Growing with the community through SEED,
agritourism, and new experiences in Alderson
Sunset Berry Farm is taking agritourism to a new level in 2026 with a bold, new mission to strengthen families, food security, and community resilience. After years of selling to the community, the farm is shifting toward a new approach: Sunset Berry Farm is no longer just selling to the community – it is growing with the community.
This transition is a direct response to changing needs across the region, including the soaring cost of living, job loss, rising electric bills, increasing housing instability, homelessness, and more multigenerational families living under one roof. At the same time, grocery prices continue to rise while the quality has declined.
“We’re hearing it and seeing it every day,” said Jennifer Gilkerson, founder of Sunset Berry Farm. “Families are trying to do more with less. They need affordable opportunities to grow food, learn life skills, and create income – while also having access to joyful, outdoor family fun.”
Gilkerson added that many families are also losing gardens year after year due to deer damage, weeds, lack of irrigation, and limited access to equipment and support. “That’s why it’s crucial for farms with the right infrastructure and safeguards to partner with families,” she said. “We want to give our community access to a successful garden system – with the safety nets, tools, and support that increase the odds of success.”
Introducing SEED: Skills for Eating, Earning & Developing community
At the heart of Sunset Berry Farm’s 2026 mission is SEED: Skills for Eating, Earning & Developing community – a community-driven initiative designed to help individuals and families build practical skills that increase food security, reduce costs, and create income opportunities through agriculture and entrepreneurship.
SEED is rooted in hands-on learning, shared resources, and local economic development – helping participants gain the tools needed to thrive in today’s economic reality.
New Programs and Experiences Launching in 2026
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Sprout Garden Club (Age 4-15). A monthly club for children featuring essential life skills through interactive farm learning. Members meet on the first Saturday of every month at 11 AM to learn about gardening, feeding chickens, collecting eggs, fishing, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and more, followed by active play in the new Adventure Farm Park.
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Affordable Community Garden Rental Plots – Grow Extra, Earn Extra. A simplified gardening program designed for ease and accessibility, featuring deer-free fencing, raised beds, plastic mulch for weed suppression and water conservation, and automatic irrigation.
Participants can grow food for their families and also create income by selling or trading surplus through the on-site marketplace. The program is open to everyone, but folks within up to three hours of Alderson are encouraged to participate. Folks can plant and forget, then harvest and enjoy, since frequent trips to tend garden plots are not required. -
Appalachian Marketplace (On-site). A social enterprise designed to bring together gardeners, entrepreneurs, and artisans to barter, trade, and sell products to one another and to the community. The marketplace supports a sustainable local food system and a thriving Appalachian economy built on connection and creativity.
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Educational Field Trip Opportunities – “Find Leo the Lion” Farm Scavenger Hunt. New interactive educational tours guide students through farm stations that teach where food comes from, including irrigation systems, raised-bed production areas with plastic mulch, deer-exclusion fencing, pollination zones, chicken coops, fishing ponds, and more. The scavenger hunt also includes an Alderson history lesson tied to the legend of Leo the Lion, with the mission of finding him hiding somewhere on the farm.
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Adventure Farm Park (Age 2 to 92). A family-friendly outdoor destination featuring a miniature zipline, giant bounce pad, working excavators, tractor-pulled rides, racing tracks, a huge Lego tunnel, and more. The park offers affordable recreation for families and opportunities for rest and wellness, including relaxing by the pond and optional chair massages.
Beginning in April 2026, Sunset Berry Farm will also host a Food Truck Festival on the first Saturday of every month (April-October), creating a consistent gathering space for the community.
The farm is actively seeking a diverse lineup of food trucks so guests can experience a variety of food cultures – along with traditional food truck favorites. Local ingredients and Appalachian regional foods will also be featured alongside classic food truck eats.
2026 Festival Highlights Include:
Food Truck Festival – First Saturday of Every Month (April–October)
April 4 – Food Truck Festival & Easter Egg Hunt
May 23 – Alderson Strawberry Festival
July 4 – Freedom Festival & Food Trucks
Aug. 1 – Monroe County Peach Festival
Aug. 22 – West Virginia Watermelon Festival
Sept. 5 – West Virginia Sunflower Festival
Oct. 3, 10, 17 & 24 – Food Truck Festivals + Spooky Tractor-Pulled Trail Rides
Registration Links:
• Sprout Garden Club Sign-Up: https://grownby.com/farms/sunset-berry-farm-produce-llc/shop
• Community Garden: https://grownby.com/farms/sunset-berry-farm-produce-llc/shop
• Educational Field Trip Registration: https://sunsetfarm.ticketspice.com/2026-field-trip
• Vendor Registration: https://sunsetfarm.regfox.com/2026-vendor-registration-at…
About Sunset Berry Farm:
Sunset Berry Farm is an agritourism destination in Alderson, WV, dedicated to strengthening families, supporting local food systems, and providing fun, affordable outdoor experiences for all ages. In 2026, the farm expands its mission through education, entrepreneurship, community gardening, and immersive family programming.
Sunset Berry Farm is co-led by Farmer Kent, a third-generation strawberry grower with roots in Fayette County, West Virginia. The farm is known for growing “the sweetest strawberries on the East Coast,” according to customers, and has won the Sweetest Strawberry Contest at the State Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon multiple times.
In addition to strawberries, the farm grows peaches, watermelons, triple-sweet corn, green beans, pumpkins, and flowers, celebrating the richness of Appalachian agriculture through seasonal harvests and community events.
