Debra Lockard

Lockard’s Produce

10+ Year Farmer Panel: What We Would Do Differently, Saturday, December 6, 10:15 AM

Debra splits her time between two farms in West Tennessee — her family’s legacy land in Glimp, where she’s farmed her whole life, and an urban farm in Memphis. Despite retiring from the school system, she continues to teach and share her knowledge about sustainable farming practices and horticulture as she grows her family farm. While continuing her family’s legacy as the third generation to farm their land and feed her community through Lockard’s Produce, Debra has also expanded her operation to include a second urban farm, further impacting her local community through her lifelong commitment to education.

“The farm, we’re a legacy farm — at least 94 years old,” Debra explained. “I grew up farming that actual land, and we are a certified naturally grown farm. It’s just amazing to just be back on the same earth growing that I was when I was small.”

Along with the wealth of knowledge she developed on the farm, Debra eventually set out to become a Master Gardener because she understood there was more to learn. She now shares her agricultural wisdom with others in her community. While technically retired from teaching in schools, she still finds time to lead classes on horticulture and sustainable farming practices at her urban farm.