Owner/Chef Gabe Esters
Welcome to Esters Farm!
Our Cafe is located in the heart of the Bon Ayr Community in beautiful Barren County Kentucky. Our goal is pretty straightforward: to offer delicious, homemade comfort food using fresh, local ingredients when possible . . . from fellow farmers within our community or even straight from our own farm.
We believe it's just better that way:
better tasting, better for you and better for the local economy. So taste for yourself and see.
We think you'll agree.
Our Cafe is located in the heart of the Bon Ayr Community in beautiful Barren County Kentucky. Our goal is pretty straightforward: to offer delicious, homemade comfort food using fresh, local ingredients when possible . . . from fellow farmers within our community or even straight from our own farm.
We believe it's just better that way:
better tasting, better for you and better for the local economy. So taste for yourself and see.
We think you'll agree.
Our Farm Story
Esters Farm began as a hobby in 2006. We had recently moved home to Kentucky after living in North Carolina for several years. I was a guide with the National Park Service and helped my parents run the Bon Ayr Store & Deli, a small country store just outside Glasgow, Ky. I had planted a small garden and started baking a couple of loaves of sourdough each week to share with family and friends.
My sourdough was popular, and people often asked to buy it. I heard about a new farmers market starting in our hometown of Glasgow, and I enrolled in the Kentucky Proud program and began selling fresh-baked sourdough at the new Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market. Every Saturday, I packed my little VW Jetta with a tent, tables and lots of sourdough. I sold out each week and thought I should add more baked goods. I heard about a new farmers market in Bowling Green, Ky and thought I would join their Tuesday afternoon market, too. I wanted to use local ingredients that I grew in our garden, but I couldn't produce enough to supply my rapidly-growing baking business. I established relationships with local farmers and partnered with them to ensure I had seasonal, local produce to use in many of my baked goods.
In 2013, we purchased my childhood home, an old farmhouse built in 1908 located in the small community of Bon Ayr. While renovating our home, we expanded our garden, increased our blackberry patch and added a small orchard. I expanded my farmers market products, adding homemade chicken salad, pimento cheese and hummus. I also began catering local events, gathering and weddings.
In late 2016, my wife, Susan, and I bought an old country store and converted it into a cafe. Esters Farm Cafe & Catering opened in January 2017, specializing in homemade comfort food . . . sometimes with a twist.
Esters Farm has evolved over the years, but one thing remains the same: our commitment to providing great-tasting, quality food that people feel good about eating. We make everything in-house and serve it fresh. It takes a little more time, but you can taste the difference.
Thank you for supporting small, local businesses . . . and thank you for supporting Esters Farm!
- Gabe Esters, Owner and Chef
