Entering Farmer #20419
Hello my name is Joe Venasco, I am a 22 year old first generation farmer from Volant Pa. I currently farm roughly 220 acres of corn and soybeans on my own with my own equipment around Lawrence and Mercer counties. Since I was roughly 4 years old I’ve always had a strong desire to be in the agricultural industry. Once I started into high school I got my first job on a local farm helping with field work, milking cows, and chores. I was very strongly involved in 4-H and FFA during this time as well. I started farming on my own 6 years ago raising hay as well as cattle and 4-H show goats. Over the past 3 years I have gotten out of livestock and hay for the opportunity to raise corn and soybeans. In addition I am currently employed at the local farm co-op where I work around agronomy and grain. I am looking to lease to own or a lease agreement farm where I can grow my operation. I am looking for a farm mostly around northern Lawrence County or Mercer County so I can continue to raise crops on the ground I currently lease. If the opportunity came, I would be open to moving my operation further north to Crawford County. Also if the opportunity came I would be open to raising livestock again.
Entering Farmer #20418
Our young family is looking for land to start a small operation. We plan to begin with a homestead to meet our needs and then eventually expand to sales to others. We love to create spaces for people to have real experiences and would love to offer those experiences to people.
Although I am technically a novice, one side of my family were orchard growers and the other side were dairy farmers. I grew up going to my grandparents conventional dairy farm and helping out there. I’ve also owned chickens and I have experience with horses and goats. I have always had a garden, whether a small apartment garden or a large garden on the 5 acres I grew up on. I have a lot of generational knowledge that is just part of me and I didn’t realize I had until I moved to the city. My husband brings business management, real estate, and budgeting experience.
Although my family farmed conventionally, I’m interested in more sustainable and organic practices on a smaller scale. I plan to start with a large garden and quickly add chickens and angora rabbits for wool. From there, the plan will depend on the land and what systems are already in place. Some land is better suited for goats vs sheep or full size dairy cows vs mini cows. If roosters are allowed, I would love to breed lavender or splash Orpingtons.
Entering Farmer #20399
I’m a this generation farmer looking to expand my own operation. I have a degree in agroecology from Penn State and worked as a conservation program specialist for a consulting firm helping farmers with conservation and sustainability.
Entering Farmer #20397
my nephew and I, his 2nd year, my 44th year, soybean farmers in Lehigh County, looking for farm ground to rent
Entering Farmer #20394
Folklore Farm will be a regenerative farm specializing in quality pasture raised livestock, with a focus on providing high quality meat. To customers through direct sales, farmers markets, and restaurants. While also donating 10% of market head for each species to local food banks. The farm will use intensive regenerative pasture management, which will allow for low infrastructure and labor costs compared to traditional farming. Enabling the farmer to operate the business part-time alongside their spouses full-time employment.
To ensure maximum efficiency at minimum cost, Folklore Farm will lease land instead of purchasing outright. Since regenerative farming has the ability to restore soil health over time. Folklore Farm will be increasing the quality of the land. This will create a great tenant relationship with the land owner.
To achieve our goal of providing high quality livestock, we have chosen to focus on superior genetics and optimal grazing practices. We are confident that this approach will yield excellent results and provide value to our customers. With emphasis on genetics this will allow for additional revenue streams from seed stock sale opportunities.
To address growing consumer demands for nutritious food that is ethically sourced in Chester County Pa. Folklore Farm offers diverse products including poultry, pork, lamb, and potentially beef through various sales channels.
while I have no farming for profit experience I have personally owned some species of livestock and helped a dairy farmer in my youth.
Entering Farmer #20378
My husband and I have leased a farm in NY for 10 years that is currently being sold off (we didn’t have any notice) so we are looking to relocate our farm. We raise registered belted Galloways, have 50 chickens, and a self service farm store that we have grown tremendously in 4 years. We have built a big following on Facebook with creative marketing- so relocating doesn’t scare us. Looking for tillable and grazing land, a house (can be a fixer upper). We fixed up the current farm we are on and brought it back to life- hard work does not scare us. We don’t have any kids, just a border collie & 6 barn cats.
Entering Farmer #20371
My husband and I are graduates of the PSU College of Agricultural Sciences and grew up actively involved in 4H and FFA. We do not come from farming families, but have found a deep love for it.
Chris previously worked as a Herdsman for 300+ cow/calf beef operation and a Relief Technician for Genex. He is now the Career and is now the Specialized Career and Technical Education Advisor – Agriculture for the PA Department of Agriculture.
I work in the Hershey Area as a Cancer Researcher using animal models.
We previously rented 150 acres, making hay, wheat straw, and corn; as well as maintaining a flock of roughly 100 commercial Katahdin ewes. We recently refocused our operation to buy more land (instead of renting) and improve our genetics. We have a strong customer base both for show lambs and hair lambs, and are desperately looking for land to buy in order to expand our operation.
