We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Audrey Christopher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Audrey below.

Audrey, appreciate you joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

When I started Christopher’s Overlook and the farm business, I worked a 9-5 job and was a full-time graduate student. The farm was my passion, but I had to fit it in between all my other responsibilities. Due to COVID restrictions in 2020, I structured the educational experiences to be virtual. That expanded into virtual field trips and eventually on-farm experiences.

This past spring was a season of change for me. I left my 9-5 job and completed my M.Agr. in Agricultural Sciences. I was able to give the farm my full attention and pursue a career that gives me purpose. Caring for my land and animals fills my cup and I really enjoy sharing my farm with others. My decision to farm full-time has opened multiple new doors for me. I was able to collaborate with Roane State Community College’s agricultural program and students worked with our piglets as part of their Animal Science studies. My experience and education have also allowed me to provide agricultural consulting services to others, something I’ve always wanted to do.

This fall we hosted our first Fall at the Farm seasonal events. We welcomed community members to the farm to experience the beauty of autumn in East Tennessee. We had live music, farm animals, a pumpkin patch, and family-friendly activities. It was exciting to see the support from our local community and neighbors. We also expanded to host fall photography sessions with Morgan Trammell Photography and Gina Marie Photography. The farm is dazzling this time of year with the changing of the leaves. I am thrilled that people want to capture that charm and make memories here on our farm.

We are also planning a Christmas at the Farm event on November 27th and December 4th. We will have local vendors, a farm animal nativity, and Christmas trees for sale! One of my favorite holiday traditions is picking out a Christmas tree from our property, and now you can too! We will have a limited supply of naturally grown native-species Christmas trees that we grew here on our farm. It will be a one-stop shop for holiday shopping, Christmas trees, and making family memories.

My strategy for growth may vary from others. While the financial aspect is important for a small business, I measure my success through the number of lives my farm has impacted. If I can increase the number of guests we see at Christopher’s Overlook, that means more individuals are being exposed to a positive experience with agriculture and nature. I hope that our guests enjoy their visits and leave with a new-found love and respect for agriculture and conservation. If I can inspire just one person to become involved in farming, gardening, or animals, then my job is a success.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Our farm, Christopher’s Overlook, is based in Clinton, Tennessee and provides educational farm experiences to the public. We serve as a hub for the community to experience and learn about agriculture. We offer virtual and on-farm experiences and seasonal events. All our experiences are part of Pick Tennessee Products, connecting guests directly with Tennessee agriculture and helping them to live and shop locally.

After transitioning out of the Navy, my husband and I purchased our farm in 2019. We started our goat herd in 2020 and added pigs to the farm in 2022. I’ve dedicated both my career and education to agriculture and sustainability. It is truly a dream come true to be running my own farm operation and to share it with you.

We provide a variety of farm experiences and specialize in curating an educational atmosphere where guests can relax, disconnect from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives, and learn about agriculture. Each of our experiences has a different focus and we offer something for everyone. Whether you are planning a private micro-event or looking for a seasonal farm activity for your family, we have you covered. Our next seasonal event will be Christmas at the Farm and we’d love to see you there!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There is never a shortage of miracle stories at our farm. We have a three-legged goat and he wasn’t born that way. Steven was always a very active goat that loved to play with his siblings. In March he broke his hind leg while out with the other goats. Goats are not a species that typically does well with leg injuries. Even with expert veterinary care, his leg never healed. We were faced with the very hard decision to either amputate his hind leg or humanely euthanize him. My heart was crushed but I knew I couldn’t give up on him. As a two-year-old goat, he still had so much life left to live. There was no guarantee that he would even make it through surgery, or that his recovery would be successful.

On the day of surgery, we prayed continually and he defied all odds with a smooth amputation. He went home that evening and had months of rest and recovery ahead. I helped him re-learn how to walk with only three legs. He lived with the piglets during his rehabilitation and they were the sweetest of friends. He quickly regained his strength and learned how to navigate the steep hills of East Tennessee with three legs. After a few months of having piglets as his only roommates, he jumped a 40″ fence to get back in with the other goats! His one goal was to heal and be reunited back into his herd. We are almost six months post-amputation and he is now running the hills and is still one of the fastest goats in the herd.

Steven is now an amazing advocate for overcoming a disability. His story is one of resilience on many levels. Steven had to mentally and physically adjust to a new lifestyle, something animals do much better than humans. Our veterinarian pulled off a high-risk surgery and provided us with exceptional support. We had to quickly pivot to learn to care for a goat with special needs. Our neighbors even cared for him so I could attend my college graduation! This journey has made our farm more resilient and is nothing short of a miracle.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

This year I have had the privilege of working with two fantastic local photographers. Opening up our farm for them to host photography sessions has generated more exposure for our farm. Their clients visit our farm and express interest in coming back for a seasonal event. Word of mouth and community networking is very important in our area when it comes to growing our clientele. I am very thankful for the opportunities to collaborate with Gina Marie Photography and Morgan Trammell Photography.

Contact Info:

• Website: christophersoverlook.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/christophersoverlook
• Facebook: facebook.com/ChristophersOverlook
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Auston Christopher, Gina Marie Photography, Morgan Trammell Photography