It may be a modest, family-run operation, but don’t let anyone fool you: Things are looking good for the Hedge Holler Harvest farm.

Located on 160 acres on the outskirts, just north of Mexico, the farm that is home to family, cattle, milk, goat and chickens has done well enough in selling its wares that not only are Matt and Leah Van Schyndel focused on upping sales, but the demand is there.

That is why in recent weeks, the Schyndels announced to many of their customers and friends alike that they would no longer be able to set up shop at the Mexico Farmers Market, but they would now be camping out at the one in Columbia – rated by some to be the best in America.

The family raises beef, chicken, lamb, turkey and goats – which are their kids 4-H projects to be sold at market – along with goat milk soap and body butter and other things.

“We are a farm-to-table farm and my husband, and I work solely off our farm,” Leah said. “We love the Mexico community, and they are fantastic, but for Matt and I and specifically with inflation as a whole – in terms of just expenses – we had to search for another way to increase our sales. To do that, we had to go to Columbia.”

Columbia’s market, 1769 West Ash Street in Columbia located at the Clary-Shy Community Park, is open at least one day a week all year and Wednesdays and Saturdays from May through October.

“That was not available to us (in Mexico),” Leah said. “We still have a lot of customers in Mexico, we offer a weekly delivery for free. So, they can order from us, and we deliver to their place of work so they can still get our products without driving Columbia.”

Mexico has a Wednesday and Saturday market as well, but November through March, it doesn’t operate which helped with the decision to move to Columbia.

“We had no way to sell unless we went to craft fairs and I am sure you can imagine going to a craft fair and trying to purchase meat,” Leah said. “That’s kind of weird.”

Leah admits business is good and that their model is falling “in line” with their original hopes and projections.

“Our farm is very small … we don’t rely on large crop-farming and don’t have a lot of acreage and animals,” Leah said. “Our kids have shown interest in coming back to the farm and we want to get to a point where we can do that if hope to do that in the future.”

The farm’s success comes down to transparency in how the family raises their animals.

“We don’t hide anything and how we raise and take care of our animals,” Leah said. “A lot of people are conscientious of where their food is coming from and how it is raised. We have a nice customer base who is pleased with the product and what they are getting.”

Admittedly, the Columbia exposure has spread the farm’s sphere of influence.

“They have about 3,000 customers on a Saturday morning,” Leah said, noting it fluctuates depending on the weekend.

A Mexico Farmers Market setup may not be in the immediate offing, but it is not ruled out. Also, the family is very grateful for its time there.

“It was nice to have camaraderie with our fellow vendors,” Leah said. “Right now, it’s not on our radar: We don’t have employees. We may look at expanding and do two markets, but not right now.

“It’s a great place to get your foot in the door and to start and see what a farmers market is like and what to anticipate. They have a very nice spot near the town square. I think they are getting a bit of traffic over there.”

For more information on the Hedge Holler Harvest farm, check out its Facebook and Instagram pages and/or visit www.hedgehollerharvest.com or their YouTube channel.