Kelsey Keener

In 1996, when Kelsey Keener was 8 years old, his family moved to Marion County, TN, and began building what is now Sequatchie Cove Farm. He grew up learning how to farm alongside his family. Kelsey always knew he wanted to live on the land and be a full-time farmer, so after high school he went out to California and studied agroecology and sustainable food systems. When he got back to TN, he helped start an organic farm on Williams Island in the TN River with a few friends, including his future bride, Ashley. For 3 years this group of friends lived off the grid, camping in tents and growing vegetables and livestock for the Chattanooga farmers markets.

After his time on the island, he settled down back on the family farm. Kelsey and Ashley got married, built a house, and started a family of their own. Today they have 3 children who are the fourth generation in the family to live on the property. The family has been slowly working on figuring out how the generational transfer of the farm will take place. Kelsey and Ashley are managing partners of the farm alongside Bill and Miriam.

Over the years Sequatchie Cove Farm has produced and direct marketed dozens of agricultural products, including organic vegetables, native plants, grass-fed meats, mushrooms, fruits and berries, heirloom grains, farmstead cheese, and pasture-raised eggs. In recent years the focus has been on growing the pasture-raised egg business from a flock of around 400 hens to now around 8,000 hens who lay around 5,000+ eggs per day!

Community engagement has always been an important aspect at Sequatchie Cove. The farm hosts classes and workshops, local community meetings, and presentations. We also have Farm to Table events with meals prepared by local Chefs and encourage folks to come out to the farm to shop for local food at the farm’s trading post or for farm tours.

Making a living as a full-time farmer is not an easy task, but Kelsey remains super passionate about making this lifestyle and business model work. He hopes that his kids one day have the same opportunity to run the family farm. He is also very passionate about supporting other young farmers as they get into the field in our area. Southeast TN Young Farmers Coalition is a grassroots organization that Kelsey is on the leadership committee of, working towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for young farmers in our area.