Occupation: I am a farmer at Daffodil Hill Growers at Woodside Farm, which is run by my family. We have been in business for 15 years. We grow about 20 acres of vegetables over a land-base of 64 acres, utilizing both my family’s farm as well as rented land along the Pomperaug River in South Britain and also land at the Southbury Training School. We also produce maple and black walnut syrup, as well as offering produce throughout the four seasons of New England, utilizing both greenhouse growing and storage crops.

Family: I am really blessed to live in a house that my grandparents built when they bought our farm in the 1940s and happens to be next door to the house I grew up in, where my parents, Dave and Kathy, and sister, Laura, still reside. I married my high school sweetheart, Dan Slywka, in 2008 in a wedding on the farm. Not many couples can spend every day all day together, but we make it work — we complement each other well. We have one daughter, Maggie, who is 9.

Pets: Willow, our rescue black lab mix, is our official vegetable taste tester. Orion is our cat. He’s completely black and believes that he is actually a dog and Willow is his sister. We also have a flock of about 30 chickens, all with names that are lovingly wrangled by Maggie; one house chicken named Wanda, who wears a diaper and hops around the house all winter; and also two crazy ducks named Flopsy and Mopsy.

What do you like to do in your free time? During the winter we love to swim as a family at the Newtown Community Center. I also love to watch Maggie ski and Dan ski race. We built an ice rink during the pandemic that takes up the whole front lawn of our house, so family skate time in the winter is a favorite as well as outdoor family movie nights in the summer.

What is your favorite travel destination? We love Vieques, Puerto Rico, for a low key and relaxing vacation. Ireland is our favorite European destination. Southeast Asia has always been on our bucket list, along with Patagonia. For domestic destinations, Maggie is a giant fan of indoor water parks, so we are trying all the different ones in the northeast.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? We have been part of the Newtown Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills since 2008. We love the current location on the Fairfield Hills campus. There is plenty of parking and it’s visible from the street. We are also part of Pathways Homeschool Co Op that meets at the Newtown Congregational Church. I am one of the parents who is trying to get the co op up and running after we closed down during the pandemic. The Congregational Church is such an amazing space for us to meet; it’s close to the library, and of course Ferris Acres Creamery!

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents have owned their own business for 41 years. I have seen how hard they have worked and sacrificed to build a successful business to support their family, but I also noticed how incredibly present they were in mine and my sister’s life. Working for yourself requires sacrifice but it also has perks such as being able to be there for your kids if they’re sick or have a swim meet, or take them to girls scouts or horseback riding. I knew I wanted that for my child and for myself.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? My husband Dan told me once during the early years of the farm, and it has always stuck with me, “If your dreams don’t scare you, you need to find bigger dreams.” He’s always been by my side, pushing me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me to take calculated risks.

What is your proudest accomplishment? For the early part of our being in business I always had several part-time jobs along with working for myself. I dreamed of the day when I would be able to just be a farmer. I dreamed of the farm supporting our family without the need for other jobs. We are on the second year of making that a reality. Also, of course, being the mom to a kind, smart, beautiful, compassionate, and brave spitfire of a little girl.