Fall on the Farm with Myrtle & Maude's

From tractor tours to the pumpkin harvest to Grandma’s famous pies

By Abby McKiernan | Sept. 28, 2024

In a world increasingly driven by development and expansion, there’s something deeply comforting about the simplicity of farm life—a lifestyle Myrtle & Maude’s Farm Market strives to preserve.

Located in Williamsburg, this multi-generational farm has been a community staple since the 1940s when the Butler family (later the Hubbells through marriage) planted their first cherry tree. Today, Paul Hubbell, the third of five generations, and his wife Sue (aka Maude) run the farm alongside their children. The 300-acre farm is managed by Paul, his son Weston, and son-in-law Steve Merchant.

Meanwhile, Sue and their daughter Sadie (aka Myrtle) oversee the market—a key element in keeping the farm sustainable and bringing customers to the property.

Love of the Land

For Paul, farming isn’t just a job—it’s part of who he is. “All I’ve ever known and done is farming. It’s in my genes; I was born and raised farming,” he says.

After briefly attending college, Paul returned to the farm, knowing it was where he truly belonged. His parents made him an owner, and today, Paul remains deeply committed to the land and his family’s legacy, surrounded by nine grandchildren, three daughters, two sons-in-law, and the rest of their extended family.

Family is at the heart of everything the Hubbells do. Within a one-mile radius of the farm, three generations live, work, and gather every Sunday for a family dinner—a tradition they’ve kept alive for decades.

“I got everything I ever wanted in life,” Paul reflects. “To be a farmer, to find a beautiful wife to work the farm alongside me, and to spend my days raising my kids. I don’t need a lot of money, I just need to pay my bills, make sure my wife is loved, and make my children proud and strong. What more could anyone ever want or need?”

Of course, farming has never faced more challenges than it does today. Modern agriculture has to cope with new technology and equipment, global competition, rising land and labor costs, climate change, and a host of other factors. Add to that the fact that the U.S. continues to lose farms and farmers—the U.S. Department of Agriculture marked a 6.9 percent decline in farms and ranches between 2017 and 2022—and suddenly the simple farm life doesn’t seem so simple.

Tradition Meets Innovation

As a small farm in an increasingly challenging industry, Myrtle & Maude’s has had to get creative to survive. While the farming side has faced hurdles, Sue and Sadie have helped secure the farm’s future through their market, which is now in its fourth fall season.

Initially started to diversify the farm’s income, the market has become a beloved community hub, offering a wide range of products that showcase both the farm’s bounty and locally sourced goods.

The market features homegrown produce, sweets and treats, and a wide selection of Michigan-made items, antiques, and handcrafted gifts. (Sue’s caramel apples, in particular, are a customer favorite, with many returning year after year just to savor the treat.)

A major turning point for the market came when Sue and Sadie successfully secured a competitive grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to build a commercial kitchen on the property last year. The application process required persistence and effort, but the results have been transformative.

“Sadie, with some help, worked hard to write the grant,” Paul explains. “Out of 130 applicants, we were one of few to get it. I am so proud of her, and it was a huge deal for the farm.”

The kitchen now allows the family to produce baked goods, preserves, and prepared meals on-site, greatly reducing the need for the time-consuming task of transporting carloads of goods from their home kitchens to the market.

One of the biggest successes that came from this expansion was their Thanksgiving pie sale. “We had no idea how well the pie sale would go last year, but it was overwhelming in the best way,” Sadie tells us.

Thanks to the new kitchen, they can now offer even more pies and other baked goods, with Grandma Birdie’s famous from-scratch pies being a highlight. “I knew my grandma’s pies were the best I’d ever had, and now our customers get to experience them too,” Sadie says proudly.

A Slice of Farm Life

Getting the market up and running was one thing, but marketing it was another. For Sue and Sadie, one of the biggest challenges has been putting themselves front and center on social media. Both are humble by nature and accustomed to letting the farm’s work speak for itself.

But in today’s world, they’ve realized the importance of sharing their story with the community. “I’m surprised by how much people are interested in our day-to-day,” Sadie admits. “I forget that this isn’t the norm anymore.”

As such, their social media presence has become a valuable way to showcase the farm’s traditions and rural lifestyle. Through their posts, Sue and Sadie invite customers and followers into their world, offering a glimpse of everything from harvesting cherries to preparing homemade pies.

Even still, they make sure to get time away from the screen…and away from the pressures of the business.

“Family time is important to us,” Sadie emphasizes. “We close the farm in August so we can take trips together and recharge. It might seem strange in an area where businesses are open all summer, but it’s something we need to do to stay connected as a family.”

But if you were planning on stopping by, never fear—the farm is open and running in full fall capacity. Through Oct. 30, the farm offers U-pick pumpkins daily, alongside the products that have made the market shine. (Try the Apple Cider Slushie and thank us later.) You can also marvel at the farm’s animal friends, like a mini Highland cow, goats, and chickens.

On the weekends, bring the kids for tractor-pulled wagon tours of the farm, fresh donuts and cider, and bonfires and football games played on a large outdoor screen.

After a break to switch seasons, it's time for the holidays with Christmas on the Farm Nov. 14-18, complete with a free hot cocoa bar, professional photos with Santa, and festive finds in the market. The final shopping event of the year is Ladies’ Night on the Farm ($12 admission), Dec. 7 from 4-9pm, with holiday goodies from local vendors, snacks and drinks, and seasonal decor like homemade wreaths and garlands.

Find all upcoming events and learn more about the farm and market at myrtleandmaudes.com.