A loan helped a woman-owned farm upgrade processing equipment and grow our small business.


Adrienne's story

I grew up on my family farm in western New York State and returned quite by accident in 2009 when my older brother died and left me the farm. I decided to take on the challenge of carrying on the farm as a legacy to my family because I'd lost so many family members as a child. Several years earlier I'd started a flower stand from scratch with a picnic table, mosquito tent, and canning jars of flowers and brought that with me to the farm.

I'd worked in various aspects of horticulture and injected my passion of working with people and plants into the farm. As a child I'd chased enough livestock through broken fences that I knew growing crops in gardens or greenhouses would be easier to manage. Part of my greatest challenge was converting the former dairy farm into a cut flower and produce farm. I started by planting a small orchard, berries, and perennial gardens.

There was only one functioning tractor when I arrived. Soon, I bartered some landscape design work in exchange for a walk-in cooler. I now had storage space for harvested flowers and the boxes of vegetables for our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) customers. With another farmer's advice I constructed a greenhouse using pallets and electrical conduit in which to grow cut flowers.

I'm extremely grateful that I can provide families with access to fresh, certified organic food for their families via our CSA or to grow their own food from our vegetable transplants. I also enjoy brightening someone's life with flowers. Life's unexpected gift of the farm has truly humbled me in many ways and I'm very thankful.


This loan is special because:

It will help this entrepreneur upgrade equipment and expand their business.



Loan details


About Adrienne J. Ploss DBA Hickory Hurst Farm

Industry: Agriculture
Years in operation: More than 5 years
Website: gobackyouforgottheflowers.com

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Loan details