Arlington Farmer and Entrepreneur: Andrew Albert of Andrew's Hay
Arlington Farmer and Entrepreneur Andrew Albert of Andrew’s Hay shared his experience farming 1600acres and raising 180 beef cattle as a third generation owner of the property. Andrew and his wife and sons Reese and Thomas live in the farmhouse that was built in 1912 and finally received electric power in 1925. Andrew started crop farming at age 11 with his uncles and has mowed and sold hay every summer since. While in high school, he and a friend and the Ag Teacher mowed the school’s acres of hay and helped sell it while his dad was out of town, using the family’s tractor and equipment.
In addition to growing and selling hay, the Alberts also raise 15,000 ears of corn annually and run the Pumpkin Patch in October.
Another project is a community garden that is tended by volunteers to provide fresh produce to the Arlington Food Bank. 3000 pounds of produce was harvested this year alone.
Andrew’s father’s family were the farmers, and his mother’s family started a restaurant downtown where the Stilly Diner is currently located, so his roots are firmly in the Arlington area.
The Farm to Table Fundraiser for the Arlington Food Bank was held in the Albert Hay Barn, which they cleaned out for the event. Andrew would like to eventually provide a venue for children’s birthday parties to acquaint them with farm life.
