Every once in a while, you come across the perfect opportunity. The chance to build a successful business, have some fun, do some good, and involve the entire family.

That’s what one man has achieved in south Texas by raising one of America’s most unusual crops.

J.R. Sigrist has worn a lot of different hats in his 83 years. Farmer.  Mail carrier. Business owner. 

Nowadays, J.R.’s got a different profession — and passion. He’s a huge advocate of aloe.

I think it has had a big effect in my life because I’ve been drinking it since we started the fields here. God has blessed us with a plant here that will help them and all they have to do is try it and see. — J.R. Sigrist, Aloe King Farms

That “blessed plant”  J.R.’s talking about is aloe vera. Son John grows about a hundred acres of the spiny succulent on a little spread in south Texas called Aloe King Farms.

John Sigrist says that aloe can remedy a lot of what ails you. Aloe gel has been popular as a salve for minor cuts, burns, skin rashes and insect bites. And some people swear that taking aloe capsules reduces arthritis pain. Others say drinking aloe juice relieves constipation and promotes digestion. There are even claims, as yet scientifically unproven, that it helps asthma sufferers and lowers blood sugar in diabetic patients. And that’s just a start. Its amino acids tenderize tough meat. It soothes hemorrhoid discomfort. When added to beans it cuts down on, ahem, "gas".

But let's not get carried away. John’s mom Audrey doesn’t mention THAT when she talks to folks visiting the aloe farm. But she and husband J.R. do enjoy hosting the free tours and promoting other aloe attributes.

It will not grow hair…but you can use it as a gel and spike it!  —J.R. Sigrist, Aloe King Farms

More than 90 percent of the aloe vera in the U.S. is grown right here in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. The plant, which looks like a cactus but is actually a member of the lily family, thrives year-round in the valley’s hot, dry climate and sandy soil.

John explains that “the plant grows from the inside out in a rosette format. About every six weeks it will create three new leaves, which we call a generation. We’ll always take the outside leaves, only two or three or four. To cut the plant, we go to the outside leaf first, make a small incision with the knife, then it can be broken away. Then you’re going to start to see a tremendous amount of yellow aloin that’s going to start collecting here. It’s part of the mechanism that helps heal the plant.” He says that when you put this "gel" on the damaged portion of your skin you'll feel a positive difference almost immediately.

Each week, workers harvest about ten tons of the plumpest leaves from the farm’s 3 million aloe plants. After the leaves are washed and labeled, many are shipped right to market, where you’ll pay three to five dollars for each.

Other leaves are filleted like fresh fish and the aloe gel is collected in huge buckets.

That’s turned into skin treatments and lotions, even after shave.  They also make aloe jelly for your morning muffin and 97-percent pure aloe juice. The straight stuff is an acquired taste. Most folks mix it with fruit juice. They also sell some with a little cranberry flavoring. "We laugh sometimes," John says, "People say, 'is this a cure for hangover?' And we mention that in fact you drink this with vodka or something, it's not a bad toddy. Get your cure at the same time."

Twenty years after starting his aloe business, the Aloe King farm now generates more than a million dollars in annual sales. But John Sigrist says another measure of success is the fact that he’s growing something that promotes healing and good health and Mom and Pop are right there helping as fulltime "volunteers".

Having at least the comfort of a family with you and working side by side toward a common goal is, no question about it, a gift. I can’t imagine doing anything else. — John Sigrist

Additional information:
You'll find all sorts of interesting information including how to visit the aloe farm at www.aloeking.com

To plan a visit to Texas, go to www.traveltex.com