Inspiring Conversations with Aleisha Erwin of Erwin Farms & Corn Maze The Farmers Wife & Garden Barn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleisha Erwin.

Hi Aleisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Aleisha Erwin, myself along with my husband are the owners of Erwin Farms & Corn Maze in Winchester Ohio. I also am the owner and operator of ” The Farmer’s Wife & Garden Barn.” We Have 4 Children. 16, 19, 9, and 5 Years

16 Years Ago I found myself a Single mom waiting tables at a mom & pop diner in our rural community. I didn’t believe in fairy tales, rainbows, and butterflies, or happy endings because my life was anything but that.

Long story short, I met my now husband, and we decided to blend our families.

We both came from farming backgrounds, he already being a full-time farmer himself, was also a Pioneer Seed Rep. I had always had a burning fire in my soul to be an entrepreneur. My dream as a child was to be a Farm Vet or Ag Teacher.

In 2015 When my husband and I bought our 1st farm together, I decided I wanted to grow pumpkins, I researched all winter long on how to grow them, that spring, we worked up a field in the back of the farm that wouldn’t be used for anything else, and against my husband’s better judgment he let me “do my thing,” myself and our 2 oldest girls at the time, planted every single pumpkin seed by hand, I sold the pumpkins road side at our farm that fall, under a small pop-up tent, and a picnic table. In which I still Have, And Cherish.
I had painted signs at the end of the road, and today I laugh looking at them but keep them because I cherish them and where I started, to my Surprise we sold TONS Of pumpkins and even had people asking about “next year”. We would have people stop or call or ask about a “corn maze,” we would laugh there will be NO CORN MAZE!

After some discussion and what we wanted our 10-year plan to be with our family and our farm, we decided that we were either going to ” Go BIG” OR GO HOME! So, we made a corn maze; we had no clue what we were doing, but people came, and a lot of them For our little rural area.
We even had a “Glow Maze” where folks could go through the maze at dark with flashlights or glow sticks. I sold some fall decor out of a tiny chicken coop, yes, a chicken coop that year; customers were recommending a storefront, so I took my profit from that year and built my now STORE called ” The Farmer’s wife and Garden Barn” which was supposed to be seasonal, that quickly turned into a storefront that is now open all year long 7 days a week. in 2018, I was able to quit my off the farm job and strictly work here on the farm, which was a dream.

We have since added on to our storefront, TWICE, Preparing for a Third time, we have added greenhouses, where I grow a large portion of the flowers we sell in the spring and fall.

Our Pumpkin Sales, would soon exceed our ability to keep up- so now we source them in from other local growers.

We sell fresh produce, candles, melissa and Doug toys, clothing, accessories, modern farmhouse decor, cheesecake, Flowers, garden supplies, mulch, soil, seeds, Chemicals, Outdoor decor, Dips & Pre Packaged Food Items.

Pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, gourds,

we host educational events, workshops, school field trips, and more.

Late summer we have a U PICK Sunflower Field.
Christmas Months- our store front is filled with beautiful decor, gifts, and more.
I am a lover for all things Christmas, so we now decorate the farm in lights & Blow molds, We have Santa meet n greets, Breakfast with Santa, and more which brings Christmas cheer

We Have Recently Started Cutting our own flowers, and sourcing florals in during off seasons- We accommodate weddings, Funerals, Anniversaries, Proms and Just Because Flowers all year long.

We Farm Corn & Soybeans, Custom Spray, and Harvest along with Custom Hauling Grain.

We Sell Pioneer Seed & Chemicals to Other local farmers in our area.

Each year, as we grow, I try to let others help because I know I need the help, but letting go of what “made us” and what gives me joy has been hard, it sounds silly, but while I’m planting, I pray, I pray for that crop, and that year, I pray for our farm and all those who come I pray for my children and their future here.

On Saturday Nights in the fall, after the corn maze closes, I go home and wind down, get on social media, and it’s full of families at OUR FARM; I can’t help but to get a little teary sometimes, knowing that all this hard work has provided such a special place for so many people, and it was all by accident.
Its provided so many jobs for folks in our area.
During Peak Fall Season- We employee around 20-25 people, a lot of those are seasonal employees who keep coming back each fall. I strive to be a leader, to my staff- working along side them, teaching them, having grace and understanding, and knowing each and every part of our operation and how it functions. We are always striving to be better than we were the year before- to learn from others, to learn and grow in our industry, and most importantly keep moving with the times.

Seeing families come back each year and watching their children grow, seeing folks enjoy engagements, Birthdays, and special moments here warm my heart. It’s a feeling I can’t describe,

Being 1st generation farmers- is hard we have learned to diversify our operation, and stay up to date with new trends, weather it be Over the top Displays that you might find here at the farm each and every year, to the latest chemicals and seeds- we are constantly growing, and helping our customers grow as well.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our operation has Never been a smooth road- just like anything, it takes Hard work, determination.
our family has done lots of learning, we have tried things that didnt work- and we have also tried things that stuck and are very successful. We have rode the highs and lows of Grain Markets crashing, Interest rates sky rocketing, Covid Lockdown, competition, and more. Dealing with our own personal things like birth, death, sickness has not stopped either.

As you know, we’re big fans of Erwin Farms & Corn Maze The Farmers Wife & Garden Barn. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Grain Farmers ( Corn and Soybeans)
Custom Spraying, Combining, and harvesting
Chemical Sales- Seed Sales

On the farm Destination – Shopping- entertainment- 10 ACRE corn Maze- U pick Flowers- Garden Center- Floral Design

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Childhood memory- My first job was at a greenhouse at 14 years old- and I HATED it. Funny to think that now I own a greenhouse.
Another childhood memory would be my involvement in 4H & FFA- which taught me hard work, perseverance and determination.
I believe in Working hard, Staying Humble, and not burning bridges because there might be a point in time that you need those people sometime again in your life. Networking is key

Pricing:

• 10.00 – General Admission Fall

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.farmerswifegardenbarn.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/farmerswifegardenbarn