A Passion for the Family Farm 

When describing Alabama potato farmer Gary Andrews’ passion for his crop, his loan officer likens him to the character “Bubba” from Forrest Gump. 

“Bubba Gump talks about all different kinds of things that you can do with shrimp,” she says. “Gary Andrews is going to talk about all kinds of things that he can do with potatoes.” 

Andrews runs Andrews Farms, a 300-acre potato farm in Rainsville, Alabama and an operation that has been part of his life since he was a child. 

“I grew up on a potato farm,” Andrews said. “My dad was a potato farmer. My brother and I continued the operation, and I’m still growing potatoes.” 

Adapting Successfully 

In the 1980s and 1990s, Andrews Farm grew chipping potatoes for their contract with the snack food company Frito-Lay. However, Andrews stepped away from potato farming when Frito-Lay left the area, and the farm lost its contracts. 

Now, as the last remaining large-scale potato farm in Alabama, Andrews Farms has adjusted its crop to find a new market—one where Alabamians can purchase its potatoes fresh. 

“We grow only table stock potatoes now,” Andrews said. “What we grow goes back to the grocery stores.” 

Building Powerful Relationships 

As a generational potato farmer, Andrews recognizes the importance of strong relationships in building successful agriculture operations.  

“You need employees that you can depend on, and then on the financial part, you need somebody you can trust,” he said. 

Andrews turned to Alabama Farm Credit to help support his farm’s financials. His loan officer called him not only a wonderful addition to the association, but a wonderful personal relationship as well. 

“Gary and [his wife] Kim are the salt of the earth, my favorite humans on the planet,” she said. “That’s important to me, and I know it’s important for Kim and Gary to have that relationship and to be able to trust someone with the operations that they do to feed their family.”