Valeriia Perez-Koshelska, Diverse farm 20 + Acres

I was born and raised in Ukraine, where farming was a way of life for my family. My maternal grandparents made their living from their farm, and from an early age I learned that food comes from hard work, patience, and stewardship of the land. Growing up, I helped my grandmother care for chickens, ducks, pigs, and goats, and participated in planting, tending, and harvesting seasonal vegetables, berries, and fruit. She also taught me how to preserve food for the winter, giving me valuable skills in food production and self-sufficiency. At 19, I immigrated to the United States seeking a safer future and greater opportunities. My first job was with Silver Bay Seafoods processing wild Alaskan salmon, where I gained experience working in food production and learned the importance of teamwork, efficiency, and quality standards. After meeting my husband, we settled in Western New York, where I maintained a large family garden. While the scale was modest, we produced enough tomatoes and other vegetables to preserve homemade tomato sauce, ketchup, and other foods for years. Gardening allowed me to continue the traditions I learned as a child while providing healthy food for my family. Today, my family maintains a small garden and raises chickens. I am passionate about passing my agricultural knowledge and appreciation for food production on to my children so they understand where their food comes from and the value of sustainable growing practices. My farming experience combines hands-on livestock care, vegetable and fruit production, food preservation, and a lifelong commitment to self-sufficiency and responsible land stewardship.

My vision is to build a family farm that produces high-quality, locally grown food that is both accessible and affordable for members of the community. I believe that fresh food should not be considered a luxury, and I am passionate about helping families connect with food that is grown responsibly, transparently, and close to home. During the first year, my goal is to establish vegetable gardens and a laying flock of chickens. As the farm grows, I plan to gradually expand into raising goats, sheep, and cattle, while developing a diversified operation that can support both food production and community engagement. My long-term goal is to become increasingly self-sufficient by growing as much of the feed for my animals as possible directly on the farm. Education and community involvement are central to my vision. I would like to partner with local schools and welcome children to the farm to learn where their food comes from. One idea I am particularly excited about is creating a pumpkin planting program, where students can help plant pumpkins in the spring and return in the fall to harvest and carve the pumpkins they helped grow. I also hope to host community events and annual holiday meals, such as a Thanksgiving dinner, to bring people together and support those who may be experiencing food insecurity or simply need companionship. Another long-term goal is to establish a small farm bakery. Baking has been a passion of mine since childhood, and I would love to incorporate ingredients grown on the farm into baked goods for the local community. I also plan to grow herbs for culinary and medicinal uses, as well as develop a flower garden in honor of my grandmother, who taught me many of the farming and food preservation skills that continue to guide me today. Sustainability is a core value for my family. Growing up, I learned to minimize waste by finding productive uses for everything produced on the farm. Food scraps were fed to livestock, excess produce was preserved, and resources were carefully managed. I hope to continue those practices by operating a farm that values responsible stewardship, resource conservation, and environmental sustainability. My husband and I share a deep commitment to agriculture, food security, and community service. We want our three sons to grow up understanding how food is grown, harvested, preserved, and shared. Our dream is to create a farm that not only provides healthy food for our family and community but also serves as a place of learning, connection, and opportunity for future generations. We hope to build a lasting legacy that our children can one day continue and grow.