Welcome to the Farm!
The West Oaks Farm Market is, as you may have guessed, a family owned farm and market in a small corner of the world known as Winchester, Virginia. It sits just outside town on a small country road. Locals, such as myself, know this road as Middle Road. Situated atop a hill a decent distance off the road, you cannot miss this market. It is quite a large building. Not what you expected? Farm markets are often associated with rustic wooden buildings and a very particular aesthetic, and their second location on Cedar Creek Grade fulfills that expectation.
This sprawling building, however, is known as the “New Market,” or the “Event Venue." I know I was impressed the first time I rounded the corner at the bottom of the hill and laid eyes on it. That was last summer. Fast forward to today, and I work for the Snapp family as a farmhand and freelance photographer. After spending considerable time around this operation, I can tell you that this place is quite special. Let’s jump into why.
Family
The Snapp Family has been running this farm with a market alongside for ten generations! They have farmed the same ground since 1755. Joe and Mary Snapp, alongside their sons, Ben and Levi, and their daughter, Tesla, live on and run the farm. In addition to this, there is the “West Oaks Family,” as I call it. That is the best way to describe each and every one of us that works to bring you guys the best possible experience we can, no matter what you are looking for. When it comes to getting things done, family always does it best.
Community
One of the many reasons that I love photography is the perspective it provides you. It truly does change the perception of your surroundings. As I step back and look at the operation as a whole, I see something truly amazing. I was in the market last week when a woman waiting to pick up her take out order made small talk with me. She was not aware of who I was, just as most people who see me at the market are not. The woman asked if I came here often, to which I replied yes. She then went on to tell me “This is my favorite place, ever! I’m always amazed at this place, and I love that the family works together to accomplish all of this!” That’s when it really dawned on me: we are not just a market, or a farm. We are not simply a local business. We are a community, one of many pioneers of agritourism, and we are your neighbor. All of you get to see West Oaks provide you a wedding venue, concert stage, market, farm, restaurant, playroom, and even a combine retrofitted into a playground (which I helped build, and makes me wish I was a kid again). I get to see everyone trying their utmost to bring you that experience, no matter what. That is the true magic of what goes on at West Oaks, and that’s what I want to share with everyone through my work.
“This is my favorite place, ever!”
Combine Playground
In this time of uncertainty, we ask that you keep local business in mind. We love being a part of this community, and we will all need to help each other through these times. We are constantly cleaning and sanitizing our market. We are also adhering strictly to the ten person occupancy limit inside our doors. We care about everyone’s health and safety, and we work constantly to make sure you are getting what you need. I will also be sharing more of my work on the market’s Facebook page to show that there are still great things happening out there. Stay healthy everyone!