The Patriarch of Long-Time Homestead Farming Family Passes Away

On Friday, December 15, 2023, L.B. Helms, the head of one of Homestead’s former farming families, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 97.

Known for witty sense of humor and big heart, L.B. leaves behind family, friends and a legacy as rich as the farmland he tilled for so many years.

Born on October 1st, 1926, in Lincolnton, NC, L.B.’s family had already established deeps roots in agriculture. His parents, Fred and Mataleen Helms would farm during the summer months, growing many different varieties of vegetables, but struggled during the harsh, cold winters.

Due to that fact, as well as the impact of the Great Depression, Fred and Mataleen started looking for other means in which they could generate an income.

Thus, in 1933, they moved their family of three, Bud, Jack and L.B. Helms, to Homestead, FL and began farming there. The first piece of property that Fred and his family farmed tomatoes on was about 1.5 acres of glade (marl) land.

Glade land was known to be traditionally wet, due to the lack of proper drainage in the area during that time. Therefore, since they did not have the tools to break up the rocks on the pine land, they had to wait to start their first crop until late November or early December each year.

When their season finally began, everything they planted was done by hand. They would begin by creating a seed bed and growing it up to size, set fire to, and burn off the weeds on their parcel, bring a horse or mule in to turn the land, and then finally replant the field using compost/animal manure as fertilizer.

The family would then weed and maintain the crop and when ready, hand harvest it so it could be taken to market to be auctioned off. In a good year, the family could make as much as $100 off their crop for the season. However, the Hurricane of 1935 was a game changer.

Known as the Great Labor Day Hurricane, this storm was the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record to make landfall in the US. It not only caused massive storm surge, wind damage and flooding, but killed hundreds of people in its wake.

The area was so short-handed after the storm that Fred was deputized so he could help recover dead bodies. Because of this horrific experience, Fred moved his family back to North Carolina, and they didn’t come back to farm in Homestead until the 1950’s.

In 1956, after serving his country in the Army, L.B. and his wife Flossie moved their three kids, Danny (6), Bobby (4) and Becky (2) back to Homestead. They farmed glade (marl) land again, but due to the innovation of certain machines, they were able to scarify the higher elevation pine land, thus chiseling about a half an inch of rock off the top layer of the limestone.

Utilizing this new technology, as well as growing on higher land, was beneficial not only because their crops weren’t as susceptible to flooding, but it also allowed them to start farming earlier in the season, thus producing more and for a longer period of time.

After moving to Florida, L.B. and Flossie had two more children, Benny and Scottie Helms. As instilled by his father Fred, L.B. expected all five children to help on the farm. He understood and valued the importance of his family’s help, as without it, they would struggle financially.

“A farmer has to live by faith- faith that he can plant a crop, grow it and then sell it,” said L.B. to Jennifer Helms-Shelley (his granddaughter) in an interview years ago.

“He must have faith because if he fails, it all falls back on him and his family. If they lose their crop, they have lost their income.” In 1974, L.B.’s legacy expanded as his two oldest sons joined forces and created B&D Farms.

Instead of farming tomatoes like their father, they farmed green beans, zucchini and squash. They utilized new technology that allowed them to mechanically harvest green beans, thus limiting their dependency on labor.

In 1984, they founded Helms Bean Line- a packinghouse where the green beans they harvested could be graded and repacked for shipping. The family was also involved in or co-founded Florida City Produce, 5 Brothers Produce and S&B Farms where they further expanded their production into green peppers and strawberries.

In 2012, because of their contributions and success in farming, the Helms Family was honored during the annual AgriCouncil Ag Tour. L.B.’s work ethic and passion for farming were not only instilled in his children, but it was passed along to his eight grandchildren.

From growing up on the farm, packing vegetables on the bean line, or plowing and fertilizing different winter vegetable crops, all the grandchildren participated in some way. To this day, the Helms family still has agricultural roots in Homestead, with members working in or around the nursery and supporting agricultural industries.

The definition of Legacy is the long-lasting impact of one’s actions throughout their life. With a career in farming that spanned over seven decades and impacted the lives of his children, grandchildren and now his great-grandchildren, L.B. was at the helm of creating the Helms’ Family Farming Legacy.

“There is no guarantee in farming,” said L.B. in a previous interview. “You have to save for a rainy day, realize there is never a day off, and be willing to adapt to new technologies and laws. Farming is a way of life, one that can be very challenging, but also very rewarding.”

L.B. is preceded in death by his wife Flossie Lee Helms and brothers Bud and Jack Helms. He is survived by his wife Janet Helms, daughter Becky Helms-Blanton, sons Danny Helms (Sharon), Bobby Helms (Judy), Benny Helms (Pam) and Scottie Helms; grandchildren Jennifer Helms-Shelley (Steve), Jason Helms (Krystal), Kristen Helms-Wilkerson (Jason), Brian Helms (Christine), Robert Helms, Brittany Farias (Frankie), Julie Arnce (J.R.) and Natalie Sizemore (Wesley) and 17 great grandchildren.

The community is invited to share their memories and condolences at the viewing from 6-8pm on Thursday, December 28th at Caballero Rivero Palms Woodlawn.

On Friday, December 29th, 2023, at 11am, church services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Homestead. The burial will take place directly after at Caballero Rivero Palms Woodlawn.