Cypress Cattle Company more than just a cattle farm

Tucked away near Ponce de Leon, straddling Walton/Holmes County line, sits 1,100 acres of rolling hills, magnificent live oaks, cypress ponds, pastures and acres of fresh produce.

Cypress Cattle Company has been a family-run farm for generations. W.J. Sapp started in the family business in the 1920s farming sugar cane and potatoes. The farm then migrated to dairy until 1991, when they switched to cattle farming.

Now managed by Sapp’s great-great nephew, Luke Langford, and his father Ken, Cypress now offers farm tours, primitive camping and fishing on any of their seven ponds for crappie, bass and bream. And, in keeping with all things fresh, Cypress now commercially grows produce, selling locally at their market located at 16564 U.S. Hwy 331S in Freeport.

Cypress participates in the Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association, a community based food system model that assists farmers in pooling their resources locally.

Luke believes you enjoy a better product when sold locally, and has a contract with Panhandle Fresh to sell to local Walmarts.

“I can go into a Walmart and tell people in there that I know that squash they are buying is good,” Luke explains as he describes the benefits of eating locally grown food that has not been transported thousands of miles.

“I feed my baby fresh pureed squash from my crops, and I’m confident I am feeding him fresh and healthy food,” Luke continued.

Currently, Cypress is offering seasonal vegetables including collard greens, kale, turnip greens and will have broccoli ready soon. Future harvests will boast tomatoes, red potatoes, squash, green beans, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn, okra and field peas.

If you are interested in finding the perfect quiet getaway, bring your tent, fishing pole and kayak or boat, as Cypress Cattle Company offers primitive camping and solitude around their cypress tree-lined ponds. Primitive camping is $25/night, RV camping $35/night. Cypress Cattle Company can also accommodate visitors bringing their own horses. Farm tours are also available for those interested Florida Panhandle agriculture in action.

Cypress Cattle Company also offers freshly cut heart pine and knotty pine and cypress cut on their on-site sawmill. They specialize in cutting large beams, wide board lumber, mantles or any other hard-to-find cut. The can kiln dry, plane and mill your lumber.  H

For more information, go to http://www.cypresscattle.com or call Luke Langford at (850) 685-5890 or their market at (850) 880-6955.