From $78 to a Thriving Farm: How Saying No Led to My Biggest Yes
By Kathryn DeLadurnatey
Graduation day passes us by, and the all-too-common ache in our heads is a blank white DOC file with a question mark and a blinking text cursor…..
That is it, or at least that is how it started for me. The months leading up to graduation and the months after were just a question mark with nothing to follow. In the beginning, I felt like there were so many opportunities and ideas laid at my door that I didn’t even know where to start. As hard as this is, I do think that this is where good ideas flow from. I can even remember that day, 5 years ago, when I chose to travel down the road of flower farming.
The Rainy Road Trip That Changed Everything
I was on a road trip with my parents on our way to Houston, Texas, and it was pouring rain. At the time, I had been seriously contemplating taking the two-week intensive course in floral design at A&M. It was a course that, afterwards, would place me in competitions and very high-end floral work. But I had also run across flower farming, which piqued my interest.
But on this road trip, everything changed. My Dad turned to me and said, “I think that you shouldn’t go to A&M and you should instead grow flowers and try to sell them.”
Tears ran down my face. I knew this was the right thing, but it felt like ripping a dream from my arms.
To this day, I am so unbelievably grateful for my Dad having that hard conversation with me. To all the parents out there….Remember, you know your children better than anyone else. And you also have their best interest in mind for them to succeed. What you say does matter!
With this charge from my Dad, it gave me a kind of liberty. I am also beyond thankful for the fact that God gave me a desire to then take what I was given and run with it!
Starting with a Shovel and Seeds
As soon as I got home from that road trip, I went into full action.
I ordered seeds, got a neighbor with a tractor to disc up the front yard. And started planning every detail. Things were going to plan until, with any new plan, opposition comes.
That guy I hired for the soil prep never came back. So by hand, I made rows, pulled out nasty weeds, and planted all my seeds! Ever since that day, opposition after taking action has felt more like an old companion that rises its head all too often.
Something that, as young people, we have that is a blessing is this. We must act now because time will run out. And to have the energy to press against all odds. I do believe that if you have both of these, you will find them to be very good traits for building a business.
I want to stop here right in the middle to say this. The next stories I am about to share. Well, they make me pinch myself! And what I hope you take away from this is. Where we start is not always where we end up. We must live each day knowing that we are to use the time God has given us wisely. Each of us has been placed on the earth with several “Talents,” and our job is to create like the master Creator and to glorify Him.
To remember that our biggest mistakes are the ones that we learn from the most, and we should, in turn, move forward with integrity. And whatever happens today should not define our attitude or our perception of the future.
So here I was, year one, a host of flowers growing, and no one to sell them to. To be honest, that whole year I only sold $78 worth, and that was it. Dear friend, you can’t get much smaller than this LOL.
From $78 in Sales to a Solid Customer Base
But like I said, the opposition needs to proceed with overcoming head-on. Year two, I knew just what I had to do: get my product in front of people. So off I went, one door knock at a time. I believe I have covered every business in my closest towns and learned to have the best elevator pitch. But my parents were right there in the trenches with me; that is the key!
My Mom would see me discouraged after getting “NO” as a response from a door-knock. And she would say, “The next door could be a yes. Now Go” And one by one, I started having weekly customers to deliver to and also started supplying banks with holiday arrangements.
I realized I had to find a way to serve more people and to create more profit without making these weekly deliveries, which were taking me away from the farm.
So in year 3, I opened the farm for u-picks. Took on floral design for large events, and then inspiration hit me. When this happens to you, don’t let it go; be inspired and capitalize on it.
Do the thing that scares you most; that is the hardest. It might be your biggest breakthrough
I was in an airplane on my way to Virginia when I had an idea to host an agriculture weekend at the farm, highlighting the flower u-pick we had started.
I had two months to plan it, mind you, the date for the event was at the end of July. In reality, no one should have even come to it….
And again, my parents didn’t call me crazy. I presented the idea and they supported it. In the end, I had 15 vendors showcasing local products, live music, and food.
And like something out of a Hallmark movie, I saw over a hundred people come out. They brought camp chairs and hung out with their families.
Something had changed for me and our family. We turned our front yard into an event center and a parking lot.
I was riding high. And just remember, those high moments are what get you through some of your biggest failures.
That next spring, I hit a wall when I lost 6,000 tulip bulbs in a refrigeration accident, and in tears, I had to refund all the customers who invested in this venture.
But the best was yet to come, in the year that started so badly.
I planned to host that AG weekend yet again. I got on podcasts, radio, and even Live Television. All to promote my spring event.
In the back of my head, I was so worried that what if I opened my farm to hundreds of people and my flowers didn’t bloom or even grow. I had doubled the size of the farm that year, and I was risking a lot on something I couldn’t be sure about, considering I had just had a huge crop failure.
But with my parents’ encouragement, I left this to the Lord and planned in faith.
In the meantime, I opened the farm for photographers to rent for photo shoots. We opened each Friday for people to build flower bouquets in the field. And partnered with local businesses to host a floral class at their brick-and-mortar.
As a business owner, I have three things that I want to share here if you started your own business and are trying to figure out how to get it off the ground:
- Do the thing that scares you most; that is the hardest. And that also seems the least possible to work, but if it did, it would be the best thing ever.
- When you feel stuck with what to do next (especially when it comes to daily tasks), always ask this question: “What can I do today that would bring me at least one new customer?”
- Partnerships: People ask me Why do I have vendors at my events? Or why I teach floral classes at brick-and-mortar stores? The easy answer is. I want to expand how many people know about my businesses,” and so anytime I can get my ideas/products in front of other people’s clients, I will.
Parents—what you say matters more than you know
But now we are here at year 5…
And the best year yet. This spring, we hit the ground running. And I launched my first flower stand on a main road….Between Lockhart, Luling, Bastrop & Gonzales, TX. (5672 FM 86 Luling, TX)
It has been so, so incredible. We now have a lending library there, a cooler of flowers that I stock twice a week. And I partner with two other businesses in the area to supply our community with sourdough and eggs.
It’s been a journey.
But dear friend, five years ago I would not have imagined all these amazing opportunities. But year 5 has taught me two things.
When you know where you are headed and you know the goals for your business….You will know what things you need to say “No” to. I have said no to more opportunities this year than ever.
And there will always be people who see your success and try to copy what you do. Shut them out and don’t worry because they can never be you. Our farm serves so many people, but the largest part is encouraging the next generation on how to start businesses and learn skills.
Which is why we continue to host our “Market at the Farm Ag weekend” in May.
This article first appeared in the Fall 2025 (September) issue of Texas Homeschool Magazine.
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Kathryn DeLadurantey
A Central Texas flower farmer, floral designer, Christian, homeschool graduate, and passionate advocate for locally grown blooms. Inspired by generations of gardeners before her, Kathryn’s love for flowers began in childhood and blossomed on the rolling hills of her family’s Tennessee farm. Today, she sows joy and cultivates beauty through sustainable flower farming, creating seasonal designs that reflect the hard work, patience, and care poured into every petal. At Sunny Hill, flowers aren’t just grown—they’re lived with, prayed over, and deeply loved.