Where Strawberries Grow and Families Bloom

Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm in Pilot Point, Texas

There is something unmistakably sacred about land that has been loved for generations. At Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm, that love is felt the moment you step onto the soil; soil that has been farmed by the same family for more than 100 years and is now nurturing its fifth generation.

Kylie and Chris Demases are the heart of the farm today, alongside their grandmother, Willene Ritchie. What began decades ago with peanuts and cotton has grown (quite literally) into rows and rows of vibrant strawberries. “We’re one of the last families still actively farming our land,” Kylie shared, her voice filled with pride. “This place raised us.”

By day, Kylie is a nurse. By season, she becomes part of something older and deeper working alongside her family during strawberry season. Chris, a fourth-generation farmer, is the steady hand behind the operation. “I’ve just fallen in love with the dirt,” he said simply. “And now I get to watch my kids fall in love with it too.”

Chris farms full-time, often alone, using thoughtful, intentional methods designed to protect the land. One technique, called Plasticulture, it helps retain moisture and prevent erosion. Even more meaningful is how he rotates the land every three years, allowing sections to rest and breathe. Those grassy areas families love to photograph? They’re part of the healing process. Chris plants black-eyed peas, mustard greens, and other crops that are eventually tilled back into the soil. “It’s how we make sure this land can be farmed for generations,” he explained.

The farm began its strawberry journey in 2018 with just 10,000 plants. This season, they’ll tend nearly 100,000. The growth came with a lesson. When demand outpaced their ability to pick and sell strawberries themselves, the idea of a you-pick farm was born. Today, families line up before opening hours, baskets in hand, eager to create memories.

Kylie loves watching those memories unfold. “I’ve seen pregnant moms come one season, then return the next with their babies,” she said. “Now those babies are kids running through the rows. It’s becoming a family tradition.”

That sense of tradition runs deep. Willene smiled as she reflected, “My dad would be so proud. This is the fifth generation farming this land.” She hopes the sixth and seventh will follow.

Community is woven into everything they do. From partnering with Future Farmers of America(FFA) students to building a kindergarten teaching program that shows children where food comes from, education is central to their mission. “We want kids to understand the importance of farming,” Kylie said. “To respect the soil.”

Strawberry season is a family affair. Dad works the parking lot. Grandma hands out baskets. Kids stake out their favorite picking spots. Rain doesn’t stop the joy as children splash through muddy rows in galoshes, tasting strawberries that remind them food can be sweeter than anything from a store shelf.

Farming, they’ve learned, is about surrender and resilience. “You go with the flow,” Chris said. “You adjust to what the land and weather give you and keep moving forward.”

Being featured on the magazine cover feels like an honor, but their hope is bigger than recognition. “We want people to fall in love with agriculture,” they shared. “To honor the soil. And maybe, just maybe, raise future farmers.”

At Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm, every strawberry picked carries a story of faith, family, and the beauty of tending something that truly matters. And when you visit, don’t be surprised you fall in love too!

Photos Provided by: Kylie Demases

12141 Foutch Rd, Pilot Point, TX 76258

OPENING APRIL-MAY

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