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Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleisha Erwin. 

Aleisha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Aleisha Erwin, myself along with my husband are the owners of Erwin Farms & Corn Maze in Winchester Ohio. I also am the owner and operator of ” The Farmer’s Wife & Garden Barn.” We Have 4 Children. 15, 12, 5, and 1 year. 

12 years ago, I found myself a Single mom waiting tables at a mom & pop diner in our rural community. I didn’t believe in fairy tales, rainbows, and butterflies, or happy endings because my life was anything but that. 

Long story short, I met my now husband, and we decided to blend our families. 

We both came from farming backgrounds, he already being a full-time farmer himself, was also a Pioneer Seed Rep. I had always had a burning fire in my soul to be an entrepreneur. My dream as a child was to be a Farm Veterinarian or a Vo Ag Teacher. 

In 2015 When my husband and I bought our 1st farm together, I decided I wanted to grow pumpkins, I researcher all winter long on how to grow them, that spring, we worked up a field in the back of the farm that wouldn’t be used for anything else, and against my husband’s better judgment he let me “do my thing,” myself and our 2 oldest girls at the time, planted every single pumpkin seed by hand, I sold the pumpkins road side at our farm that fall, under a small pop-up tent, and a picnic table. I had had painted signs at the end of the road, and today I laugh looking at them but keep them because I cherish them and where I started, to my Suprise we sold TONS Of pumpkins and even had people asking about “next year”. We would have people stop or call or ask about a “corn maze,” we would laugh there will be NO CORN MAZE! 

After some discussion and what we wanted our 10-year plan to be with our family and our farm, we decided that we were either going to ” Go BIG” OR GO HOME! So, we made a corn maze; we had no clue what we were doing, but people came, and a lot of them. We even had a “Glow Maze” where folks could go through the maze at dark with flashlights or glow sticks. I sold some fall decor out of a tiny chicken coop, yes, a chicken coop that year; customers were recommending a storefront, so I took my profit from that year and built my now STORE called ” The Farmer’s wife and Garden Barn” which was supposed to be seasonal, that quickly turned into a storefront that is now open all year long 7 days a week. 2 years ago, I was able to quit my off the farm job and strictly work here on the farm, which was a dream. 

We have since added on to our storefront, we have added a greenhouse, where I grow a large portion of the flowers we sell in the spring and fall. I plant each mum we grow by hand still! 

All our pumpkins are washed and picked by hand. 

We sell fresh produce, candles, melissa and Doug toys, clothing, accessories, modern farmhouse decor, farmhouse furniture, Milk, cheesecake, Flowers, garden supplies, mulch, soil, seeds. 

Pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, gourds. 

Our corn maze brings in approx. 20 thousand patrons each year, we host educational events, workshops, school field trips, and more. 

Late summer we have a U PICK Sunflower Field. 

We Farm Corn & Soybeans, Custom Spray, and Harvest along with Custom Hauling Grain. 

We Sell Pioneer Seed & Chemicals to Other local farmers in our area. 

Each year, as we grow, I try to let others help because I know I need the help, but letting go of what “made us” and what gives me joy has been hard, it sounds silly, but while I’m planting, I pray, I pray for that crop, and that year, I pray for our farm and all those who come I pray for my children and their future here. 

On Saturday Nights in the fall, after the corn maze closes, I go home and wind down, get on social media, and it’s full of families at OUR FARM; I can’t help but to get a little teary sometimes, knowing that all this hard work has provided such a special place for so many people, and it was all by accident. Seeing families come back each year and watching their children grow, seeing folks enjoy engagements and special moments here warm my heart. It’s a feeling I can’t describe, 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We work 7 days a week, it’s not just a job, this is a lifestyle. Our children help us daily, we miss out on a lot, but it’s very rewarding. Our children at a young age, are taught responsibility and hard work; we have had lots of trials just as anyone else. 

Being a female in this industry, I feel I have to work twice as hard to get taken seriously. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Erwin Farms & Corn Maze- Open Seasonally Sept- Nov Corn Maze Pumpkin Patch U pick Sunflowers/ Activities/ Entertainment/ Fall Decor/ Mums 

The Farmer’s Wife & Garden Barn- Open all year 

On the Farm Store- Locally made products 

Farmhouse decor/ Farmhouse furniture 

Garden Supplies/ Flowers/ Mulch/ Seed/ Veggie Plants 

Fresh Produce/ Fresh Milk 

Clothing & Accessories 

Candles 

Children’s Toys & More 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Never Stop Believing in yourself, be unique, Set Goals for yourself, Dreams do come true! Hard work pays off! ALWAYS BE HUMBLE & REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM 

xoxo