In 1928, our great-grandfather, Robert Bland, purchased 80 acres from Green River Lumber Company. Robert Bland and his wife Mahalia went on to raise and provide for 8 children on this 80-acre tract. In those days, the land provided everything they needed. They grew crops on a portion of the land, and on the other was livestock. Their homestead had various fruit trees as well as a garden. They made their own corn meal and sorghum molasses, as well as many other items we typically purchase today at grocery stores. 

James Bland Sr., known to many as “Jerry” was the fourth of five sons raised by Robert and Mahalia. In 1950, Jerry Bland married Caldonia Richardson. They lived with his parents for 2 years before purchasing and moving to our current homestead in 1952. This 45-acre tract was Jerry’s first land purchase. James and Caldonia had 13 children. Their farming operation expanded from 45 acres in 1952 to 1,200 acres in 1985. The crops they grew were cotton, soybeans, wheat, and grain sorghum. 

The oldest of Jerry and Caldonia’s children, Edgar, decided to farm after graduating from Ole Miss in 1975. He was the first in the family to try his hand in rice production, paving the way for his younger brothers. James Bland Jr., “Lil Jerry”, was the fourth of eight boys.  He put his first crop into the ground in 1985. James Bland had three children and his eldest child as well as his only daughter (Christi Bland-Miller) has since taken the reins as the fourth generation. Anthony Bland Sr. was the last of eight boys. He started his farming career in 1998. He had two sons of which his eldest (Anthony Bland Jr.) has taken the reins of his operation as the fourth generation. Now, combined, our operation is currently 3,000 acres of rice and soybeans.