Each Saturday, Shane and Sharla Bowling load up their fresh veggies and fruits and drive into Bristow for the market. They own their farm, Rustic Acres, in Mason and sell produce on-site but choose to sell in Bristow as well because they enjoy the community. In fact, they have been selling their produce at Bristow farmers’ markets for about the last decade.
In 1986, Shane moved to Oklahoma but says he stayed because of Sharla. The couple first met in Seminole where Shane worked at a gas station and Sharla attended college. According to Shane, she came into the gas station and asked him out, but according to Sharla, he turned her down only to follow her when she failed to pursue him. They laughed and joked with each other while telling the story of how they met, but Shane ended the competition by saying, “She stuck me here, and now I’m her slave. She’s always got a project for me.” They have now been married for 34 years and parented three children. Currently, they have two granddaughters with a third on the way.
To hear Shane tell their history, he suggests that Sharla pulled him into farming, since her entire family farmed peanuts; however, he loves farming, too. Shane states that he loves the outdoor work of farming, the reward of fresh food, and being able to supply people with fresh food. He flashed a smile and summed up his love of farming with a simple question: “What do I not like about farming?” Both agreed that their favorite things about selling their produce in Bristow are meeting and getting to know their customers, connecting with the community, and enjoying the friendliness of the people in a nice, clean town. Aside from selling on-site at their farm in Mason, Bristow is the only other place they sell their food.
Although Sharla has lived in the Mason area for most of her life, the Bowlings have been farming Rustic Acres for about thirteen years. Currently, they grow mostly vegetables along with some fruits and melons. Initially, they began by growing and shipping gourds across the country. At one time, they farmed 20 acres, resulting in around 500,000 gourds, including loofahs. Fortunately for locals, they have settled into growing delicious fresh foods.
The Bowlings sell their fresh foods at the market, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, squash, and occasional homemade baked goods and pickles during the summer months. Even as other vendors vacate the market in fall, Rustic Acres arrives to sell pumpkins, mums, and some woodworking pieces like door hangers or yard signs.
Additionally, Shane and Sharla run their own “Mason Firework and Shaved Ice” stands at Rustic Acres during the summer. In the past, Rustic Acres hosted a popular corn maze and haunted attraction in the fall. With time and change, those events have been discontinued; however, Shane built a sleigh, which is available for photos around Christmas each year. Anyone is welcomed to visit Rustic Acres and take free photos with his own camera.
Should you miss the Bowlings at the Saturday market, visit Rustic Acres at 98120 N. 3745 Road, Okemah, located 1.5 miles north of Mason school. Shane and Sharla state they are most easily found by following the signs rather than GPS. For more information, call 918-623- 2703 or follow them on Facebook: Rustic Acres Farm.