Meet the Neighbors: Jill Forrester
Jill Forrester, co-owner of Whitton Farms, Tyronza
When it comes to quality of life, having good neighbors ranks right up there with access to a high-caliber education and family-friendly amenities. Fortunately, Mississippi County is home to all of that and more! In our next Meet the Neighbors, meet Jill Forrester, co-owner of Whitton Farms. A Jonesboro native, Jill moved to Mississippi County after marrying her husband, Keith, who grew up on his family’s farm in Whitton. She has a deep love for flowers, farming and the people of Mississippi County.
Read on to learn more about Jill and why she loves calling Mississippi County home. Plus, check out this video to learn more about the boundless opportunities available in MIssissippi County and to see Jill in action at her Main Street Osceola farm stand.
Q: Tell us more about you, your family and Whitton Farms.
A: I co-own Whitton Farms with my husband, Keith. I'm a farmer-florist. I grow specialty cut flowers and produce, host farm tours, speak publicly about our business and way of life, teach floral design classes and offer seasonal garden design services throughout the year.
Keith and I have been married for 22 years and we have one son, Fox, who is 11 years old. Fox is an avid baseball player and speedcuber. We have two dogs, Fluffles and Bunnie, and two cats, Pepper and Gravy.
Q: How did you get involved in this industry?
A: It began as a birthday gift. In April of 2004, Keith mentioned he needed a bit of guidance from me regarding what I wanted for my birthday. I told him I wanted a flower garden! He decided to order a pound of zinnia seed and a 50-pound sack of sunflower seeds and tilled up a nice garden spot by the road. We scattered the seeds together, and by July we had more flowers than we knew what to do with. A neighbor friend, Mr. Lindsey Chandler, suggested we take our flowers to the farmers market in Memphis. We loaded three vehicles with buckets of flowers and sold out in a single day. We decided that day there would be a major shift in our career paths! We had found a career we were both passionate about and could see ourselves dreaming in the same direction. That was the birth of Whitton Farms.
Q: What do you do for fun in Mississippi County?
A: We are fortunate to share a career we are both passionate about, and farming/gardening is what we do for fun! Most days you'll find me with my hands in the soil planting or harvesting and arranging flowers. I enjoy connecting kids with nature and sharing the farm with visitors. If I wasn't already a vendor at the Main Street Osceola Farmers Market, I would be there anyway shopping and visiting with the customers and vendors. It's a wonderful part of town. We attend First Baptist Church of Keiser and are blessed with many friends who live in MissCo that we enjoy spending time with. Keith and I like to ride down to the Mississippi River and enjoy checking out the latest vintage goods and antiques the Zenankos have on display at their shop on the square.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant and meal in Mississippi County?
A: I love pizza, specifically Gary's Pizza in Osceola! I always order my favorite pepperoni, banana pepper and sausage pizza, and their club salad is delicious, too. Everyone there is always so friendly! We like to treat ourselves with donuts from Osceola Donuts.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about this area?
A: The people who live here are what make this place so special. It's a large county with big-hearted folks. The scenery of Mississippi County is special, too. I call this region "Big Sky Country." I know that term is typically reserved for the great state of Montana, but out here the land is flat and the sky is huge. The sunrises and sunsets in this region are powerful. I love the fact that you can literally see for miles and miles. I love Arkansas, and my roots run deep here.
Q: What does a typical Saturday look like for you?
A: We're usually at a regional farmers' market each Saturday selling our produce and flowers or taking our son to a baseball tournament or to a speedcubing tournament. When the market season slows down, we like to get breakfast at Osceola Donuts and attend one of the many community events held in the county. We enjoy attending all the festivals held in Osceola, Blytheville, Wilson and Keiser. There's always something going on in MissCo. We’re very excited about the Wilson Winter Wonderland, opening on Nov. 24, the Wilson Crawfish Festival coming up in April and the Osceola Heritage MusicFest in May.
Q: What’s something that might surprise people about Mississippi County?
A: Mississippi County has a wonderful farmers market located in the center of the county that's in operation from May through December 4. Please visit The Main Street Osceola Farmers Market held on the historic courthouse square from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. each Thursday!
Q: Also, tell us where and when Whitton Farms is set up for markets.
A: In Mississippi County, we’re at the Main Street Osceola Farmers Market and the Cabin at Whitton Farms (open March-August), In Jonesboro, we’re at The Judd Hill Farmers Market. We also attend the Cooper Young Farmers Market and the Memphis Farmers Market, both in Memphis.
