Meet the Mentors
Lori Hernandez
Three Acre Farm
Byron Center, MI
I'm a former high school art teacher and stay-at-home parent who decided to start a flower farm business in 2017 with no farming background, zero business experience, and a spectacular amount of uninformed optimism (Translation: I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and that’s probably a good thing!).
Three Acre Farm is a specialty cut flower operation in Byron Center, Michigan, where we grow and sell fresh flowers and dahlia tubers. I've also built out an education side of the business (online courses, in-person workshops, and speaking at conferences) because I’m a teacher at heart, and I love helping people learn and grow.
My farm has been featured in Midwest Living and Country Living magazines. We also run a program called "Flowers Feed Families" that donates a portion of farm profits to our local food pantry. Giving back to our community is incredibly rewarding and motivating.
I'm an MSU Master Gardener program graduate. I’m also trained as a Mindset Coach, which has been my lifeline, as farming presents unique mental, emotional, and physical challenges. In farming, there are many things beyond our control. Learning to control what we can (our attitude, mindset, and boundaries) is a necessary skill for sustaining the health of our minds, bodies, and farm businesses.
I won’t pretend farming is easy or that I had it all figured out from the start. I didn't… and I still don’t. My role as a mentor is to share the struggles and successes of farming openly, honestly, and authentically. I look forward to helping you grow a sustainable business you're proud of… one that serves your community, your customers, and your own wellbeing.
Gabriel Francisco
Thunderfoot Farms
Paw Paw, MI
Gabe Francisco is a livestock and grazing specialist based in southwestern Michigan and co-owner of Thunderfoot Farms, a 28-acre sheep farm in Paw Paw which he runs with his wife, Emily. Thunderfoot Farms was the first "Certified Naturally Grown" livestock farm in the state of Michigan and is a MAEAP verified farm in both Pastures and Livestock. Thunderfoot Farms focuses on raising healthy livestock through regenerative grazing and building a farm that reflects values of stewardship, resilience, and community. Gabe is also one of the founding members of "A Common Pasture", a cooperative of small farmers producing Certified Naturally Grown pasture pork, and also serves on the boards of the Michigan Sheep Breeders Association and the Texel Breeders Association. Gabe holds a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Draft Animal Farming and was part of the inaugural class of the Wendell Berry Farming Program. His path to farming has been anything but typical spanning work as a professional clown, paleontologist, traveling chef, and avalanche control technician. Those experiences continue to shape his approach: curious, adaptable, and rooted in real-world problem solving. At heart, Gabriel and Thunderfoot Farms are committed to helping farmers succeed while caring well for their land and livestock.
Patti Travoli
Heartwood Forest Farm
Cedar, MI
Patti began college at a non-traditional age to earn her horticulture degree with intentions of furthering her experience within the nursery/greenhouse industry. Instead, she graduated with the desire to become involved in the local food movement and start a vegetable farm. As a first-generation farmer herself, Patti is also a traditional herbalist, horticulturist, and steward of the land at Heartwood Forest Farm in Cedar, Michigan, where she specializes in cultivating culinary and medicinal herbs. With a deep connection to the land, she draws artistic inspiration from the diverse plants around her, using nature as her canvas. Patti is enthusiastic about sharing the healing and creative potential of the natural world, encouraging others to step outside and immerse themselves in the beauty and wisdom nature has to offer.
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