11/04/2024
❤️A Tribute to My Extraordinary Wife, Angela Minard “The Heart and Soul of Minard’s Family Farm"❤️
Today, I want to take a moment to honor and celebrate the incredible journey and achievements of my beautiful wife, Angela Minard. From the moment our paths crossed back in 2015 at Minard’s Family Farm, I knew Angela was destined to shine here. She was on a school field trip, and her beauty radiated throughout the orchard, capturing all of my attention that day. Her warm personality and innate ability to connect with people, especially children, have always been her superpowers. But this year, she took those gifts and transformed them into something truly extraordinary.
Angela, you have led Minard’s Family Farm to its most successful year yet, a record-breaking year that has solidified our place as one of the nation's top U-Pick apple orchard agritourism destinations, as acclaimed by USA Today. From the moment I placed your hand in mine, and we took the reins, you did so with grace, determination, and an unyielding commitment to the standard of excellence I demand of myself. You stepped into a massive role with courage, knowing the legacy you were upholding and the dreams of mine you were nurturing and solidifying.
Last year, you got a glimpse of what it takes to run the farm, watching and learning as we grew events together. This year, amidst the weight of me willingly taking full responsibility for Minard’s Family Farm while my mother bravely battled Atypical Parkinson's Disease, you became my rock. While a bit nervous at first to navigate this challenge, your strength, intelligence, instincts, and belief in me propelled this farm to its best year ever in every sense of the word. You embraced the challenge, digging your heels into the dirt, and faced this with the utmost integrity and grace all because you know the pride I take in this farm. While a full-time lawyer, you knew I needed my wife, my ride-or-die to pull this off because you knew I was going to break boundaries, push limits, and succeed at all costs or die trying. Admirably, you stood right by my side, putting all the knowledge you soaked up from day in and day out as I worked as a full-time cannabis attorney around the clock while you studied my agritourism library to hold late-night strategy discussions with me. As I was hellbent on restructuring operations for maximum efficiency and profitability, together we transformed the operation into a well-oiled machine with the help of our dedicated staff, as you earned everyone’s respect. You accomplished in 8 weekends this fall what most couldn’t in a lifetime. You’re a rock star and you executed despite facing the passing of your mother who was everything to you. She is smiling down on you, glowing with pride, saying “My Angela did it and she did it her way!” Watching you shine bright like the diamond on your finger was my biggest accomplishment ever. Nothing brought me greater joy or satisfaction than watching you thrive as weekend after weekend WE filled the parking lot. I was so proud to introduce you to my loyal customers who come year after year and brag about how you were the driving force behind executing my visions for this farm since I founded it in 2015. Every single one of them said, “Jason, it’s great to see you smile,” and all said, "Man, your wife doesn’t stop." No, she does not. She got it done and proved to herself and the world exactly what she is made of. You are the woman of my dreams and without question the heart and soul of Minard’s Family Farm.
Your hands-on approach, from redecorating the Barn Market to spearheading operations and helping me carry the social media load to deliver the message I only trusted myself to do in the past, has been nothing short of inspiring. You ran your own race and did it at your own pace as I acknowledged the sickness you yourself have faced over the last year and all of the doctor visits we made time for. You have shown the world the true essence of intelligence, unwavering dedication, and that love, and loyalty combined with killer instincts is unrivaled whether it be agritourism or life. With nearly half the staff by design and my goal to restructure the entire operation for maximum efficiency, we managed to surpass every sales record, day after day, proving that with heart and vision, anything is possible.
Introducing you as my wife and the true boss at Minard's Family Farm fills me with immense pride. You have exceeded my wildest expectations. You've enhanced our mission of taking Fall-Family-Fun to the next level, one that thrives on joy and excellence, and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices you have made, stepping up out of your love for me, and the byproduct is second to none, and we’re just getting started. I could not be prouder of you!
Angela, you are not just my partner in life but my inspiration. You have made my dreams come true and have become the heart and soul of Minard’s Family Farm. Thank you for your relentless spirit, your love, and your belief in our shared dreams.
I love you, Golden Delicious, and thank you for believing in yourself the way I believe in you, always and forever.
