Mary Britton Cummings | West Glow Farms
Owner of West Glow Farms
Mary Britton Cummings owns and operates West Glow Farms in Kingston Springs, TN: a vegetable operation, beef cattle and event space. Her mission is to reconnect the community with their food sources and encourage people to support their local farmers.
The Nudge
Mary didn’t plan to be a farmer. She and her family just felt a deep pull to slow down and grow their own food. So they bought land, named it West Glow Farm, and stepped into something brand new—with zero experience and a whole lot of hope. It was humbling, uncertain, and nothing like the world’s version of success.
The Yes
Instead of pretending, she asked for help. She built a team she trusted and leaned hard on their wisdom. Over time, West Glow became more than just a farm—it became a place where local food met local hearts. A place to gather, to connect, and to remember what matters.
The Fruit
Today, West Glow Farm is growing more than produce. It’s growing people, families, and a quiet kind of impact. For Mary, success isn’t about followers or fame—it’s about obedience, trust, and the beauty of small beginnings that keep unfolding.
“Being an entrepreneur is mostly about the relationships.”
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My name is Mary Britain Cummings, and I'm the owner of West Glow Farm. We are running a vegetable operation, raising beef cattle, and also operating an event venue. We just really had a longing to get back to the land and learn how to grow our own food.
We had an opportunity to buy a piece of land in Kingston Springs, and so we decided to name the farm West Glow Farm.
When we started farming, I think that it was so exciting to me because everybody really understands supporting local business. But since food is so available to most of us in our area, people forget about supporting their local farm. And in our country, really and truly, the food that you're getting in a chain grocery store could be a chicken from Mexico or berries from Argentina.
Let’s support our local economies first.
For me, what I've learned as an entrepreneur is to just keep connecting with the story — what is our why for doing this? And so I believe that, for me, I always come back to: Okay, what do I want as a consumer, and what's missing from the marketplace?
The thing that has been the most successful is the people who are smarter than I am — I have so much trust in them. I look to them for guidance.
So I think that being an entrepreneur is mostly about the relationships — relationships with your team and relationships with your customers. Staying humble in both of those relationships is key. And, recognizing — for me — it’s easy, because I don't know farming as a trade. So it's been really easy for me to ask for help and to know that I don't have the answers.
I have to lean on my team.
Really, to me, a successful entrepreneur is just somebody who understands their community and their team — and marries the relationship between both.
Society and culture always say, “Well, success looks like this,” and it always looks like a lot of money, a lot of fame, a lot of recognition, a lot of likes on your social media. And I would just say that even if you don't get all those things, but you are changed as a person and your community is changed — it’s worth doing.
And I think even the word entrepreneur can sound like a successful entrepreneur means a successful bank account. And obviously, I hope for that — I really do — and we're working toward that.
But what we've learned along the way has been bigger than the amount of money that we've made.
So I think the advice that I would have for somebody is: If you have an idea and you think, “Gosh, that doesn't feel like it fits within my college education or my family lifestyle,” or fill in the blank — there's always a reason we can talk ourselves out of something.
And I believe that, for me, the idea just continued to come back. I have a deep faith, and so I continued to pray for direction. I continued to pray for people to come into our path. And I always pray for doors to open that need to open, and doors to close that need to close.
So I think my advice would be: If the door keeps opening and there's still a way to be made, then keep pushing through and keep trying.
A farm is really such a beautiful community gathering space. And in this time in history, I think it’s been such a beautiful way to say, “Let’s get off our devices, and let’s get our families together and celebrate community.”
So I would just say — the little things that surprise you are the things to pay attention to the most.
Why We Share These Stories
We believe that celebrating Tennessee’s entrepreneurs will inspire the next generation of bold thinkers, risk-takers, and community builders. Entrepreneurs don’t forget where they come from—and they carry the power to transform not just their businesses, but entire neighborhoods, towns, and local economies. See more entrepreneur stories from the Patton Foundation..
