ELROD FAMILY HOSTS 11TH ANNUAL CANE GRINDING
A Tradition Rooted in History Shared at Elrod Acres
Penney Farms, FL (October 30, 2024) – Bill and Fawn Elrod family have called Clay County home for over 4 decades and have established strong roots with their growing family. For years Fawn had a vision to build an old style Florida cracker house on their family property, Elrod Acres. In 2015, the Elrod Acres Cracker House opened to the public. There, the family offers locally made country crafts, seasonal decor, antiques, and homemade goodies straight from the farm. Choose from fresh honey, cane syrup, jams, and other homemade treats like Bill’s famous Cowboy Candy.
Elrod Acres is now showcasing the spirit of the Christmas season with openings on November 16th, November 30th for the annual Cane Grinding, and a visit from Santa on December 14th.
CRACKER HOUSE OPENINGS
November 16th
Cracker House Open 10am – 3pm
November 30th
Annual Cane Grinding
8am Cane Grinding Begins
Cracker House Open 10am – 3pm
December 14th
Cracker House Open 10am – 3pm
Photos with Santa 10am – 1pm
Bill & Fawn have three children, all of whom grew up in Clay County. Dustin, their oldest son lives in the original family home, and has been hosting the annual Cane Grinding since 2014. He’s been fascinated with sugarcane since he was a child, and had his first taste of this sugary delight when visiting a farm on a 3rd grade field trip. From that first taste, chewing it on the bus ride home, he knew it was something special.
Dustin grew up listening to his father, Bill, tell stories about his family cooking molasses from sorghum. Sorghum is sugarcane’s first cousin, but the cooking process is different. Sorghum was historically cooked in an evaporator, and produces a thick, dark, earthy syrup when it’s done. Sugarcane is lighter in color, and generally cooked in a kettle.
As a professional auctioneer, Bill has attained quite an eclectic collection of antiques at Elrod Acres. “Dad collected ‘junk’ and it piled up at his barn,” Dustin recalled. “Among that junk was everything we needed to start grinding and cooking our own sugarcane.”
The Elrod family spent over a decade learning all they could about the cane grinding process. They visited festivals and cane grindings all over Florida and Georgia looking for tricks of the trade. After talking with several experts, Dustin realized this was a craft he could make uniquely his. So like any good artist, he has crafted his own unique style to the cane grinding process.
With pride in his heart Dustin explained “Our cane syrup is cooked with love in a 60 gallon kettle, donated to us by long time family friends Dave Davis & Deborah Davis (Miller). The mill we grind the cane on is a Goldens No. 27 Horizontal mill, purchased from Hendry Farms in Lake Asbury.” The Elrod Acres cane syrup is indeed made with love. From the equipment used to create the beautiful amber syrup, to the memories and stories shared around the barn, there is an abundance of love and history.
You're Invited to the 11th Annual Cane Grinding
Join the Elrod family Saturday, November 30th at the 11th annual Cane Grinding. The fun starts at 8am with syrup cooking, a blue grass band, food trucks, antique cars and tractors, fun and fellowship. Elrod Acres is located at 3679 Thunder Road, Green Cove Springs, just off of SR16.
“I think it’s important for young people to learn the old way of doing things,” Dustin said. “I’m one of the youngest ones currently cooking syrup in Clay County. No matter what it is, passing down traditions is one of the most important things we can do as humans. So many young people today are consumed by technology. It’s nice to just be able to sit back and enjoy things like they used to be… A simpler time.”
Written by Amber Junker
Amber Junker, known to many as the Penney Farms Princess, is Florida born and raised, with deep roots in Clay County. Passionate about her community, Amber is all about paying it forward, supporting local businesses, and sharing her life with others. On her blog, she offers up everything from simple, delicious recipes and restaurant reviews to fitness tips and real-life moments. As a cookbook author, Amber recently released, Penney Farms Princess – For the Love of Food. Her cookbook is packed with recipes that are close to her heart, including easy favorites, healthy options, holiday classics, and grazing board inspiration.
