Dear Farms Work Wonders Family,

As we step into a new year, I find myself reflecting on the road we’ve traveled together — a road shaped by curiosity, hard work, and the steady support of people like you.

Many of you have grabbed a cookie from the Wardensville Garden Market, shared a meal at Mack’s Bingo, shaped molten glass at Dakota Glass Works, or wandered the rows at Lewis Farm. What you may not realize is that each of those moments supports something much bigger. Farms Work Wonders is a nonprofit social enterprise, and over the past nine years we’ve built five mission-driven businesses right here in Wardensville, West Virginia. In 2026, we enter our tenth year — a milestone that fills us with deep pride and gratitude.

At the heart of everything we do are the young people who make this place hum. Since opening our doors, 162 local youth have participated in our program. We call them Junior Crew, and they’re everywhere: harvesting on the farm, blowing glass in the hot shop, baking early mornings at the bakery, keeping the wheels turning at the restaurant, and welcoming guests at the market. They’re also working behind the scenes — learning marketing, maintenance, groundskeeping, and event production. Their creativity, grit, and curiosity are the true engine of this ecosystem.

Because of this model, we want to be sure you know three important things:

2025 by the numbers:

last year was one of our most meaningful yet – 

• $340,000+ in wages paid to Junior Crew in 2025 alone
• $440,000+ donated to our community over nine years through scholarships and giving
• 8 apprenticeship programs launched across farming, agritourism, glassblowing, culinary, baking, and events
• 40,000+ transactions across our restaurant, farm, bakery, market, and glass studio — each one a small act of belief in this work

Behind every number is something simple and powerful: real opportunities for real young people, in a rural place where those opportunities can be hard to come by.

what’s coming in 2026 – 

• Expansion of the livestock program at Lewis Farm (update coming soon!)
• Launch of a new Dakota Glass Works online ordering site (Spring 2026)
• Spring Fest, a town-wide celebration that brings the whole community together
• The return of our Second Saturday Markets, running April – December, with fresh finds, local makers, and all the energy we love in the market courtyard
• More farm events throughout the year
• More dinners and seasonal specials at Mack’s Bingo
• More glassblowing “make-your-own” experiences and workshops
• …plus a few other things we’re quietly cooking up

We are continually humbled by the guests, neighbors, and supporters who make this mission possible. Whether you’re a local who stops by every week or a traveler who found us on a winding road through the mountains, you are part of this story.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing that small towns can be innovative, that young people deserve real opportunity, and that good food, honest work, and shared craft can help build a better future.

Here’s to 2026 — our tenth year — and to the next generation of Appalachian youth discovering their spark.

With gratitude,

Jason Smith
Managing Director

Want to follow along as our tenth year unfolds?
We share stories, events, and updates throughout the year at farmsworkwonders.org/newsletter.