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

Whitney, appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

We are a multi-generational family farm that started with family members filling all roles: I managed animals, milking, tech, and marketing; my husband handled fields, finances, and chickens; my parents taught classes and managed landscaping and the garden; three of my kids organized weekend events and developed summer camp plans. As we grew, we hired a summer camp counselor, then weekend party helpers, followed by a teacher for curriculum and project management. Each hire fit our culture and strengthened our team. Now in our third year, we have five more counselors, a homeschool program director, an assistant camp director, a virtual assistant, and regular volunteers. Using the “Working Genius” tool, we’ve matched roles to strengths, allowing me to focus on onboarding while others handle hiring. Our collaborative approach gives every team member input in improving our offerings.

Whitney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I often say I’m living the dream—but it’s not one I ever imagined! Our journey into farming and business ownership began out of necessity, as we needed the farm to sustain itself. Over time, it grew into something greater: a multi-generational family business where everyone contributes their own unique strengths, reminding me daily that farming is, above all, a business about people.
Our farm offers a range of experiences: classes, field trips, community events, summer camps, and the sale of products from our land. Each activity serves our main goal of bringing people together and supporting our community.
Most importantly, we use our land to connect people. Instead of hustle, we intentionally focus on meaningful interactions, always seeing those before us.
Our work might not be fancy, but it builds community, sparks curiosity, and nurtures creativity—the heart of our farm’s mission.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When we first launched the business, we envisioned the farm as a party venue. However, within a month, we realized that the market was more interested in educational classes than in hosting events. In response to this insight, we quickly pivoted our focus from parties to education and summer camps.
Another significant change was our move to the farm. Before relocating, we lived in the city on a quarter-acre lot, where life was all about high heels and free from manure. Moving to the farm was a huge adjustment, as it meant embracing muck boots and having animals all around!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ve always been a participant on social media because it was a great way to stay in touch with people I loved who I no longer lived near! So when I opened the business, I started leveraging my 16 years of experience with my personal account to reach the general population. In the first year of business, I paid to boost multiple posts and reels on Facebook and Instagram. However, after that first year, I’ve tightened up my posting schedule and improved my hashtags so people can find me more easily.

My main advice for growing on social media is to focus on authenticity. Be true to yourself—don’t try to be something you are not. Also, don’t wait until you feel comfortable with photos and videos. No one is comfortable at first! Just put your content out there, and you’ll improve over time.

In addition, experiment with different content lengths to learn what resonates with your audience. For me, reels have helped attract new followers and customers, while posts have been effective at keeping them engaged.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shipshapefarm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shipshapefarm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Shipshape-Farm-100085593543877/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShipshapeFarm

Image Credits

Dani Lacey Photography