Loftus Farms , a family farm in Georgetown , has also faced many changes since it was established by Jerry and Jean Loftus in 1952 .
Today , Jacob Loftus is a third-generation owner who runs the business with his wife , Brittany , and his mother , Debbie . His father , Gary , was a lifelong farmer at Loftus Farms before he died in 2020 .
“ I feel a lot of pride in keeping the farm going ,” Jacob said . “ We didn ’ t have many people interested , really , in taking over the farm except for me and my family , so if it wasn ’ t for me , the farm might not be here today . It ’ s a little bit of a load on my shoulders , but I ’ m really happy to do it . I really love the community I live in and providing fresh produce .”
The business includes the Berry Shed , a farm stand featuring fresh produce from the farm . The stand was originally located on Oakes Road before moving to its current site off of Interstate 64 , located at 1027 N . Luther Road .
Strawberries have always been a staple at Loftus Farms , but in recent years , the family has adapted their business model as they see fewer people helping out on the farm during picking season . The farm is transitioning to U-Pick strawberries only .
“ We used to pick a lot of strawberries to sell , and we used to have pickers come and pay them to pick for us , and we don ’ t really do that anymore , so we ’ re trying to grow the U-Pick business , which kind of solves the labor issue ,” Brittany said .
“ But also , families are wanting to get out of the house . It ’ s fun , it ’ s safe ,” she said . “ It ’ s somewhere families with really young kids can come .”
When Jacob was younger , there would often be about 10 people on the farm helping out with the farm , but these days , it ’ s mostly the family itself . they faced limitations on how many “ We kind of pick and choose what people could be in the funeral home at we do just so we can handle it one time . These days , things are mostly ourselves ,” he said . “ We used to get a back to normal as restrictions have lot of kids who wanted to come work been lifted . and make a couple of bucks , but that ’ s Edwin learned from his father and gone .” his grandfather , and he is proud to E . M . Coots ’ Sons Funeral Home , work with his son as they carry on the located at 120 W . Maple St . in business . Jeffersonville , has been family-owned “ I ’ m very proud of the fact that since it was established in 1860 . The we ’ re in our sixth generation ,” he said .
“ A business has to grow — it can ’ t stay the same or it will die . You have to embrace change .”
- Lara Collett , Aebersold Florist
original owner , Edwin M . Coots , first “ Every generation has gotten along opened the business on East Chestnut with the next generation . For a lot of Street . family businesses , it ’ s hard for one
Edwin Coots , the fifth generation generation to get along with the next , owner , now runs the business with his but very rarely do we have any son , Tucker Coots . Edwin received an disagreements , and there ’ s definitely accounting degree , but as he was no arguments .” working with numbers behind a desk , Collett loves the creativity of he realized he was more of a “ peopleperson ,” he said . “ you never know what you ’ re going to
Aebersold Florist and she enjoys that
“ It ’ s been a rewarding career ,” he create when you walk through the said . “ It ’ s a hard business to be in , but door .” She believes her family ’ s pride it ’ s rewarding when you can help in their work has been key to the families through a difficult time .” shop ’ s success .
Edwin has worked full-time at the
“ You ’ ve got to love what you do ,” funeral home since 1983 , and his son she said . “ You ’ ve got to be dedicated has been working there for about a to it .” decade . As the industry has changed ,
For Loftus Farms , the family is the funeral home has changed with it . inspired to see renewed interest from
For example , the funeral home is younger generations in buying local seeing more families choose cremation food and knowing where their food than it did 40 years ago , and E . M . comes from .
Coots now offers more options for
“ People , in general , want to feed families . When Edwin first started in their kids healthier food , and they want the business , most visitations took to be connected to their community ,” place over three days , but now , it ’ s Brittany said . “ We ’ re lucky that we ’ re often just one day of visitation . here already doing that .” COVID-19 shutdown was a tough “ And we ’ ve never really stopped ,” time for the funeral home and the Jacob added . families they served , particularly as