OUR HISTORY
Belmont Farms is a fifth-generation farm that spans almost 100 years. Our story began with our great grandfather, Turner McMahan. He purchased the farm in 1937. It was a homestead farm back then. Not only did he grow a large variety of fruits and vegetables, but also raised cows, chickens and pigs. When his son, Kenneth McMahan began farming, he added horse breeding to the farm production. Third generation farmer, Don McMahan began to add more agricultural production to what the farm was doing. He added Sevier County's only you-pick strawberry fields, sorghum production and a large-scale pumpkin farming. Now, in the fourth generation, Shelley McMahan Stockton and her family, have brought the focus of the farm back to breeding with Belmont Breeders. At Belmont Breeders, we are focused on taking all those years of hard work and experience to breed the healthiest American Kennel Club registered Shih Tzu puppies anywhere. As part of the breeding program, they are bringing back egg and beef production. Shelley and her husband, Stephen, are also focus on training their children to be the fifth generation to care for the farm.
What's In a Name?
The History of Our Name
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We are often asked, "Where did you get the name Belmont Farms?" Well that's an easy question for us to answer. Long before our family owned this land, there was a one-room school house that sat on the top of the hill. This school was named Belmont School. It was the only school for the children of the Jones Cove community. Our great-grandfather, Turner McMahan, built our main barn on the exact location of the old school house. He named the farm Belmont Farms, in honor of this school and it's impact on the history of our community. This picture, is the only known picture of Belmont School.