Jones Family Farms wins Facebook contest
By Patricia Villers, Register Staff
The final tallies are in, and now a representative from Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery in Guilford will be expected to work at Jones Family Farms in Shelton for a day in the near future.
A friendly competition that started in October between the family-owned and operated farms involved which farm could obtain the most Facebook fans by 8 a.m. Friday. The loser has to put in a day of work on the winner’s farm. Three charities will benefit from the contest.
The challenge put forth on the social networking Web site was the brainchild of Jamie Jones of Jones Family Farms. He said Friday, “We eked it out. It was really a lot of fun. It’s exciting and we’re glad to be able to help charity. We won, but in a way, everyone won.”
Jones said he was looking forward to having Keith Bishop work on his family’s Christmas tree farm.
Jones was able to get 1,195 more new Facebook fans than Bishop’s did between Oct. 22 and 8 a.m. Friday. The numbers went from 1,119 to 5,806, giving Jones Family Farms 4,687 new fans , said Keith Padin, marketing/retail manager at Jones. Bishop’s went from 1,437 to 4,929, for a total of 3,492 new fans, he said.
“The thresholds were met so that a combined $5,000 will be donated to the Valley United Way, Guilford Community Fund and The Working Lands Alliance by both Jones and Bishop’s,” Padin said.
The tentative date for Bishop to work at Jones’ farm is Dec. 7.
A spokesperson for Bishop’s could not be reached Friday, but an entry on Bishop’s Facebook page said: “Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery is proud to have done Facebook ‘battle’ with Jones. Despite our loss to a very worthy opponent, we have raised $5,000 to benefit three great organizations and are helping to grow awareness about local agriculture that both of our families are passionate about. Thanks to all our fans! Stay tuned for FB updates and the final chapter of our FB Farm Challenge with Jones Family Farms.”
Sarah Bishop Della Ventura, marketing director for Bishop’s, said in October, “there is no animosity whatsoever” between the two farms. “We want the best for them. And in the long run, the local charities will be (the winners).”