342. Managing a 24-Person Farm Team with Amber Waves Farm

A Note from Michael:

The Thriving Farmer Podcast is currently on pause as we navigate a busy season on the farm. While we're taking this break, we're excited to share Farm in Focus, a special series of short, focused conversations recorded earlier this year. These bite-sized episodes highlight practical insights from farmers and experts across the industry. We hope they're helpful and encouraging as you continue your farming journey.

How do you build—and keep—a thriving farm team?

On this special Farm in Focus episode, Michael is joined by Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow, co-founders of Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett, New York. Known for their vibrant farm, educational programs, and deep commitment to community, Katie and Amanda share how they manage one of the most dynamic farm teams in the region.

From hiring with intention to setting clear expectations, training the next generation, and keeping morale high during peak season, this conversation offers bite-sized wisdom for any farmer looking to improve their team culture and daily operations.

Whether you're managing two people or twenty, their insights will help you strengthen communication, create systems that serve your farm, and build a workplace people want to return to each day.

 

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Building the Team:
• What goes into hiring for enthusiasm, not just experience [2:26]
• How Amber Waves builds a diverse farm crew each year [4:16]

Training the Next Generation:
• Structuring an apprenticeship program that truly prepares new farmers [9:13]
• Teaching financial literacy and business planning as core skills [10:05]

Leadership & Management:
• Why clarity and communication matter more than you think [13:10]
• How they use scheduled feedback to support apprentices [21:00]
• Keeping morale high through "gamifying" tasks and building community [18:00]

Looking Ahead:
• How mentorship shapes their farm's vision for the future [21:00]

 

Bio:
Amber Waves began in 2008 when Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin met during a farm apprenticeship, sparking a friendship and a shared dream to feed their local community. A year later, they launched their farm on seven conserved acres behind the Amagansett Farmers Market, drawn to the land's unique coastal terroir, which inspired the name Amber Waves. In the early days, they personally connected with every visitor, cultivating a community that found comfort, inspiration, and empowerment through the farm. By 2016, with the support of dedicated locals and visionary women before them, Amanda and Katie secured ownership of the farmland and reunited it with the historic farmstand. Today, Amber Waves spans over 30 acres, operates a vibrant market and kitchen, and stands as a nationally recognized educational farm serving hundreds of families and visitors each year.

Links:

👩🏻‍🌾 Visit Amber Waves Farm's website: Amber Waves Farm
📺 YouTube: @amberwavesfarmNY
📷 Instagram: Amber Waves Farm
👍 Facebook: Amber Waves Farm

 

This episode is brought to you by Growing Farmers:

Looking to get your farm systems dialed in for 2026? The Small Farm Business Intensive is a two-day, on-farm event hosted by Michael Kilpatrick in Ohio on February 20–21.

Participants will walk through the same frameworks used at Farm on Central, covering planning, pricing, profitability, team management, and more. The goal is clarity—leaving with a plan and practical tools you can actually use to move your farm forward.

Learn more and save your spot at growingfarmers.com.