February 17, 2026

From One Cow to a Full-Time Farm: Building a First-Generation Farm with Intention

42 minutes

“You’re going to make mistakes — and then you’re going to learn from those mistakes.”

In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Hayley Darnielle, owner of Crooked Creek Farms in Montana, to talk about building a diversified, direct-to-consumer farm business from the ground up.

What started as a simple Facebook page and one milk cow has grown into a full-time operation providing raw milk, pork, poultry, eggs, and more to local families. Hayley shares what it’s really like to be a first-generation farmer, how Montana’s Food Freedom Act shaped her business, and why responsibility, transparency, and boundaries matter just as much as growth.

This conversation explores diversification with intention, navigating customer relationships, using grants to fuel growth, and building a farm that supports both family life and long-term sustainability.

Key Topics:

Starting a farm business without growing up in agriculture

How Montana’s Food Freedom Act opened the door for direct-to-consumer sales

Diversifying livestock with purpose and limited acreage

Balancing motherhood, farm work, and business growth

Learning through trial, error, and knowing when to scale back

Building infrastructure as a first-generation producer

Navigating customer expectations and setting boundaries

Using the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant to accelerate growth

Growing two farm operations side by side

LINKS

Follow Crooked Creek Farms and learn more about Hayley’s operation:

https://www.crookedcreekfarmsmt.com

Follow Crooked Creek Farms on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok:

Crooked Creek Farms MT

Marketing Routine class, do so here!

Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page.

Check out our favorite software tool for online sales: Thrivecart

I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

#122: How Agritourism Is Transforming Farming – A look at how opening the farm to the public through agritourism can create new income streams, strengthen community trust, and support long-term farm sustainability.

#125: Raising More Than Livestock: Building a Multi-Generation Direct-to-Consumer Farm Business – An honest conversation about diversification, family roles, and building a direct-to-consumer business that supports both the farm and the people behind it.

#76: Ag Entrepreneurship & Conviction in Fighting for the Family Farm with Amanda Radke – A conversation about purpose, priorities, entrepreneurship, and building income beyond tradition while staying rooted in agriculture.

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

...more