Hello! My name is April Smith.  I am a middle school principal by day and a flower farmer by night.  I spent my childhood on a homestead-style farm.  I gained experiences from raising livestock to gathering farm fresh eggs.  I never dreamed of becoming a farmer of any kind.  I spent my early adult life working various jobs, raising children, and earning a post graduate education.  Even with all of these satisfying events of life, I found myself returning more and more to homestead farm ways.  For me, one of the most satisfying parts of the farm is the cut flower garden.  From the blooms to the butterflies there is always a happy moment.  It is definitely my happy place!  I am so glad that I can share it with others.  Our first major project was the wedding of my firstborn, Alyssa.  Since then, growing flowers has merged into a business allowing me to share the flower farm experience many others.    

 

      Hello! My name is Alyssa Short. I am a mom, high school teacher, and part owner of Blessed Blooms Flower Farm LLC. I began my journey to flower farming when I married my husband Hunter Short in the fall of 2018. My mother and I decided we could handle growing and designing my wedding flowers ourselves. After that, the rest is history. We launched Blessed Blooms in April of 2019. Growing up on a small livestock farm provided me with a love for agriculture in general. In addition to getting married, I also obtained a bachelors degree in Agribusiness Economics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in December of 2018. From there I held a few different jobs in agriculture but eventually took a break to substitute teach while I was pregnant with my daughter, Emery Ann. That's when I knew I wanted to teach and was able to obtain a position as facilitator of the Wayne County CEO program. In my time outside of that I enjoy being outside, sports, music, and of course creating flower arrangements. In 2022 we added our twins Ezra and Ellis to the family. Our farm has truly "blessed" us in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see what is still to come.