Farmer Focus: Meet Sarah Finney & Sean Peters, Finney Family Farm
From specialty varieties served in local restaurants to classic kitchen favorites, Finney Family Farm is committed to growing nourishing, nutritious, and local produce. What started as a 3,000 square foot family garden has grown over two and a half decades into an acre of no-till, diversified vegetable farm in Vevay, Indiana.
“We grow a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers,” says Sarah Finney, manager and first-generation farmer at Finney Family Farm. “We grow a mix of comfortable favorites, as well as culinary varieties people might not be as familiar with. We specifically grow special varieties of produce and herbs for a handful of chefs.”
In early 2020, after the death of Finney’s father and the start of the pandemic, Finney and her partner, Sean Peters, took a more active role in managing the family garden. “Seeing grocery store shelves empty and the movement to rely on local systems to fill the gaps, we knew we could provide a lot of food to our community,” says Finney. She and Peters began working to maximize the output of their small garden, and just like that, they’d started a full-time farming business.
“We established our business in 2021 growing on the original 3,000 square feet,” Finney continues. That same year, she returned to school at nearby Cincinnati State to study Sustainable Agriculture Management. “Every year we have expanded our growing space to match the growth of our business,” she adds. “After commuting back and forth from our home in Cincinnati for years, we sold our house and moved to the farm permanently in January of 2024.”
Finney and Peters have embraced the growth and evolution of their business, and they aren’t slowing down. “In 2025, we are hoping to take our farm business to the next level,” says Finney. “We will be attending a larger farmers market and expanding our wholesale business. We also plan to add value-added products to our offerings this year.”
Those offerings include vegetables and herbs year round, with seasonal staples like peppers and garlic, as well as okra, a family garden favorite, available for purchase. Finney says that the most rewarding part of her job as a farmer is “hearing customers tell [her] with excitement what they made with [her] produce. Knowing we are literally nourishing our community.”
The Vevay and Greater Cincinnati community isn’t the only one being nourished by Hoosier farmers. “We are surrounded by farms (especially small ones) growing so much food,” Finney shares. “I wish more people knew how to connect with those farms and understood the importance of supporting these food systems.”
Find Finney Family Farm at the Covington Farmers’ Market every Saturday starting in May. Follow Finney and Peters’ journey on Instagram @finneyfamilyfarm and on their website: www.finneyfamilyfarm.com.
Keep Digging!
Want to learn more about Hoosier food and farming? Finney recommends these resources:
The Contrary Farmer - “One of my absolute favorite reads! This memoir-style farming book from a farmer in Sandusky, OH breaks down many of the facets in which small farms can operate both successfully and sustainably. His poetic style, yet practical knowledge makes for an inspiring and educational read. Especially informative to those looking to add livestock to their homestead or farm”
Four Season Harvest - “The inspiration to convert our garden into a no-till garden.”
No-Till Growers - “This organization headed by farmer Jesse Frost, is a wealth of free information for small-scale farmers and home growers alike. Their podcasts cover a range of topics from no-till farming practices and techniques, to composting to seed saving. Their collection of YouTube videos are informative and fun to watch!”
Growing for Market Magazine - “A monthly publication perfect for small scale market farmers. Informative articles written by real farmers!”
Photos courtesy of Sarah Finney and Sean Peters.
