Zach & Kyndle Erhard of Oak Grove Farms
This month we are featuring Oak Grove Farms! We know there are a lot of people who may not know much about how the farm/market all began, and we also want you all to know how good, fresh, and local Oak Grove Market really is.
Zach & Kyndle Erhard are first generational farmers and the owners behind Oak Grove Farms and Oak Grove Market. The produce, honey, and jars you find at the market come straight from their farm located just 8 miles away from the market. Zach & Kyndle took some time to share their entrepreneurial journey.
About Oak Grove Farms
Oak Grove Farms is good, fresh, and local. We help create relationships through the produce we grow, while sharing our passion of farming, growing, learning, and researching.
01 Why did you start Oak Grove Farms?
I (Zach) have always had an entrepreneurial mindset, even growing up. I was always finding new and creative ways to make money and keep myself busy. I discovered my passion for farming through a buddy I worked with, and I thought “What if this could be something?” So when I was 18, I set out to begin growing my own produce and selling it locally to my community. The thought of providing fresh produce to others around me was extremely rewarding while also doing what I loved every day. While growing produce is very enjoyable to me, I also enjoy the researching aspect that plays the part with farming. Learning new and innovative ways to grow is just as fun as actually growing.
02 What challenges have you faced along the way?
While farming is a lot of fun, it definitely comes with its challenges. Zach and I have learned throughout the years that sometimes situations just aren’t in our control. One specific challenge that immediately comes to mind is the role weather plays. I remember one year we had a huge rain on the farm, and we stood on our front porch and watched as our strawberry plants for that season flooded right before our eyes. But sometimes you just can’t control it. We talked it out, went over a plan for if they don’t produce like we thought, and we move on. We hand it over to the Lord knowing He will provide for us, no matter what happens.
Another challenge we have faced is growing our business, while also trying to grow the location. We are busting at the seams with our tents and temporary building. But in the words of my dad “You gotta crawl before you walk.” So that’s what we are trying to navigate through during the season we are in right now.
03 What advice can you give aspiring entrepreneurs?
Never give up, and you learn more from your failures than your successes. We have failed and failed again, and learned so many lessons from those failures. If you’re passionate about something, stick with it and take risks. Life is too short to think for too long.
04 What’s next for Oak Grove Farms?
We have HUGE dreams for the future of our business. During this season, the next on our agenda is to officially own all 3 plots of the land we are currently selling on. Once we (hopefully) acquire all 3 plots, we plan to build a permanent location that will be open more year round. So stick with us, big things are coming!
05 What drives / inspires you?
Honestly growing a business together, we have grown to drive and inspire one another. Zach has his strengths and I have mine, and we both feel like together, we make a pretty good team. Our customers also drive us to want to keep growing and never give up. The community we have built so far is rewarding and so encouraging to be apart of. We pray we always make people feel welcome when they come to our market, because they are who make it so worth it.