Ellijay, GA |
What began as a family trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains turned into something much more for Lee and Mindy Forbes. After visiting from Florida, they fell in love with the peaceful North Georgia setting—but weren’t sure what kind of future it held for them. That changed with one question to their son.
“We had kids that were just coming out of high school and asked them what they wanted to do with their futures,” says Lee Forbes. “Our son Hayden said he wanted to be a farmer. So, this was really set up as a namesake for him.”
That moment sparked the beginning of Cress Creeks Sheep Farm, a family-run operation now thriving in the mountains of Ellijay. More than a business, the farm has become a new way of life—one the family wouldn’t trade for anything.
“I enjoy the peace,” says Mindy Forbes. “No traffic, no honking, no noise. I absolutely love the animals and feeding them every morning. They become your friends.”
Lee agrees, saying the work may be constant, but it never feels like a burden.
“It is a daily experience for sure,” he says. “But when you wake up wanting to go to work, doing something you love, it’s not a challenge to get out of bed in the morning.”
Their commitment to raising sheep year-round—paired with intentional breed selection—has set their lamb apart from imported meat commonly found on grocery shelves.
“You’ll find that a lot of imported lamb comes from wool-producing sheep,” explains Lee. “Those breeds produce lanolin, which gives the meat a much gamier flavor. We’ve chosen an American hair sheep from Vermont that sheds like a dog and doesn’t produce that oil, resulting in a milder, more steak-like taste.”
That unique flavor has helped grow interest in their farm store, which now sees more than twice the foot traffic it did just a year ago. But lamb isn’t the only thing drawing customers in.
“We carry our lamb, of course,” says Mindy. “But we also have pork, chicken, beef, in-house baked goods, local wines, honey, and handmade gifts and goodies from other farmers and artisans in the area.”
For the Forbes family, supporting local agriculture goes hand in hand with community education. That’s why Cress Creeks also offers farm tours, hayrides, and seasonal farm-to-table dinners—experiences that have quickly become a favorite part of the job.
“I think that’s probably one of my favorite things,” Mindy says. “We did this for families. Whether it’s the corn maze, Easter egg hunt, or Christmas events—it’s for people to make memories. When they come out and say they want their kids to see sheep, and those kids get to hold baby lambs, that’s something amazing.”
“Kids and their families today don’t get to spend as much time together,” adds Lee. “So having a place where they can come and make memories—that’s important.”
By: Damon Jones