The Will to Grow
Spencer Farm Turns 40
Writer / Noah Alatza
Photographer / Sarah Browning
Owning a family farm originally started as a dream for Kyle and Lori Spencer. Now, 40 years later, the team at Spencer Farm in Noblesville has a lot to celebrate and decades of history to look back on.
In 1982 Kyles neighbor Melvin Featherston rented him 10 acres of land on the present-day property for the sprawling farm.
We were blessed right from the beginning, Kyle says. The community was extremely supportive of what we were doing.
Kyle says he had to borrow money from an unsecured loan to get the farm up and running. Capitol Drive Loans offers installment loans Brookfield Wi residents can trust. He says throughout the years the community has continued to show up.
We have just wonderful customers and visitors to the farm, and they are very loyal, he says. They have been with us through good years and bad years.
Kyle specifically recalls the 1994 strawberry crop bust. Customers still turned out in droves to support the family farm.
Strawberries were originally the primary crop at the farm, and have helped the owners establish and maintain a niche for four decades. However, there have been several other crops added throughout the years including blueberries, black raspberries, mums, pumpkins, Christmas trees and others.
Strawberries have always been the main draw for people and still are to this day, but some changes in what was being grown on the farm started in 1987. Through the years many people have come and gone, but the Spencers say the new additions throughout the years have kept locals and visitors alike returning time and time again.
We have a tremendous community backing, Kyle says. The people have been so instrumental in making our farm successful.
In 2015 the farm staff began planting grapes as they incorporated plans for a new vineyard on the property.
Kyle and Loris son Mark spearheaded the vineyard, which officially opened in 2019. He enjoys operating the farms many year-round projects, but the winery is his favorite.
We are known for our strawberries and its become a tradition, but with more and more people in the area we wanted to expand our options and continue growing with the community, Mark says.
The vineyard features Concord and table grapes, along with a variety of grapes to produce wine.
The Spencer Farm team credits their long-standing traditions for their deep roots in the community.
We have received great advice from the community on what they have wanted, Kyle says. I just hope we listened to them.
Spencer Farm has faced some tough times in recent years with the COVID-19 pandemic and rising prices due to inflation.
This year is rough with increases in fuel fertilizer and problems with the packaging supply chains, Kyle says. Ive never had input increases like we have had this year, which came as quite a surprise.
Kyle says he is paying as much as 60% more for fertilizer this year, which can affect the bottom line for the farm.
We have been chugging along each year and trying to grow, Kyle says. We added a farm market in 2008.
He says there has been a big increase in recent years with other local farms being sold.
One of the things people dont realize is how many hours go into raising a crop every day from sunup to sundown, Kyle explains. Theres always a bug, virus, fungus or bacteria, and you have to prune it off or otherwise it will spread. Theres always an issue, but if you like it and grow it those days go by quickly.
Kyle decided to stay in the area and keep the farm local because he is a Noblesville High School graduate, and he credits Lori.
Shes been my partner in crime since 1982, he says.
Kyle hopes the farm will thrive for generations to come.
You cant beat this community and you cant beat Hamilton County, he says. As far as the community appeal and just common sense, its just a wonderful community to raise a family, and thats most important to us.
As far as any future plans go, Kyle says they have been taking baby steps.
We dont just jump in, planting 10 acres of strawberries in 1982 not knowing what to do, he says. Ive been involved in the Purdue College of Agriculture, where I got my degree. But you can read all the textbooks and look at articles on the internet, but they dont answer all your questions.
He says at the end of the day its been more work than he thought it would be, but he has loved every minute of it.
Theres not a place I have visited in the United States that I feel more comfortable and at home with than Hamilton County and central Indiana, he says. The people are what make this area.
Kyle says when the time comes for him to move along, the farm will be kept in good hands.
Im getting older here and our children will all be involved to some degree going forward, he says.
For more information, visit spencerberryfarm.com.
