Henry Froese, who quit school at 12 to load peanuts for a local farmer, now runs Y Knot Farms and a 16‑acre vineyard in Gaines County, Texas, after being named the 2026 Peanut Efficiency Award winner for the Southwest.
Brett Woods leased Froese a plot in 2004, and by 2012 he harvested his first organic peanut crop, yielding nearly 5,000 pounds per acre—a benchmark that set the tone for every subsequent expansion.
In 2022, the couple planted a grapevine on 5 acres of marginal cropland; the vineyard now spans 16 acres and includes five grape varieties, all grown on land once deemed unsuitable for grapes.
Froese relies on centre‑pivot and drip irrigation drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer, tightening sprinkler leaks and balancing crop rotation with compost and inoculants to keep the soil healthy while conserving water.
He serves on the Loop Independent School Board and the West Texas Peanut Growers Association, while his wife Marie manages the vineyard’s organic paperwork and raises their four children, grounding the operation in community and family.
Froese will present his organic peanut crop at the West Texas Peanut Growers Association summit in October, a key event for networking on sustainable practices.