(PHOTOS BY INDIA KENNER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
RIBBON CUTTING … Montpelier Chamber of Commerce and council members joined owners Derek and Wendy Walz for a ribbon cutting, celebrating the grand opening of their new storefront on August 24, 2024.
By: India Kenner
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
india@thevillagereporter.com
The streets of downtown Montpelier were lined up to get the first glimpse of a brand-new business on Saturday, August 24th at 10 am.
Eager small business supporters were waiting as early as an hour before the event teased by a heavenly aroma in the air.
Wispy Willow Farms founded in 2014 is owned and operated by Wendy and Derek Walz, their children Garrett, Ash, Mekie, and Ethan, and employee Natalie Kuntz.
The business specializes in clean handcrafted natural goat milk bath and body products. The beautiful storefront at 204 West Main Street Montpelier took over 16 months to renovate even though the original plan was just an extra place for production that wasn’t the family basement.
The owners explained their love of simple farm life embedded in their roots since childhood and wanted that for their family.
What started as two Dwarf Nigerian goats to provide goat milk from the small family farm turned into a full-blown dairy goat farm with all hands-on deck from the entire family.
With the surplus of goat milk, Wendy Walz explained that she started handcrafting soap for Farmer’s Markets and then with time added more products which caused the family to need more production space.
So Wispy Willow Farms went from the family kitchen to the basement and is now a brick-and-mortar storefront.
Now that the children are grown, Wendy and Derek Walz, sold their goat herd and sourced their goat milk from a local family friend.
The Montpelier Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Chamber Director Kelly Bigger and chamber members Chris Kannel, Angie Humphrey, Morgan Camron, Danny Smith, chamber board member Apryl Cluckey, Mayor Steve Yagelski, village council members, and many other community members.
Chamber Director Kelly Bigger read the ”about us” section from the Wispy Willow Farms business website and before cutting the ribbon
Wendy Walz thanked all the friends, family, and the community for their amazing support and warm welcome.
Promptly at 10 am the doors opened for the public to see the storefront and shop. The first 50 customers received a canvas bag with free products and a 10 percent coupon towards a future purchase. Any customer who brought a grand opening flyer was given 20 percent off their purchase.
Wispy Willow Farms business hours are Thursdays 10:00-5:30 Fridays 10:00-5:30 and Saturdays 9:00-12. Online shopping is available on ETSY as well as the business website http://wispywillowfarm.com
WAITING TO GET IN … Lines formed up to an hour before the grand opening in downtown Montpelier.