The Bootstrap Boys

Jacob’s Farm is a 40 acre centennial farm cultivated by artisans who share an unwavering passion for agriculture, wine, food and service.

In 1892 Jacob Witkop acquired the farm after moving to Traverse City from Bierrum Holland. Not long after the farm was passed down to Jacob’s son John and his wife Mary in 1918 where they raised five children. Years later the farm was given to John and Mary’s second son Hiram where he raised four of his own children with his wife Jane.

In 1995 Michael Witkop returned to his family farm with his wife Laverna and purchased the farm from his father Hiram. In an effort to continue the Jacob’s Farm legacy Mike and Laverna launched Jacob’s Farm Enterprises, LLC in early 2008 and created their first corn maze that Fall. In 2020 Jacob’s Farm expanded with the efforts of local entrepreneurs Troy Daily and Nate Crane. The 40 acre estate is now a full service restaurant, bar, event venue in additional to the u-pick orchard and corn maze.

Jacob’s Farm has been owned and operated by the Witkop family since 1892 and is recognized by the State of Michigan’s Historical Commission as a Centennial Farm.

This summer join us for music on the farm.

THE BOOTSTRAP BOYS ARE A COUNTRY AMERICANA BAND FROM GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. They’ve been making their own signature brand of folk-rock inspired traditional country music since 2015. Their songs come courtesy of lead singer and songwriter, Jake Stilson, who’s career has spanned several decades in both solo and full band projects. Influenced equally by rural Christian bluegrass he was exposed to in the church and the heady country rock of the late 1960’s & 70’s [Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Byrds, The Band], Jake and the Boys have developed a sound of their own over the years, drifting further and further away from their folksy-bluegrass sound and charging headlong into a heavier, more electric realm.