SWANTON — Jeffries Farm is a family business that started in 2020 on a small budget and a dream.
“Our focus through it all is faith, family, farm and flowers,” said Nicole Jeffries, who tends the farm with her husband, Dalton. “We are still so new at all of this, but we are so excited to dive in, work hard, grow and look back in 30 years and say, ‘Remember when our little girl was 1 and we started this business with pretty much nothing?’”
The couple grows fresh-cut flowers and fillers to put into spring and summer bouquets.
“It’s all started here on the farm, from seed, and when I say there is blood, sweat and tears involved, I’m not kidding,” Jeffries said.
She grew up on the farm where they currently live, and the couple actually met when they were children showing animals at the Garrett County Fair.
“That’s a true Garrett County love story,” Jeffries said.
She noted that she came out of high school ready to head to college and into a pre-vet program. Soon after she started, she realized it wasn’t for her, but she knew she wanted to be involved in agriculture.
When Jeffries became a stay-at-home mom, she said she knew that while she wanted to raise her kids, she also needed something for herself.
She started researching “jobs in agriculture” online, and “flower farmer” popped up.
“I thought, ‘That sounds cool,’ so I started researching … and convincing my husband … and that’s really how it all came to be,” Jeffries said.
She noted that she originally learned about growing plants in horticulture classes in college, which she thought were “super boring” at the time.
Jeffries did more research and started following flower farmers from other areas on social media.
“I joined a page on Facebook filled with other flower farmers from around the world that has been an amazing source of knowledge,” she said. “I really have little to no experience or knowledge of running a business, but my dad has been running his own business for years now and my mom also owned a small business here in Garrett County called June Bugs Party Rentals, so to some extent it comes naturally. And they have also been there with advice and guidance along the way.”
Currently, Jeffries’ family volunteers time to help out, but she hopes to continue to grow and bring on employees in the near future.
“We want more than anything to bring joy to people,” Jeffries said. “We want the flowers to speak life and love into people.”
She noted that her time in the field is usually her only time alone and usually her prayer time.
“Most of the time, each flower is prayed over, not only that it will do well in the vase for the customer for my good, but that it will make a difference in someone’s day,” Jeffries said.
She also said she wants people to feel relaxation and fun when they come to the farm.
“We are really excited to host more people and hopefully turn this farm into a place that people love to visit,” Jeffries said.
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