CASSOPOLIS — Vendors and visitors from across Michiana descended on a local farm Sunday afternoon for a festive fall experience.

Willowbrook Farms, 19555 Bulhand Dr., Cassopolis, hosted its Fall Festival and Market. From mobile clothing boutiques to homemade jams and artisan breads, the market had something to offer for everyone. 

Guests were able to enjoy ice cold beverages as they browsed the wares of local artists. The event featured more than a dozen local artisans, vendors and food trucks from across Michiana.

“I thought it went well” said Willowbrook Farms owner Vanessa Frias. “We had a lot of local vendors that came out and it was cool to see all the families that came out in support. A lot of Facebook followers came out and just wanted to come and support our farm.”

Willowbrook Farms offers a variety of pasture-raised animals and products, including

lamb, goat, chicken, pork, beef, eggs, honey, milk, butter and jams. In addition, the farm also offers classes and agritourism on the farm.

Frias said the market was created as a means to promote the local businesses and vendors in the community.

“I want to support local and I want other people to support local and so if they’re supporting me, they’re supporting everybody else here,” she said. “It’s just supporting everybody around and building everybody up. I think when you put the money back into your community, that’s how our community gets better.”

For Frias and her family, growing Willowbrook Farms since its founding in 2022 has been a “rewarding” labor of love.

“It comes with its ups and downs just like anything in life but it has given me a joy that I haven’t been able to feel before. It’s just a different part of my chapter in my book. Learning how to be sustainable, learning how to work when things are tough and hard, and getting through it and then also bringing my family into play and making sure they can do the same thing. I’m giving my kids all these different skills that are tough and learning how to work through things.”

Making the day even more special for Frias was her 97-year-old grandfather visiting her farm for the first time. 

“He was a sharecropper, so he only went to school until he was in the fourth grade because he had to work on the farm and then he moved off the farm,” Fries said. “Having him come was like wow, this is amazing. His eyes just lit up when he got here. He just said it was beautiful and that he’s very proud of me. “It’s just nice for him to see it.”

After having successful markets in May and September, Fries aims to continue to host markets going forward.

“We want to just continue and just keep building and get people out here to the farm and see what it’s like to be on a farm,” she said. “Some people don’t get to experience that so allowing people the opportunity to come on the farm, see what it’s like and see how our animals are raised, I think that’s the cool part about what we do.”

Willowbrook Farms’ farm store is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit willowbrookmi.com.