|
For
nearly half a century, there’s been a special
place that gives every event the room to breathe
fresh air, feast on legendary cuisine and
escape for a time from the fast lane of modern
life. This special place is Nixon’s Farm,
tucked quietly away in the gentle rolling
hills of Howard County, Maryland. Family owned
and operated for almost 50 years, it continues
its proud tradition of service to others in
a unique setting. From 10 people to 5,000,
Nixon’s makes every event a sensational occasion.
| The
property known as Nixon’s Farm was purchased
in 1956. But the story begins much earlier.
Roosevelt and Mildred Nixon both came
from North Carolina, in a hostile and
segregated south. The opportunities
for success were very limited for ambitious,
young blacks and so they headed north
immediate after World War II, met and
married in Baltimore, and began raising
a family. |
 |
Both were
highly entrepreneurial, and by 1953, they
had a successful grocery store, a gypsy
cab service, and several rental properties.
But they hungered for land. Nixon’s Farm
was originally a traditional farm, with
livestock, silage, and produce. Then, however,
destiny began to play its hand.
In the 1950’s, there was no place for blacks
and Jews to go. Every place was segregated
or restricted. So dad’s business associates
– most of whom were black or Jewish – urged
him to renovate for the recreational use
of their families. Roosevelt was the founder
of the Small Businessmen’s League in Baltimore,
a group of blacks and Jews who had been
denied membership in other business clubs.
As a result of this encouragement, Nixon’s
Farm turned its focus to recreational use.
Corporations, private groups, and families
now hold events on this famous property.
| After
father’s death in 1972, the business
expanded to include hosting corporate
picnics, retreats, wedding receptions,
and family reunions. Until 1978, however,
Mildred Nixon only rented the grounds
and allowed caterers to use her property.
She had several disturbing experiences,
however, which made her realize that
substandard food reflects poorly on
the location, and that consumers do
not distinguish between food and facility. |
|
 |
Fortunately,
Mildred Nixon is an excellent cook with
a passion for food. Soon, her signature
dish, southern fried chicken, was developing
an enviable reputation.
In 1987, Randall Nixon, disillusioned with
the practice of law, joined the family firm,
carving out a role in the areas of marketing,
sales, and non-food operations. He also
began the process of systematizing the business
with computer automation, job descriptions
and a coordinated schedule of work.
In addition, the system was put in place
to create a mechanism whereby sales and
operations could work cooperatively.
All
great businesses should have three characteristics:
vision, people, and systems.
Our vision is that we work at touching
people in extraordinary ways through
food and facility. We are both “high
tech” and “high touch”. Our approach
is to provide the Best Total Solution.
We intend to envelop the customer with
a comprehensive range of services, either
directly or through leveraging alliances.
While our competition may be selling
features, or price, we sell the proposition
that, all other factors being equal,
we provide the best total solution to
the customer's problems. Our people
are outstanding, and we seek to learn,
taking advantage of the skills they
possess while providing a nurturing,
family-oriented environment. We also
glean the skills that our employees
have into the process of continuous
improvement, producing a more consistent
product. Our systems are what set us
apart from our competitors and place
us in the front ranks of outstanding
businesses. |
 |
Principal
influencers have been impressed by the systemic,
orchestrated management system of Nixon’s
Farm. Our objective is, through continuous
effort, to be actively involved in systemically
improving the quality of the product. They
understand that every frustration is the
result of the absence of a system, and that
orchestrated patterns are natural and organic.
Signage and careful landscaping guide guests
to their appropriate locations. At critical
checkpoints, Nixon’s Farm personnel provide
guest information through rehearsed scripts.
Literature is placed at these checkpoints
detailing guest services, and function locations.
Our objective is to train new employees
so well and so systemically that they are
able to perform relatively complex tasks
within three hours of their arrival. This
enables us to hire young people, and give
them the opportunity to develop employment
skills. Many of our former employees have
returned as customers, and have provided
a steady stream of prospective employees
and referrals.
Long known as The Place for company picnics,
we finished the renovations on our Historic
barn in 2001. The gleaming hardwood floors,
vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and expansive
French doors are now the perfect compliment
to your holiday party, corporate retreat,
team-building event, or retirement dinner.
To enhance your event, we have expanded
our menus to include theme parties, wine
tastings, murder mysteries, and cocktail
parties. This beautiful new facility makes
Nixon’s Farm a year ‘round destination for
all your corporate events. If an all day
sales meeting, followed by a murder mystery
intrigues you, we can do it. How about a
seminar on productivity followed by a wine
tasting with assorted cheeses around the
world, or a springtime unicorn hunt to celebrate
a big sales quarter? Whatever you need,
call us for your next event.
| Outdoor
recreation is one of the highlights
of any visit to Nixon’s Farm. The emphasis
is on group activities, including California-style
volleyball, basketball, softball, and
horseshoes. Also available are solitary
pursuits, such as fishing & hiking.
Untamed deer, possum and rabbit still
roam freely over the land. Beaver inhabit
the river banks of the Patuxent River,
which generously runs through several
portions of the farm. Roosevelt Pond
is stocked with catfish, bluegill, and
bass. And over 40 acres of woodlands
feature white pine, sycamore, beech,
and cherry trees, all with spectacular
views. |
 |
|
|