More than 163 years ago, great-grandparents John Woodside and Margaret Ramsay were granted a homestead certificate to live and farm near Grand Bay, in the Gulf Coast region of Alabama.

The next generation, Lyman W. and Edna Ramsay purchased more land adjacent to the homestead. Young entrepreneur, Lyman W., became the local postmaster, raised cattle and built a “truck farming” operation.
Lyman W. and Edna’s two sons, John and Woodie, determined to sustain the young family’s agriculture legacy, began farming as teenagers, and continued acquiring additional land. As students at Auburn University, the brothers would alternate attendance to ensure constant farming while pursuing their college endeavors.

The brothers continued farming until, in September 1979, Hurricane Frederic made landfall on Dauphin Island, south of Grand Bay. The hurricane left an estimated $2.3 billion in damages to the area. John and Woodie formed a partnership with two other individuals to begin removing debris from the hurricane and other natural disasters that followed.