“It just ministers to my soul”: Pierce Farm hosts kickoff to Fall

HERRIN, Ill. (KBSI) – “It just ministers to my soul, that’s what I say. It’s just a nice place to relax and unwind.” 

This, to Jerrie Barnett, is Pierce Farm in a nutshell. Barnett helps run the farm with her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Kevin Pierce. 

“We work together, we work hard,” she said. “It’s hot, it’s hard, and it’s heavy, but we have a good time doing it. It keeps us in shape. We have fun, we do.” 

Jennifer Pierce said the farm’s kickoff to Fall provides that precious family time in a serene place that can be difficult to come by… 

“We have a lot of families that come here,” she said. “A lot of kids love to come and do simple things, like swing on the swings and pick flowers and pick out the perfect pumpkin. It’s just a great time for families to come together and just enjoy the outdoors and just enjoy being with one another.” 

Kevin Pierce said slowing things down is the name of the game at Pierce Farm. 

“Everything is so hectic in the day-to-day,” he said. “You know, you’re running from the time you get up in the morning til the time you go to bed, you know, work, school, ballgames, dance recitals, and so we try to slow it down a little bit.” 

There’s a lot of hard work that goes into running the farm, but in the end, providing that place for families to come together makes it all worth it. 

“It just brings people together, and it’s something that my mom and my husband and I worked hard to develop,” Jennifer Pierce said.

“The families that come here, like we’re amazed at how much they love this place,” Barnett said. “They tell us this is such a nice, peaceful, wonderful place to come.”