WHITE HORSE FORK, Ala, – The youngsters on the school trip hopped off the buses excitedly. They had arrived at Bebe Farm, and were going to tour the “Little Touch of Country” section of the approximately 1,150-acre farm.

And why wouldn't they be excited? There were horses, geese, peacocks, chickens, ducks, Scottish Highland cattle and even a deer, Ms. Jane Doe, and her spotted fawn and more animals to look at and learn about. More importantly, there were guides to tell them about the animals and tell the children how things were done back in the “old days,” including a demonstration of a corn sheller and how washboards were used.

“I just love it,” said Emily Russos of the farm tours. She said that she used to show horses and breed dogs, among other things before retiring and being a tour guide on the farm with her husband, John.

“We tell them that they are going to be farm children and learn what a farmer does,” continued Russos.

While the children are having fun and learning (the farm has a study guide available to teachers who bring field trips) there is more going on at the farm.

According to Tommy Swearington, the farm's current owner, Bebe Farm produces timber and is home to a planned, ecologically sensitive development, DauerWalden (Pronounced “Do-er” Walden, the name is a play on German word for “enduring” and the famous Walden of Henry David Thoreau.) 

Swearington is eloquent when he talks of preserving the land, which has been in the family since 1915. According to the farm's website, “William Craig Beebe (1890 - 1959) was an attorney and state legislator from Bay Minette.” Bebe acquired the land in the early 1900s, and his descendents inherited the farm.

“In my generation, there are 10 people (who would have inherited the farm),” said Swearington. He explained that that was bad because the eventual heirs lose interest in the land and there is no one person or entity making decisions about the property. Swearington holds a doctorate in Forestry.

“Eventually by the third generation, they are breaking the trust, and selling to land to pay (estate) taxes,” said Swearington.

That did not happen to Bebe Farm, as Swearington was given the interest in the land by his relatives. He now owns and manages the farm while family members have shares in the property. Those who purchase property in the DauerWalden development will also have shares in the property. Much of the property has been put into a conservation trust.

Swearington and his family moved to Bebe farm and began renovations in the late 1990s. The 1912-vintage farmhouse was restored, and the “Little Touch of Country” interactive area was created. Swearington says most field trips come through in late summer/early fall to mid-November. There are opportunities for teachers to earn continuing education hours, and the project has been on a national tour of forest managers. The farm is now mostly timbered and pasture and Swearington manages the forest carefully, so the land is preserved.

Swearington said that farm makes little money, but is run “as a public service” to the community.

One of the best things about the farm, Swearington says, is the letters he gets from schoolchildren who toru “A Little Touch of Country.”

“You realize they are learning something,” he said.

Bebe Fram is at 41500 Whitehouse Fork Road, Bay Minette. The phone number is  251.937.FARM (3276). The website is beebefarm.com.