Circle T Ranch was purchased in 1947 by Thomas and Ida Oates. The Oates Family originally lived on the Homestead Mill Village before the land was first purchased on Gum Branch road. Ida, Thomas, and their eight children cleared the land, then, the family moved there in 1949.

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"The Barn" as we call it here at Circle T Ranch, was built in 1949 by the Oates kids and their neighbor friends. The Barn was originally a chicken barn. Raising thousands of chickens every year.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Thelma Tomlinson, Ida and Thomas's 6th child, was 14 years old when she helped build the barn. She would later inherit the barn after her and her eight siblings drew names out of a hat to determine which pieces of the land each one would get.

 

Ida and Thomas passed away when Thelma was a teenager. Her and her siblings remained a close family. Each sibling held onto their piece of land on Gum Branch Road. Many of which still reside there today. 

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Thelma later married Nat Tomlinson. Together, they transformed the chicken barn to fit the needs of their new life. They built stalls in the barn to make it suitable for horses. Nat and Thelma raised horses, cattle, pigs, and other farm animals throughout their lives. Nat was a gifted horseman, known for staying up late at night training on horses. Thelma was famous for leading all of the neighborhood kids on her ponies.

  

Nathan Tomlinson Jr, followed in his parents' footsteps raising animals and teaching future generations about farming and ranching. Nathan Jr married Tracy, they have four children. Tiffany, Nathan 3rd, Tabby, and Justin. Tabby and Justin Tomlinson, are continuing the farm family traditions while simultaneously sharing them with their community.