At the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on May 1, 2025, Holcomb Farm Manager Joe O’Grady was honored as Granby’s Businessperson of the Year.
A farmer, running a nonprofit farm, as “businessperson of the year?” You bet – and here’s why.
Joe didn’t just take on the challenge of running a nonprofit farm – he embraced it. While most don’t dream of reporting to a nonprofit board of well-meaning but agriculturally inexperienced folks, Joe stepped in with patience. He educates the board about regenerative farming and climate change – the good, the bad and the ugly – while giving us confidence we will get through.
Farming is a tough business, and no one in the business expects to generate positive financial results every year, especially with the challenge of the changing climate. But Joe takes the business of Holcomb Farm very seriously, and the results show. Under his management, Holomb Farm has delivered net income in 11 of the 12 years he has been with us. It is because of his commitment to the business side of farming that we can pursue new opportunities, like the possible repurposing of an abandoned church to create year-round local food access at Holcomb Farm.
As a testament to Joe’s superb management skills, much of our farm crew – including local young adults and professional farmers who come to us through the H2A program – return year after year. In fact, in the winter of 2023, the entire crew vacationed together, a testament to the team culture Joe has cultivated. Also, several young people who worked on the crew have since pursued careers in agriculture – a ripple effect of Joe’s mentorship.
The Friends of Holcomb Farm board regularly learns about Joe’s impact on the community second-hand, because when people reach out, he simply steps up. For example, when St. Theresa’s church needed food for their St. Patrick’s day feast, Joe delivered. And when one of our Fresh Access partners needs some flexibility regarding what food they receive or when, he accommodates them. His personal initiative and good judgement are helping positively shape the image of the whole organization, throughout the community and region.
Recently, a generous donor looking to support an impactful nonprofit approached us. As a CSA member, he has been so impressed by the hard work and high quality that Joe and his team bring to the farm that he chose to support us – the Friends of Holcomb Farm. What more could we ask?
We are so proud to have Joe O’Grady on our team. Congratulations, Joe, on being named Granby Businessperson of the Year. You’ve planted seeds of sustainability, service, and success—and our whole community is reaping the harvest.