A family farm in transition

Rockspan Farm has been in our family for over 40 years, but our history goes way back.  Walter Chiles arrived in the new world in 1636 and lived in the first brick house built in James Town.  The family migrated in a mostly southern direction settling in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.  Richard Ballinger Chiles left Kentucky and started farming in Jackson County, Missouri in the early 1820's.  

In Missouri, the family owned large properties and focused on three main crops:  tobacco, mules and hemp.  Meanwhile settlers from Tennessee were arriving in Greene County to settle the land where we live now.  William Harralson filed patents on our farm in 1841.  ​
Rockspan has served as grain farm, cattle farm, dairy farm, fish farm and turkey farm.  All have failed.  Our conceit is that we can beat the odds.  

Today we're transitioning from old practices to rotational grazing, timber stand improvement, stream management, prairie restoration, warm season grasses, tree crops and silviculture. 

We thank the local, state and federal agencies who are helping us through this change.  

Over 10,000 years of history

Native Americans lived on our farm since Clovis times.  We find evidence of their long, successful cultures wherever we look.  Although we never dig for artifacts, we find them in postholes and footing trenches.  Most recently, this was a seasonal village for the mighty Osage Indians.  

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