Farm Visit Snapshots: Grand Hope Farm

— Written by Debbie Roos | August 23, 2021 (Updated: Aug. 26, 2021, 9:41 a.m.)

Brandon and Elizabeth Szilvay operate Grand Hope Farm in the western part of Chatham County near Siler City, NC. The farm has been in Brandon's family since the early 1800s, and he is the sixth generation to farm the land, raising beef cattle and hay. In 2015 they started growing produce and marketing through farmers' markets. Brandon and Elizabeth's six-year-old son Cade loves helping on the farm, especially anything having to do with tractors! Grand Hope Farm is a North Carolina Century Farm.

You can find Grand Hope Farm at the Fearrington Farmers’ Market (Tuesdays from 4–6 p.m.) and the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from 8 a.m.–noon). They also sell produce to local restaurants. Follow them on Facebook.

Below are photos I took at Grand Hope Farm in late July 2021. More details are provided in each photo caption.

Three people walking in field — Elizabeth, Cade, and Brandon return from checking on the cattle, an Angus cross. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Three people standing in field — Looking out over the pasture. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Barn — Cade calls the log barn the "Cowboy House"! Photo by Debbie Roos.

Boy on ladder — Cade loves exploring the log barn, or Cowboy House. Brandon and his family have been renovating the barn, the oldest structure on the property. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Boy looking at farm equipment — Cade checks out the hay tedder, used to fluff the newly-cut hay to help in the drying process. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Crops in high tunnels — Okra, peppers, and tomatoes in front of the high tunnels. Early tomatoes, onions, carrots, and other root crops were grown in the tunnels. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Long rows of peppers and tomatoes. Photo by Debbie Roos.

2 people looking at crops — Elizabeth and Cade inspect the tomatoes. They grow 10 different varieties of tomatoes. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Boy holding eggplant — Cade shows off the eggplant he harvested! Photo by Debbie Roos.

Woman picking peppers — Elizabeth harvests ripe peppers for the farmers' market. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Peppers — Gorgeous and tasty peppers. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Man in field — Brandon in the pepper field. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Person holding tomatoes — Some of the tomatoes are whoppers! Photo by Debbie Roos.

Man looking at hay bailer — Cade helps his Dad inspect the hay baler. They keep some hay for winter feed and sell square bales. Brandon also does custom baling for others. Photo by Debbie Roos.

Booth at famers market — Elizabeth and Brandon at the Saturday Chatham Mills Farmers Market. Photo by Debbie Roos.