Young family finds Fields of Joy at new farm near Anderson

June 15--ANDERSON -- Heavy gray clouds swirled over Fields of Joy, a small farm that sits west of the city, but the threatening weather could not dampen the spirits.

Formerly known as Pastor's Produce, 3840 W. 38th St., Fields of Joy was purchased by the Beghtel family almost a year ago.

The sale of the five-acre strawberry farm was posted on a Facebook page on a Monday and by that Friday the young couple, who were living in Fishers with three children, purchased the property after making a single visit.

Customers say they're happy the new owners have kept the farm open to the public.

Laughing, Lynsey Plew and her son, 7-year-old Jackson, swung bright red pails of fresh strawberries in their hands as they dodged scattered raindrops.

"We love it here," Plew said. "It's convenient, and he has the most fun out here."

Jackson nodded.

"He gets excited to come out, and everything is reasonably priced," Plew said. "You also know exactly what you are getting, because you pick the strawberries yourself."

Mother and son were the last customers of the day. As they walked into a pole barn to have their strawberries weighed, the heavens opened up to wash the countryside with sheets of rain.

In the distance, a lone figure was bent over in a section of the strawberry patch, carefully and quickly stripping the red berries from each plant before dropping the fruit in a bucket. The woman with dark hair and galoshes was unfazed by the rain.

Joy Beghtel lives up to her name, smiling and calling out a warm greeting from a distance.

"We weren't looking for a business," she said when asked about buying the farm. "We just wanted enough land to plant a large enough garden to support ourselves and have a little left over to take to a farmer's market."

Beghtel, a stay-at-home mother, said the former owner had done an excellent job of establishing the business prior to selling it and relocating to Wisconsin because of his job. She said the sale of the property included a mailing list with 800 people and a Facebook page with 600 followers.

"It was here and a diamond in the rough," she said, sorting through a bucket of fresh strawberries. "We are excited about the potential for growth."

The family plans to take most of the extra produce from the farm to the Pendleton Farmer's Market.

Beghtel said she grew up in the country with goats, rabbits and chickens and is looking forward to introducing that kind of lifestyle to her children.

"This has been a big year of adjusting," she said while walking toward the pole barn. "Adjusting to a new community, a new business, a new home, a new school system -- it has been a lot."

Summers also don't look the same for the family, who are used to vacationing during the warmer months that now comprise their busiest season.

"It is definitely more than I had imagined," said Greg Beghtel, who had been helping customers inside the barn. He said he spends his time working full time for an insurance agency and helping where his wife needs him.

"We took a leap of faith by moving to Anderson," Joy Beghtel said, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist. "And honestly, the people here are more neighborly than we expected. I love them. They are hard-working, nice people that are so unbelievably kind."

The Beghtels hope the farm is a business their children can grow into as they learn to raise produce. But it is also a source of income to help pay for their college tuition.

"We are really blessed," Joy Beghtel said. "And we are very confident this is where we are supposed to be."

The overhead clouds had parted briefly and, close to the horizon, a single ray of light reflected into a faint rainbow.

"But there is no way we could have done it this year without our family and all the help from our customers and friends," she added.

Like Traci L. Moyer on Facebook and follow her @moyyer on Twitter, or call 648-4250.

Berries by the basket Formerly known as Pastor's Produce, Fields of Joy is located at 3840 W. 38th St., in Anderson. Acres of strawberry patches, fruit trees, fresh eggs and garden vegetables are available at the farm. Customers can also opt to pick their own strawberries or buy them already fresh picked from the fields. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The owners encourage customers to call ahead at 641-2646, before making a trip in the event of inclement weather or picking conditions. Watch it To learn more about Fields of Joy and see the activity at the local produce farm, visit www.heraldbulletin.com/videos.

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