Meet Your Neighbor: Farmer plants seeds to help others while passing on knowledge

Getting fresh foods to more people can be a challenge.
Published: Jul. 6, 2024 at 10:46 AM CDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Getting fresh foods to more people can be a challenge. It’s a test J’Quincy Jones is confronting head on as a farmer.

Jones is dressed the part in his signature look of overalls and cowboy boots.

“The young folks, they’ll call it a onesie, but my old folks, it’s more reminiscent for them,” said Jones.

Reminiscing to a time when people farmed. It’s a passion Jones said he never knew he had but credits his grandfather.

“He was putting jewels in me that I didn’t know were going to sprout this,” explained Jones.

Jones grows a variety of crops on his farm including tomatoes, peas, and yellow watermelon.

He has a partnership with Hi-Nabor to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to all three locations. The goods are in demand.

“They have people who go to the stores and tell them to get stuff out the back if it’s not on display. That’s when I realized. Wait, this is kind of weird. People going ask Hi Nabor for our stuff, but it’s humbling,” said Jones.

Jones is extending his knowledge to younger farmers. One of them is Kardell Thomas. Thomas played football at Southern Lab and LSU. He’s now tackling a new endeavor called Excellent Farms.

Vice-President of Excellent Farms Austen Dubriel added about Jones, “He’s been in the game for 12 years. We’ve only been in it for a year and we’re making major moves out here for everyone. It’s bigger than us. It’s about the entire community.”

All while wearing his signature cowboy boots.

“You know what? If I could put it like one of my elder farmers say. You don’t take your boots off, ever, when you’re farming. They’re always on. Even if they’re not technically on. Farming is just your lifestyle. You can say that and they’re comfortable too,” explained Jones.

He’ll need that comfort as he continues to deliver.

Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor(WAFB)
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor(WAFB)
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor(WAFB)
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor(WAFB)
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor(WAFB)

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