In 2014, Ashley was managing the Dubuque Rescue Mission Gardens and Andie was managing the Deli department at the Dubuque Food Co-op. Although Ash didn't work at the co-op she stopped by weekly to collect food scraps for compost and acted like she worked there as she kicked through the double doors to the produce room. It didn't take long for Andie to spark a conversation and offer a hand with loading compost into Ash's car. We would spend time chatting about life while we ate the nearly perfect produce getting composted. From there, Andie started volunteering in the gardens with Ash. Additionally, Andie helped Ashley understand "how to make money" for the Mission's Microgreen project or at least pay for the program. Andie showed Ash how to calculate margins and how to analyze costs for production. This is still one of Andie's favorite activities. We worked together on school approved activities with kindergartners in the garden such as harvesting fresh produce and collecting flower seeds to make a collage. We also did a commodity chain analysis vis a vis "what is a producer and what is a consumer". This is still one of Ashley's favorite activities. These were new endeavors for each of us, but one of the strongest unifying elements was our passion and dedication to improvement and self-reflection. We spent a year or two building a friendship. We'd see live music together, take wintery hikes and picnics with Cash dog and Opie, and at some point Andie taught Ash how to brew beer...even though she showed up ready to make Mead :) Then in 2016, we took a big adventure to Montana to visit Ashley's sister Stephanie. It seemed our connection grew closer after this trip especially after a harrowing journey home in a deadly snow/ice storm. The weekend after we came back from our trip, we helped throw an awesome party for our friends who were moving to Hawaii. At the party we made and cooked pizza in a wood fire oven (the same one that will be at our celebration!). Ash continued to visit Andie who was working at the Smokestack at the time. And Andie continued to shower Ash with delicious food.

In 2018, there was an opportunity to start a farm. A "Collaborative Farm" Program had launched at the Sinsinawa Mound. There were 1/4 acre, 1/2 acre, and 1 acre plots available to beginning farmers. Ashley was managing the gardens at the Sinsinawa Mound that summer and helped spearhead the program. After the pilot year, we decided we would apply for a 1/2 acre plot. And just like that we broke ground and started a business. We sold our produce at the Dubuque Farmers' Market and we're shocked every time a stranger purchased from us! Most of the memories from those first couple of years are a blur. There were so many learning moments! The most important was (and still is!) understanding how we work together as a team. Fast forward and we are in our 8th year of growing organic produce. Crazy! We farm on 1 acre, serve hundreds of customers every Saturday at market (April through December), operate 3 types of CSA, and manage 2-3 employees each season. We are a growing business and we have been looking for land to purchase. Interested in helping with our search? Let's talk!

Its hard to believe its been over a decade since we first met, but our niece Juniper and nephews Eli, Ollie, River, Niko, and little Sorin help mark time. Eli, the oldest, was a wee-one when we first met and now he's in Middle School and Ollie was a jolly roly-poly toddler and is old enough to mow the lawn now ;) We started Sandhill Farm because we had hope in our future and we still do. Those kids and you all help keep us with fire in our bellies. We've been running our farm for eight years now and we still love each other. That might sound like a low bar, but running a business with your partner is challenging for unique reasons and yet we continue to evolve and communicate in ways that make us more confident people and a stronger more loving couple. This wedding is a celebration with all of you of how far we've come and a slap in the ass to remind us time and tide wait for no one. How fitting it is that Andie proposed to Ashley on the Northwest Coast? We are truly looking forward to this Celebration with all of you!