Leah Woody has lived in Haywood county for almost three decades. She loves sunflowers, squash, and everything from Four Sisters Bakery. Supporting and working alongside local farmers and businesses is her favorite thing about Haywood’s Historic Farmer’s Market.

A native of Atlanta, Jenn has lived in western North Carolina for twenty years. She learned to drive a tractor and not plant her tomatoes until Mother’s Day at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa. With the help of her husband and three kids, Jenn operates a small farm raising dairy goats, meat rabbits, laying hens, dermestid beetles, and no-till veggies in Cruso. When she isn’t volunteering for the market, she is administering her homeschool cooperative, Haywood Free-Range, and teaching with Waynesville Bellydance.

Our farming history began as a hobby when Gary and I bought our first house in 2003. My mother grew and sold flowers so as a young adult, I was excited to begin my own gardening journey. We began by putting in landscaping and perennial beds, which have since matured and become the backbone of our flower business. In 2007, we married and, with the help of my mom, grew and arranged the flowers for our wedding. Since then, we have been hooked on the idea of growing and selling local flowers for events and have supplied arranged flowers for multiple weddings and events for friends. In 2015, we began selling flowers to a local florist and helped her occasionally with wedding setup and preparation. Over the years, we have read many books, joined groups, visited other flower farms, and collaborated with farmers. In 2019, we enlisted the help of the Small Business Center through Southwestern Community College and began monthly meetings to shape the vision of our business. 

Mary Ann Smith is a native of Waynesville, NC, and is a retired Tuscola High School math teacher.  Being an avid gardener, Mary Ann decided to start worm farming when she stopped teaching full time.  It seemed to her a natural companion job/hobby to grow worms and generate worm castings to use on her organically grown produce.  This is currently the tenth year Mary Ann has been a part of Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market, selling composting worms, worm products (compost and tea), and produce. She has also been on the Board of Directors for five years.  

We are Jeff and Melinda Arnette, and we proudly own and operate Wholly Goat Soaps. For the past seven years, we have been crafting and providing high-quality, handmade products. Our journey in the market for the last 7 years has been more than just a business venture; it’s been a passion-driven endeavor towards the betterment of the market, its vendors, and our customers. Our commitment goes beyond business – we are deeply invested in ensuring the future success of the market.