Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

What started as a family's desire to share life on the farm has blossomed into a fall tradition where children can play, families can reconnect and the simple joys of country living take center stage.

In Cottonwood, Wells Farms is a third-generation farm built on a foundation of family and agriculture. Chad Wells carries on the farm his grandfather started, continuing a family tradition that has grown and changed with each generation.

Chad's grandfather originally started farming on a different piece of land. When Chad's father began farming, he purchased the land where Wells Farms is located today, expanding the family operation. Years later, when Chad's father retired, he passed the farm down to Chad, allowing the next generation to continue the family tradition. Chad looks forward to doing the same with his own children.

Today, Chad and his wife, Anna, grow row crops, including peas, peanuts and corn. But farming isn't the only way the Wells family is connecting people to agriculture.

The farm also includes a small farm store. In spring 2026, Wells Farms added a new way for visitors to experience the farm with its first U-pick strawberry patch. In fall 2025, the farm opened its first pumpkin patch, bringing families to the farm for more than just a day in the country.

The pumpkin patch features a corn maze, sunflower fields, wagon rides around the farm and a 5-acre playground, giving children plenty of opportunities to explore and families a chance to spend time together.

For Chad, the idea for the pumpkin patch started close to home.

As a grandfather, Chad watched his children drive nearly an hour to find a pumpkin patch where they could take his grandchildren. He realized he already had the land and resources to create that experience on his own farm. What began as an idea for his grandchildren quickly became an opportunity to create something for the entire community.

But for Chad, the pumpkin patch is about more than fall fun. It is another way to educate people about agriculture.

Chad is passionate about helping people understand where their food comes from and giving the next generation an opportunity to experience agriculture firsthand. That passion extends to the young people he employs on the farm, giving them valuable experience working in agriculture and learning what it takes to grow food.

"We need to educate the next generation about their produce," Chad said.

Opening Wells Farms to the community allows Chad to do just that. Through the farm's crops, farm store, strawberry patch and fall activities, visitors have an opportunity to experience a working farm while enjoying time with their families.

What began generations ago with Chad's grandfather continues today through Chad and Anna, growing not only crops, but also opportunities to connect the community with agriculture. At Wells Farms, the harvest is more than what comes out of the field. It is the relationships, experiences and lessons that grow along with it.