2002: Russell & Shirley Watson

Credit: Executive Office of the Governor

Family Name: The Watson Family

The family farm was purchased in 1955 by Russell and Shirley Watson. The young newlyweds bought the farm a few months before their wedding, and once the vows were said they happily settled in. Coming from a long line of farmers, Russell decided to grow tobacco on his farm like his father before him. They had four children: Russell Jr., Connie, Robert and Susan. As the farm and the children grew, the family decided they needed an additional source of income. Since Russell always had a fondness for pigs, the Watson’s became hog farmers as well, adding 400 head of hog to the operation in 1960. Since Russell was the entrepreneurial sort of fellow, and attuned to the changing agricultural markets, the farm underwent several changes over the next few decades. In 1969, the Watson’s decided to grow trees and shrubs and Robin Hill Farm became Robin Hill Farm Nursery. The nursery included approximately 100 acres of shade and ornamental trees and 20 acres of container stock. In 1970, the family added a fall festival and pumpkin patch to the farm, and thousands of visitors came each year to take a hayride, see the animals, and pick a pumpkin. Eventually the nursery business became the main source of income for the family. The family consolidated the farm by getting out of the tobacco industry and transitioned from raising hogs commercially to just raising a few for the family. As the years progressed, the children grew up and got married and grandchildren and great grandchildren were added to the family.

Ceremony Date: 2/6/03