Nominated by: Pat Easterbrook and Pam Swanstrom, who both state on the nomination form:

“For over 28 years Mr. Holcomb has called the corner of Kildaire Farm and Penny Roads his home. He and his wife, Jane, moved to Cary when this part was still quite rural. Mr. Holcomb grew up on a farm in Yadkin County and learned the value of hard work and respect for the land as a child.

Over twenty years ago he started a small locally grown produce stand in his side yard. Many have come and gone, but anyone that knows this part of Cary feels good every time they drive by Mr. Holcomb’s produce stand. His fresh produce provides Cary residents good, fresh, locally grown food.

Mr. Holcomb, the stand and his efforts also contribute to Cary in a much more significant way. You see, for years that stand and the produce sitting out in the yard has had a metal can next to it. Mr. Holcomb has been able to trust his neighbors to stop and serve themselves, putting the money they owe into that metal can. The honor system – one neighbor trusting another – is a true reflection of the best of hometown values.

We feel good nominating Mr. Holcomb for his years of work as a farmer in our town, and a person who helps out neighbors by making good local food available for all of us to not only enjoy Cary in the summertime, but to actually taste summertime in Cary.

Mr. Holcomb and his wife, Jane, raised their four children on this corner of Cary working the land and meeting neighbors across that table. And these days when so many corners have become drug stores and strip malls, it’s nice to see a farmer checking his crops and working the land every morning.

This is southern hospitality at its best with neighbors helping neighbors. It also is a way of keeping the traditional American pastimes of farming and the corner store alive and well. This is preservation of small town values. The farm stand is a living example of entrepreneurship, and not only supporting locally owned business, but actually creating and running one for over 20 years.

For all of these reasons and his 20+ years of working the soil, we are happy to recommend Mr. Tom Holcomb for Cary’s Hometown spirit award.”