No matter the season, the goal remains the same, to continue to build sustainability
“Let me get that for you,” said Daniel McCulley with a smile as he slid the Christmas tree from the machine. No one knows what you call that machine, but you know the one. It wraps the Christmas tree to keep it safe for travel.
“That is a nice-looking tree,” said Daniel’s brother, Tyler, to another customer. “Let’s shake it out.”
The engine whirred and the machine vibrated, knocking all the excess needles from the tree. So it is in the Christmas tree business, a fairly new experience for Amazin Acres (AA) in Sparta, the farm known around these parts for its pumpkin and strawberry patches.
This is the second year Amazin Acres has sold trees, but it is just the latest incarnation of a business founded in 1999.
“My parents, Jimmy and Karen McCulley, founded McCulley’s Amazin Acres of Fun in 1999, but our story goes back much further. Before launching the agritourism farm, we were a third-generation dairy and tobacco operation,” Tyler told the UCBJ. “When both industries took a downturn, my parents decided to pivot and open the farm to the public.”
Memories – Christmas is all about unforgettable memories. At the farm, the Christmas expansion, if you will, is just another way to create those memories.
What began as a simple setup – a small tent and a corn maze – soon grew to include fresh, springtime strawberries and a pumpkin patch.
“Nearly 26 years later, Amazin Acres has become home to the largest u-pick pumpkin patch in Middle Tennessee. We’ve expanded our attractions to over 40, nearly doubled our strawberry production, and are on track to be recognized as a Century Farm in 2028 – something we’re incredibly proud of,” according to the family.
Daniel (the oldest of the brothers) has been able to leave his previous career to join the farm full-time. The move into the Christmas tree business is part of an ongoing effort to keep the farm active throughout the year and diversify.
This allows Amazin Acres stay open for more months of the year, strengthen the farm financially, and offer even more traditions to the community.
“By adding Christmas trees, we can welcome visitors during what used to be our slower season while creating another sustainable source of income for the farm,” according to the family.
Christmas is all about unforgettable memories. At the farm, Christmas expansion, if you will, is just another way to create those memories.
“It gives us another way to welcome families to create unforgettable memories,” said Tyler.
The farm will soon be a “Century Farm”, or a farm that has been around for, you guessed it, a century, and AA has no plans of slowing down. On the contrary, it wants to grow in sustainability.
“As our farm continues to grow – and as we move closer to becoming a Century Farm—having strong, year-round seasons like this one helps support the long-term sustainability of Amazin Acres and allows many more opportunities for families to come out and enjoy the farm,” according to the family.
Community is and has always been at the heart of everything AA does. From a small corn maze and Strawberry Patch to one of the Midstate’s largest agritourism destinations, the growth is only possible because of the community it serves.
“That growth has only been possible because of the families, schools, and local supporters who return year after year. Many of our guests have watched the farm evolve over the past two decades, and some have been visiting since the very beginning,” said Tyler.
The farm is multigenerational and fueled by family.
“The connection we have with our community means more than just business. It’s about preserving local agriculture, creating traditions, and offering a place where families can make memories together. The support allows us to keep diversifying, expand our seasons with things like Christmas trees, and ensure the farm can continue for generations to come,” Tyler said.
McCulley’s – The family farm is diversifying.
Family is the core of everything the farm does, both theirs and yours.
“Amazin Acres has always been a family farm, passed down through generations and soon to be recognized as a Century Farm. Every part of what we do has involved our parents, our kids and now the next generation coming back home to carry the legacy forward. Daniel returning to work full time on the farm is a perfect example of how deeply rooted the family is in this place. It takes all of our family to keep everything going and growing. But it’s not just about our family – it’s about the families who walk through our gates,” said Tyler.
Years have passed and so have the seasons. Children grow and leaves fall like snow.
“We’ve watched children grow up coming to the pumpkin patch, picking strawberries, and now choosing their Christmas tree. Knowing that we get to play a small part in families’ holiday traditions is incredibly meaningful to us. Christmas, especially, is a time when people come together, and being able to provide a place where those memories are made is something we don’t take for granted,” according to Tyler.
Built by family, run by family and shared with families
“That’s what makes it so special,” says the McCulleys.
The Christmas tree business is unlike all the farm’s other endeavors. Fraser Firs are the go-to for most families, but the problem is, they don’t grow in this region. AA outsources the Frasers from a small farmer in Mountain City, TN.
On-site, the farm grows Virginia Pines, White Pines, Leyland Cypress and Canaan Fir.
“We began planting Christmas trees in 2019, and last year we were excited to harvest our very first crop. We continue planting more trees every year to ensure we can continue growing and offering this family experience,” according to the family.
Tyler says the mission is the same for AA, no matter the season: “Continue building a sustainable, family-run farm that can be passed down for generations.”
“We want to keep growing in a way that honors our roots while creating new experiences for the families who visit us year after year,” said Tyler.
Christmas is just around the corner. If you haven’t already, now is the time to grab that perfect family Christmas tree, and I think I know just the place.
“Many of you have grown alongside our farm, and it means so much to us to see families return season after season to make new memories together,” according to the McCulley family. “Your support is what allows a family farm like ours to keep thriving and growing. We hope you’ll continue to visit, celebrate traditions with us, and be a part of the Amazin Acres family for many years to come.”
UCBJ photos.
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