Our Goal
Farming is all we do. Farming is all we have ever done.
It’s our goal to offer all visitors a warm and comforting visit with nature and friends while experiencing a “taste of Stovers.” The Stover Farm is our full-time job, not just a commercial adventure that we play with for a few weeks in the summer.
Our History
“Homestead Near Arden”
In 1870, John and Sarah Stover left Center County Pennsylvania and came to Michigan with their three children and Sarah’s parents. They purchased a farm in Cass County and in 1878 John moved his family, wife Sarah and six children, to the old Tudor Homestead near Arden. After renting for 12 years, John purchased the farm in Berrien County where they grew grain and fruit along the St. Joseph River.
Today at Stover’s
Today, our retail farm market and U-Pic located on M-139 (formerly US-31) is operated by Ken (great-grandson of John), his wife June, their son Kenny (great great grandson of John) and his wife Erin Stover.
It may be hard to believe that a visit to our farm could fill an entire day. More often than not though, we find that people tend to linger and let the hours slip past unnoticed. Most of the time, these visitors are from the city and discover that they just love being on the farm and spending some time surrounded by nature.
Come for a visit and lose track of time while you hunt for arrowheads. Or, take a walk to the woods and ravine at the end of the apple orchard. If you’re very quiet and have a keen eye, you’ll be able to spot a variety of birds, deer of all sizes, wild turkey, raccoons, opossums and fox who all call this pristine land home.
We think you’ll also find the quality and integrity of our produce and our people is demonstrated year round. We’ll be sure to let you know if anything we sell isn’t up to par, and if the weather’s been damaging, we’ll try to keep the whining to a minimum. That is, except for June, and we just send her home if she keeps complaining.
We hope you’ll come and enjoy our 165-year-old Michigan bank barn. The original structure was built with wooden pegs, not any nails. Let Ken, June, Kenny and Erin Stover share a little of John and Sarah Stover of 1878 and the “Homestead near Arden” with you. Right here in the heart of Michigan Fruit Country… See you on the farm where the fresh air is free!