Petition: Black-owned farm at risk - Save Our Family Farm that We Have Sustained for Generations!!!

One of Tennessee’s oldest and most historic farms is at risk. The farm was sold to Grant Luster Sr in 1906 as only the 6th Black-owned farm in the state. Today, it is one of 9 Black-owned farms to have continuously operated since its founding. Black ownership of farms is down to a mere 1% from 28% in 1910. Luster Sr’s grandson ran the farm until recently, but after his passing, some of the family have discussed selling it to be developed. Others say the farm means too much for that. Sign their petition to have the farm designated a historical landmark and preserved for future generations. Save Our Family Farm that We Have Sustained for Generations!!! 1,641 have signed Kendra Luster’s petition. Let’s get to 2,500!

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The Luster Farm has been in our family for generations! It’s the 2nd African American farm in Williamson County (College Grove, TN), & the 6th one in the state. My great grandfather, Grant Luster Sr., was the son of a former slave who, him & his wife Anna, bought 80 acres on Arno Road in November of 1906. It’s been said that ’The farm represents the dream of freed slaves who yearned to own their own land, & provide a life-changing legacy for their descendants’. My family & I are the descendants who grew up on the Luster Farm, majority of our lives. We worked the fields driving tractors, herding cattle, & planted crops days in & days out. We would roam the land as far out as the eye can see, playing in the woods from dawn until dusk, & making precious memories that would last us a lifetime! Not knowing that, eventually, someone would want to take that away from us.    My father, Anthony Luster, & mother, Cynthia Luster (deceased since 2002), took care of the land along with his 5 daughters,  including myself (Jennifer Luster, Kendra Luster, Amber Luster, Erica Luster-Smith, & Tasha Luster-Vinson) for several years. Beforehand, it was in the care of my grandfather, Nelson Luster Sr., along with his wife, Jessie (who are both currently deceased), & their 8 children. 7 are alive, at this time. As they all got older, & moved out, married with kids etc. my father decided to live on the farm, & tend to it daily. Every once in a while, my father’s grandchildren will become so ecstatic towards looking forward to visiting the farm, just so they can experience a part of history! All we ask is that we can continue to keep it in the family, & pass it on for more & more generations to come!  The Luster Farm is not just a farm to us. It’s our home, & our heritage. It’s in our blood. Our mother, grandparents, & great grandparents are all buried on this land! It gives us peace, knowing that they are all still apart of it. This land has so much to offer, & has so much potential. Please, I’m begging & asking for the state of Tennessee to not allow the Luster Farm to be sold. This will destroy everything that we’ve ever put into this land. All of the blood, sweat, & tears will be all for nothing from our ancestors who worked so hard for this land! My grandfather, Nelson Luster Sr., had even asked & requested for the Luster Farm to please be kept in the family, & NOT sold, right before he passed away. Please grant him, & my family this 1 & only wish. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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