Michelle and Derek Miller, owners of Waymaker’s Meadows Farm in Monroe County, are celebrating a significant milestone as winners of the Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition, coordinated by the West Virginia Hive Network. Their farm-to-table business, which offers fresh lamb, chicken and duck eggs and produce, took home the first-place prize of $2,500, awarded by a panel of expert judges.
The Millers are first-generation farmers who acquired the 38-acre farm when they married in 2017. Seven years later, on March 25, 2024, they registered Waymaker’s Meadows LLC as a business venture. Their winnings will be used to purchase mobile electric coolers that will allow their meat, eggs and produce to be offered to customers in a wider geographic region. The early positive customer interest in Waymaker’s Meadows Farm has the Millers taking steps for expansion. They are now leasing an additional 90 acres of land and have added more farm animals.
In the past, the farm has kept about 24 laying hens. However, due to demand for eggs, the Millers recently purchased 35 six-week-old chicks. The farm has had as many as 75 sheep at a time and is currently home to 36 breeding ewes. They also raise a few guineas, two guard geese, nine ducks and five turkeys as well as a pet cow, goat and dog.
Current produce includes sweet banana peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeños, hot banana peppers, bell peppers and squash. This coming season, they plan to concentrate efforts on producing a larger amount of fewer items.
“Derek and Michelle are a dynamic team with a popular concept of providing fresh, locally grown food from trusted sources to customers,” says Judy Moore, deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and executive director of the WV Hive. “They join several of our recent pitch competition winners who offer safe, local sources of food in a reliable way.”
“Being chosen to pitch in person was a surprise,” says Derek. “We are just starting our business, so it is encouraging to know people can see the future we envision in providing a sustainable food source that is local, healthy and good quality. It was rewarding to get to pitch in person to a supportive audience and offer the wholistic picture of what we are trying to do.”
“Everyone — including the other competitors — were so supportive of each other, and it was such a positive atmosphere,” Michelle says. “We were pleasantly surprised that we won. You are never sure if the plan you have in your head sounds as good to others as it does to you.”
The Millers do not come from farming families. They both have experiences and interests that align with the mission of Waymaker’s Meadows LLC. Derek has a business management degree from Concord University.
“Working on and off farms over the years — and several different jobs from retail to manufacturing — have given me a solid amount of experience and ideas of how to address our needs and actions moving forward,” he says.
Michelle worked at a veterinary hospital for several years and then co-owned a pet grooming shop for nearly 20 years. Both share a passion for caring for animals as well as a joy for farming.
The Millers currently sell their meat, eggs and produce at local farmers markets and are featured on Facebook and YouTube. They hope to add area restaurants to their customer base in the future.
When asked about their biggest business challenges, the couple says that gauging the rhythm of supply and demand and maintaining the health and well-being of the farm animals has been the most time consuming.
The Millers say the WV Hive has been instrumental in helping them deepen their local network of other businesses and organizations that can problem-solve with them.
“The networking WV Hive provides is amazing,” says Derek. “The folks at the WV Hive also helped us get a solid foundation for our business plan, marketing plans and direction for our business with mentoring was a huge asset. Moving forward, the relationship with the WV Hive will be key to our success and bright future.”
The Millers say they have many to thank for their early support. “Our families have been big supporters and our biggest fans,” says Derek. “Our local West Virginia University Extension office has been wonderful with state resources for the farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently been a generous resource of information for things that are coming soon. Several small businesses and other farms in our area have helped us learn a great deal. We are very appreciative of two farmer’s markets where we got started this year — Ronceverte Community Market and Covington Farmers Market.
“We would also like to give a shoutout to Natasha Zoe of JarHead Farm, a previous winner of the pitch competition,” Derek says. “Natasha has been a wonderful resource of information and guided us along the way, including giving us tips for succeeding at the pitch competition.”
The Millers shared that their faith has been a major factor in sustaining them, noting that the name Waymaker comes from the Bible.
“We thank the good Lord for his blessings,” says Derek. “Our faith runs deep and we give Jesus all the honor and glory for everything we are doing.”
The Millers welcome visitors to the farm at 4086 Wolfcreek Road. You can also check them out at a local farmers market or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Waymakers-Meadows-100064486917263/ or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOhsyIuoMwwP0q_uXybjHA
