Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Coholich. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Laura and Jason bought 8.5 acres of Laura’s family farm 6 years ago. When they bought the land, it fulfilled the dream of moving out of a neighborhood and living close to family, but that is where the dreaming stopped then. While Laura had always had a dream of owning the farm, that was not financially possible. After going to a weekend retreat for her job, Laura participated in a vision workshop. During that time, she took the time to envision the dream of her heart, owning the farm. She spoke into life the possibility of owning the farm, what it would entail, what it could look like, who it could touch. She wrote down the name of the farm on a sticky note and put it by her bathroom mirror and then she told her husband that “they should buy the farm.” This was a HUGE risk given that Laura was a social worker and Jason was an HR Manager with exactly zero experience in farming, much less goat farming. Choosing to dream big enough to take a risk to buy a farm, open a business, and invest heavily with their time and money all while having four kids, involving stepping out in faith and leaning on grit. While opening the farm 3 years ago hasn’t been easy, it has been worth all the lessons along the way. They have learned that leaning into risk and hard work has brought them more fulfillment than they could have imagined. It has brought them reassurance that saving land for future generations and hard work are always worth it. Leaning into the idea of legacy, things bigger than them. Leaning into risk not knowing what the reward might be, is worth the time and energy. Taking the time to search your heart for the dreams you can’t yet even imagine, will bring more fruition to a beautiful life you had never even yet took the time to imagine could be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We are Laura and Jason Coholich. Together own and run Hidden Acres Legacy Farm. We live here with our four wonderful and wild children, 30 some goats, menagerie of chickens, 3 dogs, and many other wild animals. Our life here is crazy, busy, and dirty, but it is the blessed life we have chosen to embrace. It is the vision God has written on our hearts over the last either years and we couldn’t imagine living any other way.
Laura and her Mom, Carol, grew up on the farm. Laura’s Maternal Grandparents bought over 50 years ago, where they had cattle and horses for many years. When Laura grew up on the farm, it was no longer a working farm. Although Laura didn’t know it when she was young, but her childhood was something magical growing up on the property.The summers were spent picking wild blackberries, chasing fireflies, pulling weeds in the garden, and playing in the creek. When she was in her teens, her grandfather put most of the property in CRP (Conservation replenishment program), thru the Federal government, which protected the land from future development and preserved it for a time.
In 2016, we bought 8.5 acres of the original farm from Laura’s Grandma and built a home. While living next door to the 60 acres still owned by Laura’s Grandma, we quickly realized the protection of the land under the CRP program would run out and the future of the land would be uncertain should we not purchase it. However, that didn’t seem achievable given the price and the fact that both of us had day jobs. Four years later, with a lot of dreaming, researching, and prompting from God, we bought the rest of the farm with a plan of opening a goat yoga program all in the the middle of COVID. Over 45 acres of the land remains under conservation and the rest is for sharing with our community and building our dreams.
In the spring of 2021 we started goat yoga, which is held outdoors between our pond and barn. It is led by certified locally trained yoga instructors. While attending class participants snuggle with baby goats, enjoy the sounds of the bullfrogs in the pond, and experience a relaxing yoga class. We had begun a small cut flower business, floral classes, led by Carol, and custom floral design. We offer pasture raised eggs, when seasonally available, and farm made/raised products (produce, local honey, produced by Bryce Walters).
Laura and Jason both maintain other jobs in addition to the farm. Jason works full-time as an HR manager at Battelle, and Laura runs as small private practice where she is a social worker. This is all done while raising our four incredible kids, Maddie (13), Declan (11), Avery (7), and Elliott (5). While it is at times a true circus around here, it is a blessed life that we are passionate about pursuing. We love showing our kids what hard work and determination can achieve. We are passionate about showing them how to care for the world around them and using what has been given to them. It all would not be possible without the support of the many family and friends who believe in our dream. Laura’s 96 year old Grandma continues to live on the farm and Laura’s Mom and Step-Dad live next door.
Come and sit by the pond, cuddle a goat, grab a hug from a dog, or watch birds on the porch. We are passionate about saving this space for not only our kids, but you as well. Nature is what we all unknowingly long for. Come see for yourself why this place is a space worth saving. We can’t wait to meet you and help you make your own memories here.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When we initially started the farm, we bought our herd of goats and built fencing out of our own finances. It has taken sacrifice and commitment to realign our finances to start a business. At times, it has felt uncertain of where the business would go in the future. We have utilized goat yoga to support our growing business. Through partnership with other local female owned farms, such as Preston Family Farms and Yellowwood Farms, we became aware of the Equip Grant. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. Over 48 acre of our 68 acre farm is under conservation through a Federal Program, CRP. As we move forward applying for an EQIP grant, it will allow us to dream bigger through activities that will benefit our community, farm, and our land. You can learn more by clicking the following link or contacting your local Farm Services Agency. Link: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
When we opened the farm, it was evident that growing a social media community was going to be necessary. Laura leaned into her experience as a Rodan and Fields consultant to begin building that community through authenticity, brand recognition, and intentional connection. Laura has found that people connect to sharing of the highs and lows, of the simple moments, and the willingness to admit that this has been hard, but worth it. She has worked to share the beauty and simplicity of the farm, while allowing others to peer into what it takes to make this work. The farm has worked hard to create real life moments while visiting the farm that translate to a story for others that can be shared via their social media. Because of this, the farm is experiencing brand recognition in Facebook community groups, authentic one on one conversations outside of social media, and on Instagram. While Laura joined Instagram because of the farm, she has found that online “how-to videos” and asking those “hip young people how to” has shown her the ropes of the incredible platform. You can follow the farm on Facebook by searching: HALFFARM or on Instagram: Hiddenacreslegacyfarm 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hiddenacreslegacyfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenacreslegacyfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HALFFarm
Image Credits
Photo Credits: Sara Sell Photography, Samantha Westling Photography, and Juliet Carey Photography