In west central Indiana, Matt and Rachel have scaled a modest 30-acre grain plot into a 1,400-acre operation and thriving agritourism destination. As a result, the Purdue University agriculture program graduates have been named the recipients of the 2025 Farm Credit Mid-America Forward Thinker Award for their strategic growth and community focus.
The Multi-Enterprise Shift
The couples’ journey began in 2018 when they purchased property to launch a u-cut Christmas tree farm. Today, 20,000 trees stand in various stages of growth at Oak Hill Tree Farm.
"Rachel had always dreamed of running a Christmas tree farm," Matt said. "I didn't realize how good it was going to be for our family to grow up on a farm that has a public-facing season and a significant connection to the community."
While trees take five to 10 years to mature, the couple balanced the long-term investment by expanding their grain operation and adding seasonal pumpkins.
Strategic Partnerships
The couple credits much of their success to Farm Credit Mid-America and its young, beginning and small farmer program, Growing Forward®*. Unlike traditional lenders, the program provided the access to necessary capital and financial education, like the Know to Grow®* conferences, to navigate the slow-burn cycles of timber and grain.
"I didn't understand what working capital was until we came to Farm Credit Mid-America," Rachel said. "Now, I've actually been able to take over the financial side of our operation and our bookkeeping."
Matt emphasizes that their relationship with their financial officer is built on transparency and trust. "We don't hide anything from him because we trust and we want him involved," he said. "If he says no, it's because he wants something better for us."
A Vector for Community
Beyond the bottom line, the couple views their farm as a tool for education and character building. They host field trips for local students, many of whom have never seen a row crop or met a farmer.
"The farm is just a vector to raise our kids, to connect with the community and also to connect with our families," Rachel said.
For Matt and Rachel, the ultimate harvest isn't just the 80% Canaan firs they now plant; it’s the memories made by the families who visit their u-cut operation.
"We want people that come here together to leave more connected than when they came," Matt said. "If this tree can be in a memory that they look back on in 10 years, that checks all the boxes for us."
Discover more about how Farm Credit Mid-America can support your operation and about our Growing Forward® program today.
*Growing Forward® and Know to Grow® are registered trademarks of Farm Credit Mid-America.
