Merry and Bright
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In the fall of 2020, communities across the United States found themselves more disconnected and disheartened than ever before. As the days grew darker, so did the COVID-19 pandemic, and we all hoped for an uplifting holiday season, even if it looked different than in years past. One dairy farm family wanted to do just that: lift their community’s spirits and bring their friends and neighbors together in a time when everyone needed it most — to find the perfect Christmas tree.
Kelly and John VanGundy had thought about opening their home and farm — VanGundy Family Farms — to their rural community in Radnor, Ohio, for years. As farmers and entrepreneurs, thinking of ways to diversify their operation comes naturally to the VanGundys — and sets their farm up for success in the future as their six children grow and become more involved.
The journey here
When John and Kelly were married, Kelly wanted to keep two of her favorite dairy cows from her father’s herd. Farming wasn’t either of their full-time jobs at first (John worked for a swine operation and Kelly at the local hospital in addition to being a full-time mom), and John was a generation removed from his family farm. But John and Kelly slowly realized they wanted their children to grow up with the values and responsibility farming brings to a family.
About 20 years ago, as John drove home from work, he came across a small dairy farm, milking 25 cows on a grazing operation, and stopped to talk to the owner, Sylvia. John and Kelly developed a partnership with Sylvia to lease space for milking and housing their growing herd. After a few years, Sylvia was ready to retire, and the VanGundys purchased her herd and farm to grow their own herd to 65 cows.
“People have asked us why we choose to dairy when we have the ability to do other things for a living,” Kelly says. “We always tell them, there is no other industry or area of life that can offer the same values and lessons that this small dairy farm can offer our family.” “We always tell them, there is no other industry or area of life that can offer the same values and lessons that this small dairy farm can offer our family.”
As a first-generation dairy family, the VanGundys found themselves in a world of opportunity while finding success in Sylvia’s setup. Their herd of 65 Jerseys and crossbred cows continue to graze throughout the year, just like Sylvia had done in the past, with a freestall barn available for shelter and warmth in the winter months. They run a single-six milking parlor with milking taking place in the morning and early evening each day.
When John decided to dairy full time, he also found value in diversifying their operation — planting and harvesting a variety of custom forages and managing a swine operation and nursery.
Bringing the community together
As business owners, John and Kelly experienced firsthand the impact COVID-19 shutdowns had on small, local businesses. With a spacious barn on their homestead, Kelly had the idea to start an open market where vendors could set up shop, safely distanced outdoors, while interacting with customers and selling their products once a month. After their first open market in August 2020, the VanGundys were sold — it was the right time to try out their Christmas tree idea.
“I was at a point in my life, and with the farm, where I wanted to host more than just a farm tour,” Kelly says. “As producers, it’s very important to connect with your community on a regular basis, and here was our chance.”
Soon after, John called a Christmas tree wholesaler in northern Ohio and ordered an assortment of firs and spruces, and the VanGundys got to work preparing for the trees — and people — to arrive.
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, people from all around the community came to the VanGundys’ market and tree lot — dubbed The Dairy on Fulton Creek — to pick out the perfect Christmas tree and support their local small businesses. In addition to selling Christmas trees, the VanGundys hosted a holiday open house one weekend, featuring a visit from Santa Claus, hayrack rides, hot chocolate (made with real milk, of course) and Christmas cookies, and held a story time in the barn the next weekend featuring a live Nativity scene, including dairy cows.
All is dairy and bright
With such success in 2020, the VanGundys are looking forward to a holly, jolly Christmas tree season this year as well. Over the past year, they’ve continued their monthly open market, allowing local vendors to continue growing and expanding their businesses.
While the open market and Christmas trees were a fun way to get through a difficult economic time and dark winter, the VanGundys know the true meaning of the holiday season — and are grateful for the time it allowed them to spend together.
“The ability to allow our community to come in and see what we do on our farm was a big gain for us,” Kelly says. “But more than anything, everyone in our family was on board for the Christmas trees and open house from the beginning, and getting to spend the holiday season together as a family, creating a fun experience for others, made Christmas extra special.”