Cherry Ridge Farm
Part of the 25 Projects for 25 Years series.
Cherry Ridge, the family farm of Alicia Fitts and her brother Stephen, is more than just a piece of land—it’s a living part of their family’s history. Through their decision to protect the land with The Land Trust for Tennessee, Alicia and Stephen are honoring their parents’ wishes and ensuring that over 370 acres will remain undeveloped, serving as open space in an area that is quickly becoming dominated by development.
The Fitts family began their conservation journey in 2014, when Alicia and Stephen’s parents, Alice and William, placed 183 acres of the farm under a conservation easement with The Land Trust for Tennessee. This first easement included the land where their house sits, along with 50 acres on the other side of the road. At the time, their father kept some acreage out of the easement, thinking there might be future building sites.
Stephen and Alicia Fitts at a conservation easement closing on their parents’ porch.
As the years passed and the family’s priorities evolved, more land was added to the easements. “Our parents wanted to ensure the land stayed green,” Alicia explained. “And when we went back to add part of the 117 acres that had been left out, we ended up adding about 100 acres instead of the 40 we had originally planned.” This second easement included building sites, but with flexibility to allow for future considerations, such as water access.
The Fitts family also completed the conservation of the original 50 acres left out of the first easement, bringing the total to three easements covering over 370 acres of the 390-acre property. “It was important to us that we were consistent with what our parents would have wanted,” Alicia said.
- Alicia and Stephen Fitts with their cattle.
- Views at Cherry Ridge Farm.
- Cattle at Cherry Ridge Farm.
While Cherry Ridge remains much as it has been for years, the land around it has changed dramatically. Just behind a nearby hill lies the Saturn plant, and development has steadily spread in the surrounding area. Alicia shared how close development has come: “If you get back by the hay barn, you can actually see the construction going on. But knowing that this land will stay green, no matter what happens around us, is a comfort.”
Alicia and Stephen’s connection to the farm deepened when they realized how grounding it was for their parents as they aged. “Our parents would come out to the porch with a hot cup of tea to feel at ease,” Alicia recalled, gesturing to the porch overlooking rolling hills and farmland as far as the eye can see.
- Views at Cherry Ridge Farm.
- View at Cherry Ridge Farm.
- Views at Cherry Ridge Farm.
The Fitts family’s history is intertwined with both Cherry Ridge and international places around the world. Alicia and Stephen’s mother grew up in Spring Hill, and the family’s roots in the area stretch back more than 200 years. Their parents, however, spent much of their lives overseas before eventually returning to settle on the farm.
- Stephen inside the old cabin at Cherry Ridge Farm.
- The old cabin at Cherry Ridge Farm.
“Our parents were expatriates before it was cool,” Alicia joked. Their father, originally from Oklahoma, and their mother, from Tennessee, met in Venezuela, where their father worked as an accountant for an oil company and their mother taught. Their lives took them to Libya (where Alicia was born), England, and Scotland before finally bringing them back to Tennessee. Cherry Ridge became the place where they chose to spend their final 25 years together, surrounded by the land they loved.
For Alicia and Stephen, the decision to protect the land was not just about honoring their parents, but also about their own deepening connection to the farm. “There’s always something to do out here,” Alicia explained. “You can’t get bored. Between caring for the land, managing the cattle, and the day-to-day upkeep, this place keeps you busy.”
- Alicia Fitts with the bulls.
- Hay bales at Cherry Ridge Farm.
Although neither sibling has children, they see themselves as caretakers of the land for future generations. “We don’t know if the next generation will have the same interest in this land, but we do know that by working with The Land Trust, we’ve protected it from development,” Alicia said.
Alicia added, “Even as people without children, we want future generations to be able to enjoy this space even if they’re not family.”
The Land Trust for Tennessee has been a key partner in helping the Fitts family protect their land. Alicia, who serves on the organization’s Stewardship Committee, emphasized how much they value the flexibility and professionalism of the organization. “One of the benefits of The Land Trust for Tennessee is that they’re here in perpetuity. They are an incredibly professionally run organization. Every landowner comes to the table with different priorities, and The Land Trust meets you where you are. They’ve helped us develop a plan that works for our family, and they’ll be here to help the next generation if needed.”
Alicia Fitts and The Land Trust for Tennessee Stewardship Team member, Sam, hugging an old Tulip Poplar during an annual visit at Cherry Ridge Farm.
As Spring Hill continues to grow, Cherry Ridge stands as a reminder of the importance of keeping open spaces intact. The farm not only provides a habitat for local wildlife but also offers a sense of peace in an area that is rapidly changing. “We’ve seen more deer and turkeys because their environment around us is getting eaten up,” Alicia noted.
“I had a couple cousins who were here and the morning that we were going to go out for breakfast, I wound up sitting on the front porch and I was waiting on them, and they wound up back here looking at birds. They heard birds and listened to creatures that I didn’t know we had because that’s simply not an interest of mine. There’s a whole environmental system out here that I may not see on a regular basis, but it’s important,” Alicia shared.
- Yellow Iris.
- Marigolds.
- Marigolds.
Beyond the wildlife, the farm also supports local agriculture. A young farmer who leases part of the land grows corn to support his cattle operation, continuing the farming traditions that have long been a part of the Fitts family history.
For Alicia and Stephen, protecting Cherry Ridge is about more than conservation—it’s about the sense of home and continuity that the land has provided for generations. “This land isn’t just ours for our lifetime,” Alicia said. “It’s something we’re caring for, so that it can continue to be a part of this community long after we’re gone.”
Find out how you can support The Land Trust for Tennessee’s conservation work.