Roots, Flowers, and Fresh Ideas: a Michigan Small Farm Tour Series

Some of the best lessons in agriculture are learned on the farm. This summer, MSU Extension invites you to visit six unique Michigan farms through a series of on-farm learning experiences. Developed in partnership with the Michigan First-Generation Farmer Mentors Program and the MSU Extension Floriculture Team, these tours highlight the many ways farmers have built successful businesses across Michigan, from regenerative livestock operations and specialty herb farms to urban flower farms and diversified agricultural enterprises.

Each stop features a facilitated discussion with the host farmer and MSU Extension educators, followed by a guided tour of the operation. Together, these conversations offer an opportunity to learn directly from growers who have built successful farm businesses in different ways and connect with others facing similar opportunities and challenges.

Michigan First Generation Farm Mentors Tours: Tour four of our mentors' farms and learn about upcoming mentorship and peer-to-peer learning opportunties for first-generation farmers!

MSU Extension Specialty Cut Flower Tours: Highlighting three Michigan cut flower farms! Each tour will included a facilitated discussion with the host farmer and MSU Extension staff on a range of topics relevant to commercial flower growers, followed by a guided tour of the operation.

August 5 | Whitney Farmstead

Farm Mentor Tour

For more than a century, Whitney Farmstead has been shaped by a commitment to caring for both the land and the people it sustains. Today, fifth-generation farmer Malaika Whitney and her husband, Matthew Haarklou, continue that tradition through regenerative ranching and maple sugaring in Dexter, Michigan. During this tour, participants will explore the principles of regenerative ranching and how they are applied at Whitney Farmstead. Through a facilitated discussion with the farm owners and MSU Extension staff, attendees will learn how practices such as rotational grazing and thoughtful land stewardship support healthy soils, biodiversity, and long-term farm resilience. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the pastures, livestock systems, and maple syrup operation while highlighting practical strategies for building healthy soils through regenerative agriculture.

August 11 | Hazelwood Flower Farm

Specialty Cut Flower Tour

Join us in Oakland Township, Michigan, for a visit to Hazelwood Flower Farm, where Kim Teoh and her family are building a flower farm centered on community, creativity, and connection. Established in 2024, this organically managed farm combines specialty cut flower production with floral design, workshops, farm events, photography sessions, and other on-farm experiences that bring people together among the blooms. During this tour, Kim will share how she is working to build more than a flower farm by creating a destination where flowers, people, and community intersect. Participants will learn about the opportunities and challenges of balancing production with hospitality, including topics such as organic growing practices, weed management, pollinator support, direct-to-consumer sales, agritourism, and operating a lean farm business while raising a young family. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the growing areas and event spaces that support this evolving farm business, offering valuable insights for growers interested in diversifying their operations and creating meaningful experiences for their customers.

August 18 | Twig End Farm

Combined Tour

What was once a vacant city lot is now home to a thriving urban flower farm in the heart of Flint, Michigan. Founded in 2018, Twig End Farm produces a diverse mix of seasonal specialty cut flowers that are sold through a flower subscription program, the Flint Farmers' Market, workshops, and direct sales to the local community. During this tour, Janie Case Beuthin will share how thoughtful planning, intensive production methods, and a strong connection to local markets have allowed her to grow a successful flower business in a remarkably small space. Participants will gain practical insights into urban flower farming, including strategies for maximizing production, selecting crops, and creating value through direct-to-consumer sales. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the gardens, workspaces, and systems that support this creative and community-centered farm.

August 27 | Heartwood Forest Farm

Farm Mentor Tour

What started as a passion for plants and herbal traditions has grown into a thriving farm business centered around culinary and medicinal herbs. At Heartwood Forest Farm in Cedar, Michigan, first-generation farmer Patti Travioli has spent more than a decade cultivating a unique operation nestled among the forests and rolling hills of the Leelanau Peninsula. The farm produces a diverse array of specialty crops while also offering value-added products, educational workshops, and community-focused experiences. During this tour, Patti will share how she transformed that passion into a thriving farm business. Drawing from her own journey as a first-generation farmer, she will discuss how specialty products, value-added offerings, educational programming, and strong customer relationships have helped her operation stand out in the marketplace. Participants will gain insight into the opportunities and challenges of building a farm around a distinctive niche while exploring the herb gardens, production areas, and pollinator habitat that support this unique northern Michigan enterprise.

Additional learning opportunity! Following the tour of Heartwood Forest Farm, you are invited to attend the Specialty Cut Flower Farm Tour at 1:30 PM at nearby Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers, just five minutes away. 

August 27 | Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers

Specialty Cut Flower Tour

For 13 years Michelle Shackelford has been building a thriving flower farm in the heart of Leelanau County. Growing on just over ¾ acre of land nestled among the region's rolling hills, Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers produces hundreds of flower varieties while serving customers through a diverse mix of retail, wholesale, wedding, and special event markets. During this tour, Michelle and MSU Extension Educators will lead a facilitated discussion on “Building a Farm That Fits: Lessons from Growing Flowers in Leelanau County.” As participants explore the farm, she will share the decisions that have shaped her operation, from hoop house production and irrigation systems to crop selection, labor, sales channels, and future growth plans. Along the way, attendees will gain practical insights into how thoughtful production and business decisions can help create a farm that aligns with both market opportunities and personal goals. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the production areas, hoop houses, and customer-facing spaces that support this uniquely northern Michigan flower farm.. 

September 10 | Of the Land

Farm Mentor Tour

Join us in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a visit to Of The Land, a diversified farm and event destination owned and operated by Trent Thompson and Bridgett Blough. Over the past 15 years, Trent and Bridgett have grown their operation from a small organic vegetable farm into a multifaceted enterprise that includes vegetable and flower production, farm-to-table catering, weddings and events, community programming, and local food distribution. During this tour, participants will explore how strategic diversification has helped create new opportunities for growth while strengthening the farm's connection to the surrounding community. Trent will share lessons learned from building multiple complementary enterprises, developing new revenue streams, and adapting their business over time. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the farm, event spaces, and food-focused enterprises that make Of The Land an excellent example of agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation.

Why join these tours?
✔ Learn from farmers across the state
✔ See sustainable agriculture practices in action
✔ Learn about upcoming farmer-to-farmer mentorship and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for first-generation farmers

Please contact Jeremy Jubenville at jubenvi3@msu.edu if needed. 

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2025-38640-45386 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ONC26-181. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.