The Depression was at its height...
Shafter Aaron had to find more ways to care for his family. It is fairly true that though Wall Street fell, that many in this area of the country did not feel its effects, but everyone had to find something to help out their families. For Shafter and his four sons, this was Apples. He started operations in 1938, prior to the US entering World War II as a way to bring in just a little more income for his family. Right next to his house he started construction on what would would come to be known as "Aaron's Apple House". This facility was for the whole sale and retail sale of apples and other agricultural products. All of the four children worked on the farm, which raised Chickens and apples, and at a later date would raise cattle. Throughout his life Shafter was involved throughout the Gilmer County community and in north Georgia. He regularly took his boys with him to a hardware store in Dawsonville that was owned by Bill Elliot's father. His wife, Reba, served as a lunch lady at Oakland School for over 20 years before her retirement. Shafter, served on the School Board and oversaw many different aspects and the construction of new school buildings throughout Gilmer County providing for the future of the area. Two of his sons, Jack and Mack, would be the ones to carry on the apple business and pass it on to their children. Jack added a new portion to the Aaron Family Farm, one of the larger herds of Santa Gertrudis Cattle in Georgia. He served in a leadership capacity in the North Georgia Cattlemen's Association, remained active in local politics like his father Shafter, and worked to expand the business. In the 1970's, Jack and Mack had different missions and goals for the farm, and as the two that had been taking care of the farm, went their separate ways. Jack was involved in the newly created Future Farmers of America at Ellijay High School, and passed that tradition along to his son. Mack started his own retail and wholesale enterprise just down the road, and Jack continued to operate the original, working closely with his brother trading apples, cattle and other resources. Bill Aaron still operates that enterprise to this day.
Jack married Dorothy Craig and had two children, Diane Aaron and Alan Aaron. Diane went on to marry Mitchell Bowen. Diane worked in the banking industry and part time on the family farm helping with accounting, records, and number crunching. Alan married Mary Waddell and helped with the day to day operations of the farm. In 1999 Jack passed away after fighting a series of strokes. Due to the labor intensity, the cattle were sold off, but the chickens and apples both remained. Dorothy remained the matriarch of the family until she passed away from Lung Cancer in 2006. Diane and Alan partnered for several years, taking care of the operations until an offer was made and he bought out his sister's share of the business.
From 2006 to 2024 the Farm was operated by Alan Aaron. Alan attended Gilmer County High School. Alan started to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, but the farm required his assistance more than his studies, so he returned home and married the love of his life Mary Waddell, who was attending North Georgia College at the time, and was a very active member of the Corps of Cadets. They were married in 1987 and added 4 more chicken houses to the Aaron Family Farm. In 1990 they welcomed their first child, Stephen, then in 1996, Joshua was born, and in 1998 Sarah was the final installment of the Aaron family.
Stephen continued on the family tradition in the American FFA Association, was awarded the North Region Star in Agricultural Science, and received his American FFA Degree in 2011, the first in his family to do so. He also went on to be the first person in his family to earn a degree, receiving an Associates Degree in Political Science in 2011, and a Bachelor's in Business and Economic Development in 2013. While at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College he served as President of the Student Body, and highlighted issues on the campus. Stephen works in the political industry across the country, and assists the Orchard in digital marketing and strategic planning.
Joshua was born in 1996. During his time in school he was very active in a multitude of different sports and organizations. His two favorite were Football and FFA. From his involvement in these two opportunities in middle and high school, Joshua grew a passion for educating and creating effective teams. After high school graduation, he attended ABAC in Tifton, GA where he received an associates in Agricultural Education in the fall of 2016. He then went on to the University of Georgia, Tifton campus and Graduated with a Bachelors in Agricultural Education. During his time in college he became a political and agricultural activist and spent a lot of time traveling the state and southeast advocating for different candidates and policies. When he was not traveling the state, he was working at the orchard, ABAC, or the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center to pay for his studies. His Senior year of college, Joshua student taught at Ashworth Middle School. He now is the Educational Program Specialist at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center where he serves as an assistant director. The programs he assists in facilitating include team-building and leadership (BASIC Training), Hunter Education (FFA Wildlife Camp), Basic Horsemanship( FFA Horse Camp), And all aquatic areas where he is a Lifeguard Instructor for the American Red Cross. He uses these programs and his time at the orchard to make a positive impact in the lives of each and every person he comes into contact with.
