Jason brown had it all — a beautiful wife, a growing family, and fame as a star lineman for the Baltimore Ravens. However, when a call on his heart told him to leave his career behind and start a farm to grow food for those in need, Jason knew he had to answer the call. At just 27, Brown questioned his happiness. He should be happy — after all, as one of the highest paid centers in the NFL, he and his wife Tay, a successful dentist, were living the American dream. The couple had purchased a mansion in St. Louis, and their family’s star was on the rise. Yet, Jason felt more hollow with each passing day. “What are you doing with your life that’s so great?” he asked aloud, staring at himself. Reflected back at him was the face of his older brother, Lundsford Bernard Brown II, who had died serving his country in Iraq in 2003. Success in Jason’s eyes was one of service and purpose, and he didn’t see that happening in the NFL. For as long as he could remember, that call had been there: to become a farmer and serve others. He didn’t know what it was going to look like, but Jason decided he had to chase this dream. After discussing it with Tay, Jason made the decision to retire from the NFL and begin looking for land. “God, whatever land you bless us with, we’re giving its first fruits to those who need it,” the pair resolved. Suddenly, a 1,000-acre farm came up for sale in Franklin, North Carolina. They decided to call it First Fruits Farm. Now they grow sweet potatoes, cucumbers and corn to give to various food banks and pantries in the area. Since their first year in 2013, that number has grown exponentially, and this past year, the Browns celebrated their most significant milestone yet: donating over 1 million pounds of harvested food to fight food insecurity across North Carolina. The Browns now have 10 children, all of whom love helping on the farm.
