TK Family Farm, LLC
Our Story and Farm Hands
Our Story
Jon and Brittany were living in suburban MD just outside of Washington DC. Jon was working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a waterfowl biologist and Brittany was in technical food sales. After the birth of their second and third child (TWINS) they quickly realized that they wanted to be closer to home and family. A farm was something they had always talked about and soon the decision was made to return to NC and start their farm. Pastured pork, chicken, and layers were what started the farm with an eye on adding an apple orchard. In 2016 we planted Polk County’s first high density apple orchard. From there the orchard has been expanded to include around 2.5 acres with over 3,000 trees.
Farm Hands
Jon Klimstra
Jon grew up in nearby Hendersonville running around the apple orchards of Henderson County. His family did not grow apples but his dad was (and still is) an orchard consultant for growers in the area. Much time was spent with his dad in orchards mostly chasing snakes and sitting on tractors. Little did Jon know that the apple seed was being planted. His path out of college ultimately took him to a job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a waterfowl biologist. Once back in NC and the farm was started, it was a matter of time before the trees were in the ground.
Brittany Klimstra
Brittany grew up in Iredell County as a Preacher’s Kid and one of the few children without ties to a farm of some kind. She married Jon, the Wildlife Biologist, graduated from NC State University with degrees in Food Science and Microbiology and started her career as a Technical Sales person in the Food Industry. Then she and Jon decided to bring 3 Knuckleheads into the world in less than 3 years and then start an Apple Farm. Now she has jumped fully into all the jobs. Still working full time off farm selling food ingredients to many of the largest Food Companies in the country but also completely immersed in apple production evenings/weekends and holidays. She loves learning more every day about high density apple farming and daydreams about all the new things she wants to bring to the farm. Cider! Flowers! Pumpkins! Tours, oh my!
The Three Knuckleheads
The kids are the the name sake of the farm. The three knuckle heads are who the farm is named for and why we started this farm. When the twins were born the doctor came in to check on them and when he walked in the room said, “how are the knuckle heads?”. Once we started the farm the name stuck and the rest is history! If you visit the Knuckle heads will gladly take you on a tour of the farm.