Sarah has followed her dreams and works in the healthcare industry. She currently works as an EMT while attending Nursing School. She assists at the farm as often as she can, helping customers and working in the Orchard.
In 2024, Joshua Aaron took on the management of Aaron Family Orchards, working to grow the family Orchard and provide people with locally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This included the replanting of the Orchard in the spring of 2024 on dwarf root stock so that more apples can be grown per acre and further suit the needs of our customers.
Jack married Dorothy Craig and had two children, Diane Aaron and Alan Aaron. Diane went on to marry Mitchell Bowen. Diane worked in the banking industry and part time on the family farm helping with accounting, records, and number crunching. Alan married Mary Waddell and helped with the day to day operations of the farm. In 1999 Jack passed away after fighting a series of strokes. Due to the labor intensity, the cattle were sold off, but the chickens and apples both remained. Dorothy remained the matriarch of the family until she passed away from Lung Cancer in 2006. Diane and Alan partnered for several years, taking care of the operations until an offer was made and he bought out his sister's share of the business.
From 2006 to 2024 the Farm was operated by Alan Aaron. Alan attended Gilmer County High School. Alan started to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, but the farm required his assistance more than his studies, so he returned home and married the love of his life Mary Waddell, who was attending North Georgia College at the time, and was a very active member of the Corps of Cadets. They were married in 1987 and added 4 more chicken houses to the Aaron Family Farm. In 1990 they welcomed their first child, Stephen, then in 1996, Joshua was born, and in 1998 Sarah was the final installment of the Aaron family.
Stephen continued on the family tradition in the American FFA Association, was awarded the North Region Star in Agricultural Science, and received his American FFA Degree in 2011, the first in his family to do so. He also went on to be the first person in his family to earn a degree, receiving an Associates Degree in Political Science in 2011, and a Bachelor's in Business and Economic Development in 2013. While at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College he served as President of the Student Body, and highlighted issues on the campus. Stephen works in the political industry across the country, and assists the Orchard in digital marketing and strategic planning.
Joshua was born in 1996. During his time in school he was very active in a multitude of different sports and organizations. His two favorite were Football and FFA. From his involvement in these two opportunities in middle and high school, Joshua grew a passion for educating and creating effective teams. After high school graduation, he attended ABAC in Tifton, GA where he received an associates in Agricultural Education in the fall of 2016. He then went on to the University of Georgia, Tifton campus and Graduated with a Bachelors in Agricultural Education. During his time in college he became a political and agricultural activist and spent a lot of time traveling the state and southeast advocating for different candidates and policies. When he was not traveling the state, he was working at the orchard, ABAC, or the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center to pay for his studies. His Senior year of college, Joshua student taught at Ashworth Middle School. He now is the Educational Program Specialist at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center where he serves as an assistant director. The programs he assists in facilitating include team-building and leadership (BASIC Training), Hunter Education (FFA Wildlife Camp), Basic Horsemanship( FFA Horse Camp), And all aquatic areas where he is a Lifeguard Instructor for the American Red Cross. He uses these programs and his time at the orchard to make a positive impact in the lives of each and every person he comes into contact with.
Sarah has followed her dreams and works in the healthcare industry. She currently works as an EMT while attending Nursing School. She assists at the farm as often as she can, helping customers and working in the Orchard.
In 2024, Joshua Aaron took on the management of Aaron Family Orchards, working to grow the family Orchard and provide people with locally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This included the replanting of the Orchard in the spring of 2024 on dwarf root stock so that more apples can be grown per acre and further suit the needs of our customers.