People’s Farm
Our story
Long-time friends Andrew Williams and Alex Halferty started People’s Farm in Ligonier, Pennsylvania (approximately an hour outside of Pittsburgh) in 2020. Having both grown up in the area, Andrew and Alex paired their love for their rural Western Pennsylvania hometown with their passion for growing food.
After spending a year supporting a family farm in Denmark through the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program, Andrew completed a rigorous organic farming training program with the Organic Farm School in Washington State. He then spent several years working on and managing small organic vegetable farms in Georgia, New York, and Pennsylvania before returning to his hometown in Ligonier.
During a sustainable agriculture conference, Andrew fortuitously connected with another Ligonier farmer, Kim Miller. Kim owned Kananga Farm, a pastured beef cattle farm he and his wife Dianne operated until they retired from the business in 2023. In exchange for vegetables and occasional help with the cows, the Millers generously offered to share approximately an acre of their land with Andrew so he could get his own farming business off—or rather in—the ground.
In 2020, shortly before the pandemic hit, Andrew and high-school friend Alex joined forces to start People’s Farm on approximately an acre of beautiful, hilled pasture land. Though it was challenging to start a new business during the pandemic, the experience further demonstrated the vital role local food systems play in supporting health and wellbeing during times of crisis.
Today, People’s Farm is woven into the fabric of the Ligonier community. All of the farm’s produce is sold within 20 miles of the farm, including at the Ligonier Country Market, the Greensburg Night Market, through the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and on menus at local restaurants.
Andrew and Alex are grateful for the support of their community and customers, which allows them to continue providing Ligonier and surrounding areas high-quality vegetables that are not only nutritious and delicious, but that also connect neighbors with one another as well as the land that sustains us.
Andrew Williams
Alex Halferty & daughter Addy
