In May 2017, Danielle (Hammer) and Tim Clark rolled up their sleeves and took the plunge to become first-generation berry growers on a farm southeast of Mayville, Wis.

“We call it Mayberry Farms because it’s close to Mayville and we sell berries,” Danielle says. “Mayberry also represents a great pastime in our American culture.”

The Clarks purchased the farm from Wayne and Cindy Zastrow. The Zastrows bought the farm in 1997 from the Steinbach family, who first started growing strawberries there in 1976.

Farming history
Danielle, 31, was raised on a grain farm near Beaver Dam in Dodge County. She graduated in 2012 from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in ag business. Previously, she was coordinator for the Clean Air Choice program funded through the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, but now she works full time for the berry business.

Tim, 32, grew up on a farm in Leroy, also in Dodge County, and graduated from UW-Madison in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences communication and agricultural economics. He works in the commercial vegetable seed industry. Danielle and Tim have been married for four years. They have two sons, James, 3, and Jonah, 8 months.

The Clarks farm 90 acres, with 20 acres of strawberries and raspberries. They also grow corn, soybeans and wheat.

“We have made investments to greatly expand our berry-picking acres,” Tim says. “This year we have 2 acres of raspberries and 18 acres of strawberries in full production. We see an opportunity to grow our business by providing an abundant supply of fresh, delicious and beautiful berries to our current customers. We also want to groom a new generation of berry pickers through our farm-fun events and family-friendly atmosphere.”

They have two varieties of strawberries available this year: jewel and cabot. This spring they planted nearly 100,000 strawberry plants in six varieties. Those strawberries will be available for picking during the 2019 season. “We have to plan two years in advance,” Tim says.

Tim handles the crop production and berry harvest on the farm. He manages the harvest crews from 4 to 9 a.m. before heading off to his day job during the picking season.

“The hardest thing for me is finding enough time to visit with our customers and patrons during the busy season,” Tim says. “We love our customers ‘berry’ much.”

Strawberry picking
The Clarks plan to welcome more than 3,500 berry pickers to their farm during this strawberry picking season. During the season, which usually begins in June, Mayberry Farms is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, harvest and weather permitting. Mornings at Mayberry Farms are very busy.

“Most people come here in the morning or in the evening after work,” Danielle says. Visitors to the farm can park next to the field that is being harvested that day.

“The we-pick business involves a great deal of coordination,” Tim says. “We do most of that in the early morning hours. We want to have berries ready for pickup when we open at 7 a.m. and don’t want to be picking in the heat of the day.”

U-pick berries are sold by the pound while we-pick berries are sold in varying product sizes. Customers can pay with cash, credit or debit card, Apple iPay, local checks, or Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

The Clarks have a Facebook page and a detailed website. “The goal of our website is to make sure people know when we are picking berries and how to get here,” Danielle says.

“Social media and the website have the most information,” she adds. “This way people get to know who we are; they learn that we have a great family environment, and they can find out what we are all about.

“We have information on the phone, too,” Danielle says. “We get more than 50 calls to our berry hotline each morning.”

“Berries are a very physical crop,” Tim notes. “Labor is our biggest hurdle and opportunity. We have found a lot of local kids and adults to help us with customer service and berry processing. We employ many Amish workers to pick the berries.”

Last year, the Clarks had visitors at their farm from nine different states during strawberry picking season, including Michigan, Illinois, Florida and Texas.

“This has been a berry farm for 40 years, and several visitors tell us they time their vacation every year to pick strawberries here,” Tim says.

A lot of people come to pick strawberries at Mayberry Farms because the winding and picturesque Rock River flows through the farm. Visitors can pick berries in fields along the river.

This year during strawberry picking season, the Clarks will offer guests delicious treats, including their signature dessert — a strawberry shortcake sundae. They’ve partnered with Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus and Fishy’s Bakery in Fond du Lac to offer a fresh-baked vanilla-bean shortcake paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and topped with Mayberry Farms strawberries. They will also sell strawberry sundaes, a Sassy scoop of any flavor of ice cream and many bakery items.

“People come here to pick berries,” Danielle says. “We also want to provide some treats and quality entertainment.”

In late July, the Clarks begin selling red raspberries. The raspberries are grown in greenhouses on the farm called high tunnels.

“We pick everything,” Tim says. “We sell raspberries direct and through farmers markets. Raspberries can be ordered from July through October. There is a waiting list.

All the buzz
New this year, the Clarks have introduced honeybees. “We have welcomed many bee colonies to our berry business,” Danielle says. “We are selling Aunt Bee’s Homemade Honey, keeping with the Mayberry theme. After all, what would Mayberry be with Aunt Bee?”

The Clarks are selling pure raw honey, collected from many hives located on their farm.

“It is filtered, but it is not pasteurized,” Tim explains. “We think it’ll be the perfect addition to our sustainable farming mission.”

The Clarks use the bees to pollinate their berries. “As we increase our berry acreage, we need to increase the amount of pollinators living on our farm,” Tim says. “We are mentoring with a seasoned beekeeper and making many investments to best manage our smallest, sweetest and hardest-working employees.”

The Clarks are active members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. “Tim and I met through the Farm Bureau,” Danielle notes. They are also members of the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association and the Dodge-Jefferson County Beekeepers Association.

“We are very impressed with the state berry growers association. They’ve been so helpful and accommodating as we start growing berries,” Tim says. “We want to help promote our wonderful state and the many farm families, just like ours, ready to welcome people into their berry fields.”

Mayberry Farms is located at W2364 County Y, Mayville, WI 53050. Check out the Mayberry Farms website for more information, directions and special activities.

Events planned for June
The Clarks will hold two special weekend events during strawberry picking season this year.

“Our first event will be held Father’s Day weekend, June 15 through June 17,” Danielle says. “We’re calling it Strawberries, Superheroes and Sundaes. We will have several superheroes in the strawberry fields to take pictures with kids, host some activities and enjoy fresh strawberry sundaes.”

The second event, Farm-to-Table for Families, is planned for June 30. “We’re going to be hosting a farm-fresh meal from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Danielle says.

The menu features a fresh strawberry salad prepared with lettuce from Windy Drumlins of Horicon and strawberry salsa tacos with grilled chicken, black beans and brick cheese from Widmer’s Cheese Cellars in Theresa. The meal will be prepared by chef Keith Hill of Nola North Grille in Mayville.

The Wisconsin Beef Council, Blue Zones Project of Dodge County and several other organizations will also be on hand.

“We want to promote Mayville and invite visitors to explore our community,” Tim explains. “We will welcome people, including young children, to enjoy our farm with a fun, affordable and delicious event. We also want to connect people with the farmers and farm organizations working to provide food in our local community.”

The cost of the meal is $10 per person, half price for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. Reservations can be made on Facebook.

Click through the slideshow to see pictures from Mayberry Farms.