Maggie Taylor Delight Flower Farm Champaign, Illinois
Maggie Taylor
I’m Maggie Taylor, the founder and owner of Delight Flower Farm near Champaign, Illinois. I’m a first-generation farmer, but I’ve been a lifetime gardener thanks to my mom. I started my farm in 2011 while working as a librarian. In 2015, I registered as a legit business, and in 2017, I made the leap to farming full time. I had a mentor, Linda Chapman, of Harvest Moon Farm in Indiana. She adamantly encouraged me to engage with the ASCFG’s resources. In 2017, I went to my first regional conference at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Ohio. It filled my cup, made my brain buzz with inspiration, and I made some friends whom I still have today. In 2024, I spoke at our regional ASCFG conference at Clara Joyce Farm.
Today, Delight Flower Farm spans a robust five acres, complete with four hoophouses, diverse revenue streams, and a crew of more than six team members, including some H2A workers. Labor has been one of my biggest challenges as the operation has grown. I’ve tried different configurations for farm crews, hours, seasons, and overall workflow management. I am motivated to be a really good boss and employ people who want to return to their jobs year after year. Since I’ve spent a lot of time problem-solving farm labor issues, I have ideas to share with other farm owners struggling with similar challenges. At my core, I’m deeply passionate about community connection, making a lasting impact, and always striving to do better. I am a natural leader, a good listener, and I have worthwhile contributions to make for this organization, for which I feel so grateful. I love farming, and I like other people who love farming. If elected, my goal is to make sure the offerings of the ASCFG serve people in the middle of their agricultural careers, not just new farmers or highly experienced (and wise!) farmers. I love this region, which is both large and at the same time as comfortable as my own backyard. I have a goal of connecting our region in ways that reflect this identity of being both expansive and welcoming. I am honored to be nominated for this position. Thank you for your votes.
Southeast Regional Director
Mandy HornickMandy Hornick Blue Ridge Blooms Leicester, North Carolina
Hi everyone! My name is Mandy, and I’m the owner of Blue Ridge Blooms. It is an honor to be considered for the role of Southeast Regional Director. Flower farming has been my passion for nearly two decades, and I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive and inspiring community of growers. I studied horticulture in college, but it wasn’t until I moved to the Washington, D.C., area that I discovered my passion for cut flowers. City life quickly helped me realize I needed to be working outdoors. I started looking for a job where I could put my horticulture background to use, and in 2007 I had the opportunity to work for Dave Dowling, where I spent three incredible seasons learning the ins and outs of flower farming. Until then, I hadn’t even realized flower farming could be a career! From my very first season, I knew I wanted to have a flower farm of my own someday. My husband Bob and I began making plans to return to the Asheville, North Carolina, area, and in 2015 we purchased our farm in the Big Sandy Mush community of Leicester, where we’ve been growing ever since. I attended my first ASCFG National Conference in 2008, and immediately felt like I had found my people. The friendships, education, and encouragement I’ve found through the ASCFG have helped shape me as both a grower and a business owner. Today, we grow flowers on about 2.5 acres using regenerative, no-till practices. We sell wholesale to florists, design flowers for weddings, and supply a few local restaurants. Like every flower farmer, we’ve had our share of challenges: from weather and labor to learning what works best on our farm, but each season has taught us something new. I enjoy finding practical solutions, trying new varieties and techniques, and learning from other growers. One of the things I love most about this industry is that everyone is willing to share what they’ve learned to help someone else succeed. It would truly be an honor to serve as the Southeast Regional Director. I’ve watched our industry grow and change over the years, and I believe ASCFG has been a big part of that success. I’d love the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me so much. If elected, I hope to be a voice for growers in our region, help strengthen connections between members, and encourage more people to get involved. Whether someone is just getting started or has been farming for decades, I want them to feel as welcomed and supported by the ASCFG as I did when I attended my first conference.
President
Erin McMullenErin McMullen Rain Drop Farms Philomath, Oregon
For more than 20 years, I have farmed in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley. Through my service as an ASCFG member and board representative, I have toured flower farms across North America and Europe. Whether visiting large-scale commercial operations or powerhouse backyard businesses, I see the same shared passion. This global perspective fuels my desire to lead our amazing organization forward.
Education is in my DNA. Coming from a long line of educators, I am incredibly proud of ASCFG’s robust learning programs. Equipping our members with top-tier knowledge allows them to deliver the highest-quality local flowers to their customers. Through the years, I have used every opportunity available to me to further my knowledge in the field of farming. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Environmental Science from Oregon State University, and I started our farm during the last year of my schooling, stumbling into my livelihood through a series of on-farm jobs. Rain Drop Farms has grown over the years, from a backyard quarter acre to a 12-acre wholesale operation supplying markets and designers up and down the West Coast. As flower farming experiences a massive resurgence, ASCFG must lean in and lead. We need a seat at the table in every major agricultural discussion. As your president, I will focus on three core pillars: (1) Top-notch education: Expanding our learning platforms to support farms of every size. (2) Community mindset: Fostering an inclusive, supportive network across all regions. (3) Powerful advocacy: Leveraging relationships to seek and secure the institutional backing our growers need to flourish. I respectfully ask for your vote to build upon the incredible work of current president, Val Schirmer, our board, and our staff .
Secretary​
Sarah Kistner Stone Meadow Gardens Granville Beach, Nova Scotia Hi friends,
Sarah Kistner
I'm Sarah Kistner from Stone Meadow Gardens in Granville Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada. I've been part of the flower-farming community for more than twenty years, and for the past nearly four years I have served on the board as the regional director for Canada. Now, I'm running for secretary. My introduction to flower farming came by serendipity twenty-plus years ago, and although life has taken me in many directions, I've never looked back. My husband and I founded Stone Meadow in 2015 near Nelson, British Columbia, and have since moved our farm across Canada to Nova Scotia, where we finally feel we're getting our feet under ourselves. We farm about 1.5 acres, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales, including our local farmers' market, online tuber sales, and our newly developed U-pick experience. The ASCFG is near to my heart because it's through this organization, well before the polished photography and curated moments of social media, that I first found examples of what flower farming could be. I was inspired and empowered by a community of people from across North America who were willing to share the lessons they had learned and help newcomers get a solid start. And for that, I am forever grateful. It would be my honor to serve as secretary and help steward our organization into the future, forging a path forward that embraces new opportunities while, importantly, honoring the legacy of community and sharing that is the foundation of the ASCFG.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Save the Dates
Rooted in the West Calistoga, California March 9 & 10, 2027
Buckeyes & Blooms Columbus, Ohio April 20 & 21, 2027
Hudson Valley Farm Crawl Hudson Valley, New York July 13 & 14, 2027
Blooming in the True North Location TBD August 2027
Navigating Uncertain Times
Farming is always unpredictable, but the rewards are unmatched. While today's cut flower growers face tough economic shifts and supply chain hurdles, our strength lies in resilience and collaboration. The ASCFG is committed to supporting your success, and this complimentary webinar series was presented this year to introduce new business ideas and practices to help you adapt and persevere.
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