Willson Farming Company Centennial

In August 2026, pecan trees that were planted before World War II are still producing. The groves where those trees thrive are still owned and operated by the same family that saw it produce it’s first harvest.

The Willson family has operated Willson Farming Company in Albany, Ga since 1926, with the operation never once changing hands. The lifespan of the average family business in America is 24 years with only 3 % surviving to a 4th generation. This is the story of how Willson Farming Co. has beat the odds without compromising their values.

An early 1900s trend of selling 5-acre pecan tracts led Will Willson to purchase 1,700 acres in Pecan City. This trend seeded Dougherty County with nearly 500,000 pecan trees and aptly became known as the Pecan Capital of the World.

Harry Willson grew up familiar with his father’s pecan groves in Albany, Ga. When college friends of his wife, Jane, inquired about ordering their family’s Georgia pecans, a business idea was sparked. Harry and Jane soon founded Sunnyland Farms in 1948, establishing a food mail-order company in a time when the business model was almost unheard of.

Both determined, Jane remained at the helm of the mail-order operation and Harry ran the groves. Harry casually tucked a birth announcement of their daughter into the 1960 catalog which would set the tone for the personable nature of Sunnyland Farms.

Larry watched his parents build Sunnyland Farms from scratch. He answered the call of the groves in 1978, focusing on the management of the farm. Ahead of the curve, he pioneered an irrigation system in 1979 before the practice was an industry standard. His wife Beverly was the head of the expanding wholesale business and human resources.

Following in his parents' lead, Larry and Beverly fully invested in the community outside the farm. Larry served as President of the YMCA Board of Directors and Albany Area Primary Healthcare board. Beverly served as president of the Junior League and Charity League.

After a finance career, Alex returned to the groves to make an impact on the business side of Sunnyland Farms. In 2015 Alex was installed as the Sunnyland Farms CEO. His leadership has led the company towards sustainable energy practices, improving the efficency of the on-site shelling operation and expanding buyers in Europe.

Staci serves as our Creative Director. Her years of experience in the culinary world primed her for spearheading Sunnyland’s recipe development and product innovation. Staci also oversees the creation and distrubution of our annual catalog program that produces 4 million copies each year.