Tracy Fletcher McGlothlin

 

For three generations the Fletcher family served coal miners’ families from their stores in Vansant, Virginia, providing groceries, hardware, furniture, sporting goods, and, you name it.

 

Each generation learned the value of hard work, serving the public, integrity, and faith in God. Last year a new chapter in the Fletcher family history of businesses opened. At the helm of the new enterprise is Tracy Fletcher McGlothlin in Lebanon, VA.

 

Born and raised in Vansant, Tracy has always had a fierce competitive spirit and a “don’t quit” attitude.

At Grundy Senior High School, these attributes and her love of basketball helped Tracy score almost 1,500 points and achieve Converse All-America status. She earned a full scholarship to Tennessee Tech, playing there two years before transferring to Concord University.

 

Tracy led her team to a conference championship during her senior year, was the conference’s most valuable player, led the nation in scoring and rebounding in her division, and achieved All-America status again.

Never satisfied, Tracy tried out for the WNBA, making it to the final round and receiving an offer to play professionally in England, but declined the offer.

 

Having graduated with a double major in accounting and marketing, Tracy returned to her roots in Vansant to open her first retail business—TC Kidds, a children’s clothing store. Tracy later added men’s and women’s clothing and changed the name to ‘Tracys.’

 

She owned and successfully operated the business for 23 years working side by side with her mother and best friend, Clara.

 

Although she loved her business and hometown, Tracy knew there was more she wanted to do. While designing and building her own home, she discovered a gift and passion for design. Having seen her home, friends invited her to redesign their condo located on Edisto Island, SC. This began her design career on Kiawah Island, one of the top resorts in the US.

 

For the next six years, Tracy traveled between Vansant and Kiawah operating a successful interior design service and her clothing business. During this time, she also obtained her degree in Interior Design and expanded her design business to nearby Mt. Pleasant, SC, opening a retail interior design store called ‘East Side Interiors.’

 

During the Christmas holiday in 2008, Tracy’s life drastically changed. Not only did the Great Recession hit, but more importantly, her father, the foundation of the family businesses, passed away on December 21. After a few months of trying to balance the distance of South Carolina and Virginia, she knew she needed to be home helping her family. In December 2010, she closed her shop, ‘Tracys.’

 

“God has blessed me in so many ways in my lifetime,” says Tracy. “Two years and two days after my father’s death, God brought the most wonderful man into my life, my husband, Don. We were married in June 2011.”

 

Don and Tracy live on their farm in Lebanon, Virginia with their 15 cats, 2 dogs and numerous other critters they care for on the farm. “Having rescued animals all my life, this is all very natural for me.”

 

Moving to Lebanon and on a farm, Highlands Farms used to be a cattle farm, that is, until Tracy came along. “I am a huge animal lover and was not comfortable raising beef cattle,” Tracy said. “So, we decided we needed something different to make the farm profitable.

 

Don nominated me to be the farm manager and trusted me to come up with a plan. And I did!”

 

In June 2016, Highlands Farms began growing organic heirloom tomatoes with two hoop houses, eight varieties

of tomatoes, a lot of faith, and one worker. Yes…Tracy!

 

“After a successful season at Highlands Farms, we added another hoop house, two acres of field tomatoes, and we now produce 32 varieties of delicious heirloom tomatoes. We had about 900 tomato plants last season, and are expanding to about 20,000 plants in 2017,” says Tracy. In addition to supplying tomatoes to grocery stores,

farm markets, and vegetable stands, Tracy also produces a line of tomato sauces.

 

Like many modern-day Appalachian women, Tracy’s grandmothers and mother were great cooks, and they passed down a rich tradition of preparing wholesome, tasty meals from scratch. Following in their footsteps,

Tracy created a specialty food company called ‘Countrystyle Fixins.’ “I will be introducing these products to homes across the region  and this fall, and will present them as ‘go-to’ easy meals.

 

The slogan is ‘Just Add Water,’ and that’s exactly what you do.” Cooking and recipes have always been important to Tracy. She is known to her family and friends as an inventive, talented cook.

 

Her recipe library is huge and varied. The logical next step for her was to compile and share them in a cookbook. Jan-Carol Publishing is excited to be publishing her debut cookbook. The projected release date is fall 2017. Watch for it!

 

Another tradition that is a big part of Tracy’s life is her faith. She is a life-long member of Vansant Presbyterian

Church and led its Praise and Worship Services after she moved back home from South Carolina. That experience led to her being asked to fill the pulpits of some area churches during their search for full-time pastors. She has served three churches over the past two years and continues to do so today. “It has been a tremendously humbling and rewarding experience. I learn so much preparing the messages, and the love that the parishioners show me is truly a blessing,” she says.

 

Tracy’s heritage is one of family, hard work, faith and service to others. “I was fortunate to grow up in a hard-working family. My family taught me to work hard and they taught me the value of a dollar. I was surrounded

by hard workers and wonderful cooks. This is my heritage, and I plan on continuing it as long as I am able,” promises Tracy Fletcher McGlothlin. Truly an exemplary of a Modern Day Appalachian Woman!

 

Visit Tracy and Highlands Farms at highlandsfarms.com and on Facebook at Highlands Farms.