, safely-modified summer day camps and outdoor guided tours while the buildings remain shuttered.

The farm program hinges on the strong backbone and devoted work ethic of its volunteers. They provide immeasurable support to Gibson: with services as gardeners, maintenance workers, docents, field trip leaders, Junior Interpreters, and special event planners. Ingrid McNair and Wendy Foneville provide after-hours animal care. Each year, young students visit the farm and pet an animal – many for the first time.

Additionally, the farm depends on sponsors and donors to run its programs, and to care for the animals. These donations helped the farm with rapid conversion to virtual programming, and uninterrupted animal food and care. The farm thanks the following donors/sponsors of July 2019-June 2020.

Major Donors: Robin and Tim Ertzberger, Kevin Parries, Barbara Gregory, William T. and Mary Garrison, Bunny and Steve Wilson. Major Animal Donor: Drs. Reid and Reid Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.
Other donors and sponsors: Patricia Allen, Alpha Lambda Chapter DKG, Sandy Aycock, Carla Brown, the late Frank Byrd, Carolyn and Wayne Carland, CFHC Fund for Historic Johnson Farm & Fund for Animals, Copy Supply Inc., Joyce Cochran, Lucy Daley, Alicia and Don Dondero, Kathie Doole, Marilyn Frenier, Kohlan Flynn, Pam Gaitskill, Barry Graham Family, Linda Graham, Tippy Guffy, Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists, Deborah Johnson, Kelly Kaufman, Jan King, Dottie Marlow Kinlaw, Marjorie Krueger, Anne Leaf, John and Wanda Love, Jeff and Sherri Marlow, Nick Marlow, Shannon Marlowe, Mary Frances McAbee, Shirley McGee, Ingrid and Jerry McNair, Carolyn Miller, JoAnne and Richard Mummert, Mitch and Lucille Osteen, Diane Parce, Barbara Rivers, Faye Russell, Florence Quinzel, Corum Smith, Bill Solberg, Valorie Marlow Songer, Phyllis Spearman, Natalie Stiles, Roberta Swanson, Deborah Taliaferro, Virginia Thompson, Susan Trotter, Valley Agri Supply, Tony and Becky Varnadore, Julie Varnadore, Nancy and Malvern West, Glenna Marlow White, Jory Wilke, Aimee Wilson, Lisa and Steve Wilson, Tom and Phyllis Wilson, and Cliff and Lisa Whitfield.

The farm also thanks local media that publicize our events: Hendersonville Lightning, Times-News, Bold Life/Carolina Home and Garden, WHKP and WTZQ.