New: Place your orders now for a Humble Roots Farm Thanksgiving turkey!
The Humble Roots Farm logo is a strong, healthy tree bursting from fertile farmland, all cradled in loving hands. There couldn’t be a better way to explain the heart and vision behind this Wilmington farm run by Kyle & Katelyn Stenersen.
The Beginnings of Humble Roots Farm
“We started from nothing,” Kyle explained. “I started as a video game playing surfer kid and now I have all of this,” he gestured out in front of him. “We had humble roots in farming, and we want to remember that. We owe our success to the Lord.”
Kyle and Katelyn were both born and raised in Wilmington. They met when they were 16 years old through Young Life (although they didn’t become romantically involved until much later) and, after a journey, have found their calling and happiness back in their hometown.
Today, the Stenersens live on a hill overlooking over 50 acres of land they farm with their children, Adah (7), Owen (5) and Isaiah (2). Cats roam the property, the children happily run from inside to out, employees Riley and Ian work with open smiles, and Kyle sits on his front steps, recalling how this all came to pass.
Returning to Wilmington
After graduating from NC State University, where Kyle majored in horticultural science and Katelyn in Spanish language, the two couldn’t decide what the next step should be. Through a roommate connection, they were given an opportunity to work on an organic farm in Burlington, NC and took it. The two, then recently married, were off on an adventure together.
But while at Sunset Farms, Kyle realized beyond doubt that this was his calling. After two years working on the farm, he felt equipped to make it happen on his own. So he and Katelyn, with their new baby in tow, decided to return to Wilmington and put down their own roots.
“We wanted to be back here. We love the beach and [our children’s] grandparents live here. Also, we felt like Wilmington was lacking in the local farm department. We wanted to bring something great to the Wilmington community. So after lots of prayer, we decided to follow our hearts.”
Kyle’s family established Humble Roots Farm in February 2013 on a plot of land on Scott’s Hill Loop Road, near Poplar Grove. And while Kyle initially started with vegetables, he soon became known for and quite successful with poultry.
“I knew that Rx wanted local chickens for their menu, and we saw a need,” Kyle remembered. “So, I quickly got into the chicken business.”
Turkeys for Thanksgiving
Today, several years after starting to provide chickens, Humble Roots Farm is known not only for meat chickens, but also for its sunflower field and local, pasture raised turkeys. Every year at Thanksgiving time, the Stenersens sell out of turkeys based on pre-order sometime around October.
While Hurricane Florence dampened the Turkey season for the Stenersens, this year business is as strong as ever. In fact, you can pre-order your turkey now!
Below: After
But Hurricane Florence took its toll in 2018. “Our vegetable crop was destroyed, and we had a 10-acre lake on our land,” Kyle explained.
Additionally, the turkeys, while moved to the safety of the barn, were chilled when the roof blew off and they were rained on. To stay warm, they piled on each other, smothering the turkeys on the bottom. The Stenersens lost 130 turkeys. They suffered an estimated $15,000 operating loss from the storm.
But that doesn’t meant they have lost faith or given up. Friends came together to help rebuild the barn roof and a GoFundMe campaign made them able to continue, at least for now.
“The community wanted to see us recover. And these are family members but also the people who shop with us. We are being faithful to what we do, and we are blessed. It also feels that the attitude of this hurricane and recovery is one of helping each other.”
Kyle has re-seeded and, as he puts it, they “keep plugging.”
And Kyle and Katelyn continue to look to the future.
The Future of Humble Roots Farm
Back in March, Kyle was the energy behind the new Wilmington Farmers Market that is held every Saturday at Tidal Creek Co-Op. That is still going and growing, with high-quality standards and a commitment to local producers that Kyle is proud of. Humble Roots Farm also hosts numerous workshops for those looking to get involved in their own organic farming.
“I want to eventually find our own land,” Kyle dreamed. While the land’s owners have been incredible to work with, excited about Humble Roots Farm and preserving the acreage, the Stenersens are aware of the immense pressure to develop that area.
“I also want to continue to grow a little,” he added. “I want a self-sufficient family enterprise I can pass down, if my children want it.”
The Wilmington area, as it grows, has been supporting small and local organic farmers more through the years, but there is still a long way to go before farms like Humble Roots are as intrinsic to the culture here as they are in areas such as Chapel Hill.
How You Can Help
The best way to help?
“Come buy from us. If you value healthy good food and the fair treatment of animals, you have to vote with your dollars,” Kyle implored.
Humble Roots Farm has a Farm Stand that is open from 10 am – 12 pm every Wednesday and Saturday at 1247 Scotts Hill Loop Road.
They are also present at the Tidal Creek Co-Op Farmers Market held from 8 am – 1 pm on Saturdays at 5329 Oleander Drive.
The Humble Roots Farm workshops are listed online at humblerootsfarm.com/workshops.
The GoFundMe campaign is still open for donations, ensuring the future growth and stability of the farm, at www.gofundme.com/support-humble-roots.
To learn more about Humble Roots Farm, visit humblerootsfarm.com and connect with them on Instagram (@humblerootsfarmer). And remember to pre-order your holiday turkey!
This family is just one of the amazing people you’ll find in the Wilmington, NC region. Read about some of our other featured events in the Cape Fear area. We focus on the festivals and events in the Cape Fear area that are great for the whole family. Have fun exploring and let us know what you find!