Meet Your Family Farmers: Ann, Mac and John

You read in this space about how your food is grown, but rarely do you get to know the people behind your food. Ann Bell Stone, John Bell and Mac Stone are the managers of the sixth-generation Elmwood Stock Farm, leading teams of field crew, delivery drivers, farmers market employees and office staff.

Siblings Ann and John grew up on Elmwood Stock Farm, farming with their parents, Cecil and Kay Bell, in what started as a traditional cattle and tobacco operation. Ann met Mac Stone at a farming conference right around the time she and John were transitioning the farm to a diversified organic farm. A few years later, Ann and Mac were married. John and his wife, Melissa Bell, live on the farm, too, and are raising their children here—the seventh generation of family farmers.

Ann, Mac and John answered a few questions about the farm, their lives here and what they hope is to come. Click here to read about the people behind your food.

Lemon Garlic Grilled Pork Chops 

3 green garlic stalks, white and tender green parts minced

1 tsp. minced fresh oregano

zest of 1 lemon

1/3 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. olive oil

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

4 pork chops, bone in

vegetable oil, for brushing the grill

Whisk marinade ingredients in a glass dish. Add pork. Marinate for 1 to 3 hours.

Take pork out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.

Brush grill with oil, and heat on high until smoking.

Shake off excess marinade from pork chops (but don't wipe dry).

Turn down grill heat slightly. Place pork chops on grill and cook the first side for 4 minutes, until it is nicely charred. Turn and cook the other side for 3 minutes. Turn the pork chops on their side to briefly sear the sides.

Transfer to a plate, and rest for 3 to 5 minutes.

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Recipe adapted from Recipe Tin Eats.

Find more recipes on the Elmwood Stock Farm Pinterest page.