Largest crowd ever attends Holcomb Farm Annual Meeting
By Shirley Murtha
When Dave Emery, president of the Friends of Holcomb Farm, called the annual meeting to order on June 28, the board and guests had just experienced the official grand opening of the new farm store and indoor washing facility.
Emotions ran high for the largest crowd to ever attend the annual meeting. The joy of being in the new place was countered with the sadness of Jenny Emery’s absence. Having served as treasurer, executive director and finally board president, everything she had designed and orchestrated had come true, but due to her tragic accident, she was not here to celebrate.
Jenny was mentioned in several of the reports that followed, but it was with a spirit of gratefulness for her leadership. Dave Emery’s overview of the 2025 season and treasurer Rocky Piccirillo’s financial report described a very productive year, as did Managing Farmer Joe O’Grady’s recap of last season, which included 528 CSA summer and 300 Pick-Your-Own members. The 175 winter share members were thrilled with pickups extended into March for the first time.
Much of the success of the 2025 season was due to a combination of normal weather for the growing season—no drought or flooding—and O’Grady’s customized fertilizer and amendment plan. Placing several fields out of production and into cover crops is expected to improve the 2026 yields.
Fresh Access Committee Chair Laura Midura’s report noted that the farm provided 17 tons of nutrient-dense produce through community partners reaching over 600 families in Granby, Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, Simsbury and Waterbury from June to October. In 2026, Fresh Access will continue to deliver this food through Granby Senior Center, Granby Social Services, Granby Congregational Church’s Open Cupboard Pantry, Healing Meals Community Project, the Hispanic Health Council, the Simsbury Food Pantry and Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen.
After expressing the Farm’s gratitude to the Granby Community Fund and all the volunteers and donors, Emery adjourned the meeting and the reinstated pie baking contest took place. After a winner was chosen from the several pies baked by FOHF members, judged by First Selectman Mark Fiorentino and Assistant Farm Manager and Crew Lead Tom Spatcher, the crowd enjoyed making sure none of the remaining pastry was wasted.
City-dweller finds fulfillment down on the Farm
By Shirley Murtha
Having lived and worked in Seattle, Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, Nancy Costopulos would not be the ideal candidate to end up in a rural farming community, but that is exactly what happened to the Ohio native.
Her career included being marketing director for both the Los Angeles Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden. She was the chief marketing officer of the American Marketing Association in Chicago, and most recently the president and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens in New York where she led the largest capital project in the history of the organization to help preserve the historic house and gardens.
Thinking it was about time to retire, Nancy and her husband Jim bought a house in rural North Granby in 2022. They lived here part time until they decided to fully retire, moving in full time in July 2023. Nancy notes, “I feel lucky we picked Granby. We loved the rural character of the town and sensed that it was a genuinely friendly community.”
You can probably guess how Costopulos got involved with the Friends of Holcomb Farm: she met Jenny Emery, of course! Their conversation about the Farm piqued her non-profit background and she was immediately interested in the organization and its mission. After a few more conversations, Emery invited her to join the board. “I’m very grateful that she did. It was a great way for me to get involved in the community.”
When she first joined the board, Costopulos reviewed the strategic planning work that had already been done and advised on governance and fundraising activities. When the Building for Our Future campaign came along, she became very involved in the fundraising for the new farm store and indoor washing facility.
Recently elected as one of the board’s two vice presidents, Costopulos appreciates the “cohesive and committed board where people work so well together, all bringing a wide variety of skills and interests.” As do many others, she feels that the newly-renovated building is an exciting and rewarding addition to our community.
In addition to the FOHF board, Costopulos also serves on the board of Stony Hill Village and the Granby Community Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation (formerly the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.)
In her “down time,” she thoroughly enjoys cooking. When living in Chicago, she attended culinary school and taught classes, which she occasionally still does here at the Granby Public Library. She has over 400 cookbooks, reflecting her interest in food from all over the world.
Unfortunately, her husband Jim did not get to spend many years in Granby, as he passed in 2025, but Nancy has two cats, Enzo and Quita, who keep her company. Their daughter lives in Boston and their son in Brooklyn, so family is not far away.
Holcomb Farm celebrates Farm Store opening
Holcomb Farm officially opened the doors to its new Farm Store on June 27, marking an exciting new chapter for the nonprofit farm and the community it serves.
Hundreds of community members attended the Farm Store Open House to celebrate the occasion, tour the new space and connect with local farmers, producers, volunteers and supporters. The event highlighted the strong community partnerships that made the project possible and underscored Holcomb Farm’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the local food system.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received,” said Holcomb Farm Executive Director Cat Kadrle. “This project became a reality because of the generosity of so many people who believed in our vision. From the donors who helped fund the project to the volunteers, community members and local producers who continue to support our mission, this store truly belongs to the community.”
The Farm Store reflects Holcomb Farm’s broader mission of promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting local farmers and increasing access to fresh, locally-produced food. By offering products from both Holcomb Farm and neighboring producers, the store strengthens connections between consumers and the region’s agricultural community.
All are encouraged to visit the new Farm Store and see what all the excitement is about!
For more information, visit holcombfarm.org or follow the farm on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos of Farm Store opening by Hanna Malzenski.
Holcomb Farm CSA and Farm Store
87 Simsbury Road, West Granby
Farm Store Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.