Rising Stars: Meet John Roberts

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Roberts.

Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Colorado in the early 1960s, experiencing the outdoors and all of what a ranch had to offer to my large extended family. I spent hours helping my parents, working with the sheep and cattle, as well as extensively riding horses, building forts, stacking hay, mending fences, and more. I treasured the way I grew up.

Looking back on my experiences as an adult, I realized the importance of exposure to and immersion in nature for children. I started early working in construction and continued in that field while attending college, getting married, and becoming a parent. Having children further reinforced the importance of kids interacting with animals and being able to play freely and learn in outdoor settings.

Those core beliefs led to purchasing a farm in Boulder County in the late 1990s, Although unsure of a real direction for the property, I felt a deep yearning within me to develop something as yet unknown to me for families and kids. We were raising our children at the time and realized we wanted to create an experience for many more people. While rebuilding the original farmhouse, and other buildings on the land, I began to know this was a place to be shared.

I had begun to acquire various livestock, starting with sheep (two little bottle lambs that we raised in our living room). Early on, I took the animals, which before long included a donkey, goats, more sheep, and a miniature horse, to various locations for special events. I also had a pair of draft horses and offered carriage rides in the local area.

In 2002, we began to shift our focus, deciding to open the farm up to the public. Our first Farm Fest took place in the summer of 2003. Soon after, we began a nature-based preschool and summer camp program, as well as welcoming school field trips. These programs have continued to develop today. The first school class began with only a few children, including our own. This quickly grew into additional classes and a robust summer camp. Today, Sunflower Farm has become an integral part of the local community.

Going forward, we will continue to offer these important services and experiences bringing together family and community. I enjoy downtown Longmont, patronizing local businesses and enjoying street fairs, art events, holiday parades, and other community-focused gatherings. I’m excited and honored to be a part of this growing and thriving community!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many challenges over the years, the first being acquiring the necessary building permits and state licenses when we initially became a childcare center. The concept of an outdoor-based program was new to the municipal community, which created hurdles regarding land use within an agricultural environment.

In the ensuing years, other challenges and opportunities have included maintaining and deepening the quality of the programs while developing a viable business model. We have to continue to innovate while staying committed to our core values as a demonstration farm, our current designation.

Of course, in recent years, the global pandemic brought myriad challenges to the farm, as we have only offered in-person services to people outside the farm, so going virtual was never an option. However, our staff managed to work with these challenges quite well and we were very sought after during the height of the pandemic, as we offer outdoor programs, which everyone wanted for their children.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I enjoy reading John Grisham, T.S. Eliot, and Robert Frost, and love Van Gogh!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunflowerfarminfo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunflowerfarm_info/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1iwwXdYLPD50CWi2AqB3Mw 

Image Credits
Suzanne Tadros Photography