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V O L . X X I X N O. X X V FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S F or 10 generations, the Ricker family has been growing apples, first in the Oxford County town of Hartford and then 10 miles away in the Androscoggin County town of Turner. In the 1700s, two brothers came from the Isle of Jersey, off the north- west coast of France. "One was a dumb apple farmer and that was my side," says Harry Ricker, who owns Ricker Hill Orchards with his wife Nancy. Since 1803, the family has been growing fresh apples, pumpkins, Christmas trees and more on its farm and orchard. e orchard has been one of Maine's largest for a couple of hundred years, says Ricker. In the late 1990s, the orchard was 850 acres. Today, apples make up about half that acreage, with another five acres in blueberries, 10 in cranberries and two in aronia berries, or chokeberries, a super fruit high in antioxidants. "ey sell for good money on the internet," he says. Ricker, his brothers Jeff and Peter, four of their children and three grandchildren work on the farm. His dad Don, 87, still drives trucks and forklifts. Wife Nancy is chief financial officer. ere are about 200 non-fam- ily employees. For interested family members, there are plenty of jobs to choose from. e enterprise also includes a hardware store and retail shop. "It's more communistic than I like," Ricker says with a chuckle. "When peo- ple get out of college, we try to decide what they're passionate about." Sacrifice versus lifestyle Passion, lifestyle and growing up on a farm is what many family-owned farms are about, especially multi-generation operations like Ricker Hill Orchards. And family farms appear to be alive and well in Maine, despite the challenges faced by any family-owned business compounded by the rigors of a weather- dependent industry. F O C U S O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 2 3 28 P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D It's a family affair at Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner. This multigenerational farm has been in business since 1803. Standing from left are, Don Ricker, Harry Ricker, Nancy Ricker, Jeff Timberlake, Joline Timberlake, Andy Ricker, Megan Ricker, Jenny Maheu and Steve Maheu. Front from left are, Katie Maheu and Jake Maheu. My family has always been able to find something new and different to keep the old apple farm going. But it's not easy. — Harry Ricker Ricker Hill Orchards grow Farms families Generations of families are invested in a thriving ag industry despite stresses B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r