Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Collins.
Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started being involved in the agriculture industry as a young child. My passion for the industry only grew as I aged. I exhibited livestock and horses at the county fair, which is where I met my now husband, Kelton. We graduated high school after many years of showing livestock and growing our cattle business, and pursued degrees in agriculture/animal based fields at Morehead State University. When we moved back home to McArthur in 2020, we moved to his family farm and began operations here. We were blessed with beautiful twin daughters in 2022 and will be welcoming our 3rd farm hand, a son, in 2025. We strive to be involved in our community and offer trusted, local products and livestock right from our family farm.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Farming of any type is rarely what I would call a “smooth road.” Poor weather conditions, sick animals, broken equipment, and long days of back breaking work are just some of the struggles that every farmer will face. Just last year we experienced one of the most severe draughts that our area had ever seen. Farmers were forced to haul water to their herds and feed hay much sooner than they typically would due to poor grass growth, which led to a hay shortage over the winter. Crops struggled to grow with little to no natural water. Farming is a career of passion, it’s rarely easy work. Many farmers that continue on are running a long standing family operation, the roots run deep and that is what keeps us all going through the hard times. Hearing the stories of how our products help people, or how that bouquet of flowers was the highlight of their week, maybe they let us know that we provided them with the best steak they have ever eaten— those are the testimonials that keep us farmers going!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Collins Farms & Twin Sprouts, we dabble in a little bit of everything. Farming is a very broad term that includes so many subcategories. We started with beef cattle and pigs. We raise chickens for egg and meat production. As well as one of my favorite things, my goats whom provide milk for our goats milk & beef tallow soaps, which has been a god send for my own eczema as well as so many others. We have recently expanded our “flower farm” area due to our twin daughters passion for the beauty flowers as well.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I think everyone learned important lessons during the pandemic. For us, the importance of being able to provide for yourself, your family, and your community even if the shelves at the grocery store are empty. Self sufficiency is something that most people seem to strive for after experiencing the Covid-19 times.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://collinsfarmsoh.square.site/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18jDr12U3g/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AGfg11EJm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
