Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

Much like the generations before us, my husband, Hunter, and I, Jessica Vick, dreamed of owning a farm where we could raise children, grow vegetables and care for cattle. We named our operation Circle V Farm. The circle has long been a meaningful symbol for us, representing a love and purpose that never ends.

After receiving one of the first Alabama Ag JumpStart grants in 2022, we believed we were well on our way to turning our small cattle operation, homestead and land management business into our livelihood.

Then, a devastating equipment fire changed everything.

Fortunately, we had a cattle herd to sell, which helped us navigate weeks of insurance claims and lost income. Once we were able to return to our work restoring the Black Belt Prairie and logging Eastern red cedar trees, we began to rethink the role our farm would play in our future.

The Black Belt Prairie is a 300-mile region stretching from Mississippi into Alabama. Known for its dark, fertile soils and beltlike shape, the area is one of Alabama’s most unique and ecologically diverse landscapes. Today, however, the Black Belt Prairie is considered critically imperiled, making restoration efforts essential.

One key aspect of that restoration involves removing encroaching Eastern red cedar trees, allowing native grasses, wildflowers and other vegetation to thrive once again.

To support those efforts, Hunter began harvesting cedar trees using restoration-driven practices that advance prairie recovery while providing high-quality cedar logs to sawmills across the Southeast. As demand for cedar logs and lumber increased, so did the need for restoration work.

We took a critical look at our farm and realized cedar lumber would allow us to expand our restoration efforts while complementing the work we were already doing. It also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about the Black Belt Prairie and its importance.

With years of experience operating sawmills and farm equipment, transitioning from cattle production to lumber milling came naturally to Hunter. Yet the cedar we mill is far different from the standard lumber found in large retail stores.

Every tree processed on our farm is removed with a purpose. The work helps restore native vegetation, increase pollinator populations, improve habitat for bobwhite quail and enhance air and water quality throughout the region. The logging and milling process also helps reduce restoration costs for landowners seeking to improve their property.

What makes our operation unique is not only why we mill but also how we mill. Regardless of the size of a project, we take time to learn about the customer and the purpose behind the lumber. If we do not already have the right tree on the mill, Hunter will find one that best fits the customer's needs.

As his wife, I enjoy bragging on him because he sees more than a business opportunity when he looks at a cedar tree. He sees the people who will use the lumber, the projects they will create and the wildlife that will benefit from the restoration work. He considers everything from the butterflies that need the native flowers replacing the cedars to the future generations who will benefit from the restoration efforts happening today.

While our vision for the farm evolved, including an addition to our name — Circle V Farm & Lumber — our purpose has remained the same. We are committed to being good stewards of both our relationships and the land.

Owning a farm once felt like a full-circle moment for us. Looking back, it was only one chapter in a much larger story. Today, at Circle V Farm & Lumber, we are raising children, milling lumber and working to restore the Black Belt Prairie for generations to come.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.