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For over 42
years Fred and Faye walked the rows of trees hand in hand referring
to the orchard as their church. In 1945 Faye passed away and
with her, so too did Fred's true love. Fred continued to work the farm
after Faye's death. Four months later he received a call from
his
18 year old granddaughter telling him that she was moving to New
Mexico to learn all about the apple business. At the time Becky
was 18 and an education major at Northwestern College. Fred would teach Becky everything he knew about raising apples, which after 45 years had become an extensive amount of knowledge and experiences. With each passing season Becky took on new work and learned more and more. In 1992 Becky met Jim Mullane and the two would marry a year later. Fred, recognizing the love and devotion his granddaughter had for the farm, turned it over to her and her husband in 1996. Like her grandfather and grandmother Becky and Jim have seen many blessings and numerous challenges of raising their three children, Luke, Cody and Natalie Faye, on a farm. The past few years have been extremely challenging due to the extended drought the region has experienced. As the water of the nearby creek dried up so too did the size of the harvests. With the addition of a micor-irrigation system, two wells, many prayers and the continued guidance of her grandfather the farm is back on track. In an effort to replace trees that were lost and damaged from the drought and to expand the availability of apples in the future 15 new acres have been planted. Come late September people from all over the country, region and world visit Dixon's® Apples. Upon arriving visitors can taste the many years of TLC Fred and Faye, as well as Becky and Jim have put into the farm. The nearly 55 acre orchard produces four varieties of apples: Red Delicious, Red Rome, Champagne™ and Sparkling Burgundy™. The Champagne™ and Sparkling Burgundy™ apples were developed and patented by the Dixons. Many, including Fred Dixon, believe the Champagne™ is the best apple in the world. |
