FACES & PLACES/DAY 30: Holman Farm spans 278 years
Deep in the heart of South Carolina lies the rich fertile farmland of Calhoun County.

Many of these family farms date back to the 1700s and trace their roots to the original land grants from the King of England. One of these farms was granted to Conrad Holman about 1737.

As you travel through St. Matthews east down Old Number Six Highway, you pass through the Holman farm, which is one of only a few that still operate under the same name as their ancestors some 278 years after the original land grant. Found on this land is the old Holman Cemetery that includes more than 50 graves of family members, many of whom died just days apart from diseases of that day.

Over the course of the 278 years of operation, the farm has produced crops such as asparagus, corn, small grains and soybeans. The farm also engaged in commercial egg production.

Today, it relies on cotton and peanut production. Seventh- and eighth-generation farmers Capers and Bill Holman use farming practices far different from what their ancestors used all those years ago.

Farming has evolved from the manual labor of walking behind the mule and plow and picking cotton by hand to the modern farming practices of today. These practices include computerized equipment that maps fields to aid in the planting, fertilizing, producing and harvesting of crops. GPS precision farming to dig peanuts as well as the bale-making cotton picker are some of the latest innovations used on Holman Farm today.

Capers Holman says, "We place our trust in the Lord and he has blessed us by allowing our family to continue to serve him as his stewards of this land. We strive to leave the land in better condition for the next generation."

Capers and Leeta Holman have four grandchildren, Jacob, Capers, Will and Campbell, who they hope one day will continue to till the soil of their ancestors and carry on their heritage and tradition.

Times & Democrat, Monday, March 9, 2015