After graduation, he met Martin Beck in Alabama in hopes of starting his own sod farm. Martin Beck was a pioneer at the time in sod farming and was the first to grow Zoysia grass. Beck’s motto was that every piece of grass harvested should be perfect and not have a single weed. Martin Beck was interested in starting a sod farm in the New Orleans area. Together they started a farm just outside Abita Springs and called it Mid-South Turf. The 50 acre farm grew Tifway Bermuda, Emerald Zoysia, Tifgreen Bermuda and Centipede. After a few years in operation they sold the farm to T.L. James.
Jim continued to manage the Mid-South Turf farm, but his heart’s desire was to have his own farm. In 1972, he founded Simpson Sod Company in Covington off Bootlegger Road and Highway 1077. Simpson Sod Company began as a 100 acre farm growing mostly Centipede along with Tifgreen Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses. Jim managed his farm on the principles he had learned from Beck and other men in his life – top quality, excellence in customer service and integrity in all aspects of business.
