Flying high across this land in Jackson County, you may not notice anything too different from any other cattle operation in Mississippi. This rolling land is a dream come true for the Thornton family, and it’s been a family affair since the very beginning.

“Everything’s that’s been done on this farm we have done as a family, so it’s super special to us,” said  Caroline Thornton-Johnson, Greta’s daughter. “This property was completely just wooded trees when we got here”…“I picked up thousands of roots and all the chores, but it definitely taught me a lot.  I’ve learned more about agriculture from my mom than anything, her work ethic.

This was and still is her mom’s dream come true. Greta Thornton grew up in an agriculture family, but decided she wanted to work in the legal field after graduation. That is, until she didn’t.

“I decided the inside job wasn’t for me anymore so I quit and we bought this property.  So we came up here, moved up here, and Mark bought my first two cows for my birthday,” said Thornton. “You didn’t hear of women, you know, raising cattle.  And actually when I told them I was leaving my job, they said what are you doing to do?  I said I’m going to go.  I’m going to have a farm.  We’re going to raise cows.”

Greta runs the day to day around here with some help, usually, from her grand-daughter with an assist from husband Mark who runs his own heating and air conditioning business, so life just outside of Van Cleave, Mississippi stays busy.

“I help with the books for the heating and air conditioning business.  He helps me on the farm, said Thornton. “You know, he hooks up my bush hog for me.  I’m the boss of the cows.  He’s the boss in the air conditioning so.”

She may be the boss, but she’s no stranger to rolling up her sleeves across these 200 acres to get the job done. Greta still finds time to be the voice of agriculture from serving as the first woman elected to the county Co-op’s Board of Trustees, volunteering for the annual county wide progressive safety fair or with the county cattleman’s association.

“My mom is probably the hardest working person I know, and she gives 120 percent with everything she does, not only just the working part of it, but the knowledge.  You know the up and coming things that are new in agriculture, she stays up to date on everything,” said Thornton-Johnson.  “My daughter has learned to show goats, pigs, cows.  We’ve done a little bit of all of it, and with every one of those tasks, we’ve went full‑on in, head‑on in, and learned a lot.”

Greta is humbled to think maybe, just maybe, she’s been a good example over the years as she now sees more women in cattle. But what’s most important, is the example she’s set inside her own fences rows.

“The kids love living here. They love the animals. They love the land, the openness, the freedom to just be outside, and she has definitely taught them how to work and how to appreciate what God has given us,” said Thornton-Johnson.

“I think I’ve accomplished a lot,” said Thornton. “This place, you know, this is my dream so I’m living my dream.  I don’t know.”