Our Mission
Rooted in Oconee County, the Oconee Farm Foundation exists to elevate local agriculture by fostering meaningful connections between farms, families, and community. Through educational outreach, agritourism events, and community initiatives, the Foundation champions shopping local and cultivates homesteading values that strengthen our region’s resilience and preserve its agricultural heritage for generations to come.
Our Story
The Foundation grew out of the success of the first Oconee Farm Crawl, a simple idea to open farm gates and invite the community in. What started as one joyful day of exploring local farms quickly became a movement of connection, education, and celebration of all things local. Today, that same heartbeat drives everything we do.
Our Events
Oconee Farm Crawls
Our signature event is expanding in 2026 to include both a Spring and Fall Crawl. During each event, local farms open their gates for tours, tastings, and hands-on experiences. Each Crawl celebrates the people and stories behind Oconee County agriculture.
2026 Dates :: May 16th and September 19th
Farm Crawl on Main
Saturday, August 8th - 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM- Main Street, Downtown Seneca
Presented in partnership with the Oconee Farm Crawl, the City of Seneca, and the Downtown Merchants Association, this special evening brings some of your favorite Farm Crawl farms right to the heart of downtown!
Meet local farmers, Shop fresh produce, meats, baked goods, flowers, honey, handmade products, and more! Explore our amazing downtown small businesses, grab dinner at one of Seneca’s fantastic local restaurants, spend an evening celebrating community and shopping local!
Farmers Farm Crawl
Monday, October 5th - 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
We have partnered with the Oconee Chamber of Commerce to plan the very first Farmers Farm Crawl.
We know that many of our farmers have wanted the opportunity to participate in the Farm Crawl themselves and see each other’s farms and operations. So, we have planned a fun day to do just that!
We will ride together on a bus from farm to farm, hear a brief presentation from each farmer, spend some time looking around, asking questions, learning from one another, and simply enjoying being together.
We will also enjoy a sponsored lunch from a local business and spend the day building community with one another.
Our Board
Kristi Carleton – Founder & Executive Director
Brittney McCall – Secretary
Kelley Collier – Treasurer
Nick Carleton – Director at Large / IT Support
Our board is made up of fellow hardworking farmers and homesteaders who each bring their own unique gifts and experience to the team. They share a deep love for the Oconee Farm Crawl and are dreaming together for the future of the Foundation.
Our Team
Cornerstone Design Studio- Design and Print
Meredith E. Photography- Photography
Lake Life Technology- Website and IT
An amazing team of volunteers
Our Impact
Dozens of farms showcased across Oconee County
Hundreds of families introduced to local food and farm life
Growing partnerships between farmers and local organizations
Get Involved
Let’s work together to elevate agriculture in Oconee County!
Fill out the contact form to connect with us.