Our current property is only 10 acres, on which we manage 10 head of commercial Katahdins brood ewes, 10 head of wether type crossbred show ewes, and 3 head of beef cattle. We grow our own hay and rotationally graze our stock roughly 8 months out of the year (but would love to do more!). While we do vaccinate our animals, we believe prevention is the best medicine, and therefore strive for the best management practices as well as select for the right stock in order to avoid the need for antibiotics and anthelmintics, unless absolutely necessary.
We are passionate about maximizing our rotational grazing and improving the soil, as well as supporting and educating local youth. We love the constant challenge to improve our genetics and systems to best meet the needs of our clients while remaining highly profitable.
Entering Farmer #20356
Hello there. Our names are Sasha and Tony Bellucci. We are respectively 35 and 37 years old and have resided in Colorado for the past 11 years. Tony grew up in Pennsylvania and lived there for 25 years before moving west. Sasha was born in Ukraine and came to Pennsylvania by way of California when she was 13. As we’ve built our lives and skills out west, we are looking to return to our home state to be closer to family and live out our long term visions of sustainability, permaculture, organic agriculture, and community enrichment. We’d love to tell you a little about ourselves and our intentions.
Tony has spent many years working around plants and trees. His introduction to farming began at Greenmoore Gardens in State College, Pa. At the farm, Tony, along with farm manager Laura, ran a 50 person CSA. This included the management of 2 large tunnels of vegetables, a 20×12 propagation greenhouse, drip irrigation water systems, and a flock of 40 chickens. In 2020, he was studying Horticulture at CSU and was selected to intern at the Colorado State Extension office in Grand Junction, Co. where he curated an garden growing indigenous Ute ethnobotanical plants, herbs, and trees. Tony holds a BA in Communication and designed marketing materials, brochures, and signs for use in the garden and community. Currently, he has been working as an arborist and will soon be ISA certified. Daily tasks include management of fruit trees, climbing and pruning, felling/removing dead trees, and management of landscape plants. In his free time, he loves to play all types of music though his primary instrument is guitar. He plays in a successful band called Tumbledown Shack based in Fort Collins, Co. which plays 4-8 shows a month. He is a passionate soccer fan and enjoys being outside through his work or various recreation activities such as disc golf and biking.
Sasha is a successful mental health therapist with a Master’s in Transpersonal Counseling. For the last 9 years she has worked with clients with varying degrees of PTSD and complex trauma. In 2022 she completed Equinox Center’s 10 month herbalism intensive and integrates herbalism into her work with patients. She is fluent in Russian and spends much of her free time creating various pieces of art including traditional Ukrainian folk art. She is an accomplished artist and sells art, herbal remedies, and her leatherwork at local artisan markets. She enjoys spending free time outside riding her bicycle and playing disc golf with Tony.
Together, we share experience and a vision for a sustainable future. In 2012, we went to Chile to volunteer on a small 2 acre permaculture in the foothills of the Andes. While there, we were given our first glimpse into permaculture practices and self-sustainability. We tended gardens, cooked using fresh ingredients, and cared for the land, trees, and property. From that experience on, we have managed our own gardens both in Pennsylvania and Colorado. In 2017, we volunteered at a 33 acre permaculture in southern Costa Rica. We were given a month of training then managed the property for the owners while they were away. Daily tasks included pruning of plants, harvesting of food, processing food, caring for various animals including ducks, sheep, horses, and cows, greenhouse and compost management, and community outreach. We received our PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) in December of 2017 and began to construct our own vision for this lifestyle. In 2018, we returned to Costa Rica where we helped care for a small 1 acre property while the owner was out of the country.
Through various experiences and education, we have slowly formulated our own vision for an agricultural and permaculture based lifestyle. We have always dreamed of tending the land, growing food, educating and impacting community, and hosting enrichment events. Our life in Colorado is rich however, we wish to return to Pennsylvania where we would be better able to enact this vision. We would love to sell food through farmers market or CSA, cultivate herbs and herbalism products for the community, and design community events where people can experience professionally prepared meals with locally grown food.
Entering Farmer #20345
I am an aspiring farmer. I have been taking classes for over a year and now I am starting the loan process for my start up. I hope to be in business by this time 2026. Ive been grown my own vegetables and herbs in home and in my backyard since I was a child. I am self-taught, but I’ve taken classes to teach me the ends and outs of cropping.
Entering Farmer #20336
I am looking for land to lease in order to expand my flower and vegetable production. Ideally looking for 5-10 acres with the possibility to raise meat birds and pigs for personal consumption. I am a beginner farmer with a dairy farming background.