Overview

The story of a single mom's pursuit of a dream to start an alpaca farm in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. At thirty-seven, Jane Lee Rankin receives news that upends her life: she's pregnant. Lee is a cancer survivor eighteen months in remission. Her boyfriend won't commit, and her father is unsupportive. When she decides to raise the baby by herself, Lee feels the scornful glances and judgmental whispers of her conservative hometown. Armed only with a dream and a toddler, Lee marches into Banner Elk, North Carolina, a place where she knows no one, to start an alpaca farm. As a novice first-generation farmer, Lee faces nature's most potent setbacks, from disastrous weather events to attacks from predators. And yet, she forges on. With vivid storytelling, Farm Family features a cast of memorable animal characters-including alpacas, Millie, Celeste, Frosty, and Wildcard-and immerses readers into the not-always-pretty world of farming. At Apple Hill Farm, Lee trades fear for freedom. She trades disdain for dignity. She learns that her connection to animals is more vital than she knew, and with bravery and persistence, she creates a home-a farm family.

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Reviews

"""Rankin does an excellent job of explaining the care and maintenance of the farm's inhabitants . . . She also makes clear the strong bonds she has with all her animals . . . Deeply felt."" -Kirkus Reviews ""Farm Family is an enchanting, inspirational read. City folk and farmers alike will relish following Rankin's journey to healing and success."" -BlueInk Review ""Rankin's celebratory memoir is about forging an unlikely new family among farm animals . . . each of Rankin's family members-animals included!-is rendered in vibrant, loving terms, via anecdotes that flesh out their individual personalities."" -Foreword Clarion Reviews ""Jane Lee Rankin is a wordsmith of the heart. She takes us on a journey to vividly illustrate through farm life how a heart can mend through death and despair to hope and renewal. You will beg her to write the next book, so you can follow her footsteps of bravery and endurance. Her story is captivating and engaging on all levels."" -Babette McAuliffe, publisher and editor in chief at Carolina Mountain Life magazine ""Rankin is one of my favorite voices in the world. She has taught me so much about family, life, and, yes, even alpacas. This is a great book for anyone who feels a call back to a simpler way of life by someone who's been brave enough to take the lead."" -Jeff Goins, bestselling author of The In-Between ""With her young son in tow and zero farming knowledge, single mother Lee Rankin set out for a soul-stirring adventure: to raise alpacas atop a mountain and find a new family. From sudden deaths to mountain lions to blizzards, Lee weathered one challenge after another. What she discovered along the way will inspire any of us in search of belonging. Farm Family shows us the grit, wit, and wonder needed to find home in the most unexpected places."" -Jeffrey Davis, strategist, speaker, author of Tracking Wonder ""The beauty of Lee Rankin's Farm Family is its honesty without pretension and the unintentional vulnerability of her voice. I felt the pain in her prose, the fear of her challenges, the heartbreak of her failures, and the absolute joy in her successes . . . You will cheer for Lee and embrace her story . . . and feel a part of her Farm Family."" -Jim Hamilton, PhD, Watauga County Extension Director, North Carolina Cooperative Extension"

Author Information

Jane Lee Rankin is a farmer and the founder of Apple Hill Farm, an award-winning first-generation farm in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Lee is an advocate for farmers through her leadership and involvement in the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association. She frequently speaks about farm tourism and the benefits of diversifying farm portfolios at conferences locally and nationally. In 2021, Lee won runner-up for North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year.

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