Happy Hallow Farm
Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Missouri, operates a diversified and efficient farming operation, providing fresh produce to customers at farmers markets in Columbia and Kansas City. The farm focuses on high-quality produce, supported by a loyal customer base, with an estimated 30-40% being repeat customers. Workers at Happy Hollow Farm prepare produce meticulously, washing, packing, and labeling items like tomatoes, beans, and lettuce.
Farm operations extend beyond market prep; plants are cultivated in controlled environments to ensure strong growth, and produce that doesn't meet market standards is repurposed as feed for farm chickens. Graznak offsets infrastructure costs with grants, ensuring sustainable practices. The farm's success hinges on early starts and teamwork; by 5:00 AM, the truck is loaded for market, and displays are set up before the first customers arrive, weather and football schedules permitting. Graznak’s commitment to quality and consistency is central to sustaining her farm and building customer loyalty.
At 6:30 AM, well before the first customers arrive, Antonio organizes tomatoes for display and purchase on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Columbia Farmers Market in Columbia, Mo. Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm where the tomatoes were grown, estimates 30-40% of her farmers market customers are repeat customers.
Liz Graznak inspects a lettuce field on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo., after a hose had burst the night prior and partially flooded the field.
Two chickens from a roost eat squash placed in their pen on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo. Farm produce with less than ideal eye appeal or not sold at the farmers market goes to these chickens for a healthy diet.
Farm workers come and go from the wash and pack house as they fill containers with fresh farm produce in preparation for selling at farmers markets in Columbia, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo.
Farm hand Erica packs beans in small containers on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo., to sell at farmers markets in Columbia, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo.
In from the field, fresh produce waits for washing and packing on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farms in Jamestown, Mo., to sell at farmers markets in Columbia, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo.
Farm hand Aleli packs and labels lettuce in containers on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo., to sell at farmers markets in Columbia, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo.
Farm plants germinate in ideal conditions to give them the best chance to grow into robust and fruitful producers on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo., Infrastructure such as growing tents is costly and is often offset by grants.
Farm hand Diego uproots tomato plants at the end of the growing season on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Happy Hollow Farm in Jamestown, Mo. in Jamestown, Mo.
Farm hand Rosa unloads and organizes buckets containing bouquet of flowers on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Columbia Farmers Market in Columbia, Mo. Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm, says loyal customer base—who come back for quality and consistency—is central to sustaining her farm.
Farm hand Fabian organizes a display of vegetables, grown at Happy Hollow Farm, on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Columbia Farmers Market in Columbia, Mo. The packed truck leaves the farm by 5:00 AM and farm hands begin to unload at set up before 6:00 AM, though the turnout of customers can depend on the weather and football schedule.
![Farmers market helper Morghan Schulte [CQ], left, and farm hand Antonio, right, set up a display of tomatoes on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Columbia Farmers Market in Columbia, Mo. Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm, said of interacting wit](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61815e52784dfa1e45da656c/3a2017fe-b693-4bfc-b60b-2effdca708e1/20240914-8590.jpg)
Farmers market helper Morghan Schulte [CQ], left, and farm hand Antonio, right, set up a display of tomatoes on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Columbia Farmers Market in Columbia, Mo. Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm, said of interacting with customers, “You have to be very gregarious, you have to be willing to talk to total strangers, you know, for four hours straight.”