Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Johnson.
Robin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our family is a third-generation tobacco-farming family. Just like so many tobacco farmers in these times, we found it increasingly difficult to make a living from just tobacco and small grain production. As a result, we began to explore new ways to supplement our income through diversification and expansion. We knew we wanted to share our love for farming with others, so the idea of adding Agri-Tourism to our farm seemed an obvious choice!
The idea of an on-the-farm ice cream shop was a thought on the four-hour drive home from our mountain house in 2020. My idea was that it would be a fun weekend job where we would have a small crowd on weekends as I worked a full-time job with the State of NC.
This is our third year of operation, and we have been truly blessed and amazed at how huge this business has become! I retired from my state job to run this business full-time as we have added so much to share our love of agriculture to our visitors on our farm! Who knew we needed this in our small community!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, there is never smooth sailing. We have learned that people love to support small businesses and have learned very quickly how fast a business can grow. We had to hire employees, make business decisions, and expand parking areas, playgrounds, etc., as we never envisioned this business to be as successful as it has been. We have learned that you can’t satisfy everyone and that sometimes you make decisions based on your business needs than on individual preferences.
We’ve been impressed with The Scoop! @ Willow Oak Farms, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an on-the-farm Agritourism business that hosts an ice cream shop, farm animals, which include a mini highland cow named Lainey, outdoor play areas, and a farm-themed indoor play area.
Our Barnyard Buddies preschool classes are on the farm, parent/child interactive classes where children ages 1-5 learn about animals and life on the farm. These classes run for 6-week sessions in the Fall and Spring yearly.
We offer numerous events, spirit nights and host craft vendor markets throughout the year. Birthday parties are hosted year-round here on our farm with access to all the fun amenities that the farm has to offer, including a private wagon ride around the farm!
Fall school field trips are hosted on our farm as well. Schoolchildren learn all about pumpkins and life on the farm!
We are in the process of always expanding and adding new and exciting ideas to our farm business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
We have been truly blessed — no luck about it! We were fortunate to inherit the land that we farmed for many years, and my husband and I complement each other in our business roles; I’m the dreamer; he’s the numbers cruncher; if the numbers work, we take a leap of faith. It seems like looking back at things that have happened in our lives and the people that have been placed in our paths were placed so that we could gain knowledge and help us along into this business venture we are a part of now.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willowoakfarms.net
- Instagram: @thescoop_willowoakfarms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescoopatwillowoakfarms/
Image Credits
Limitless Photography
