Ashley attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 2005-2009. After graduation, she served as a division officer in USS FARRAGUT (DDG 99) and USS GETTYSBURG (CG 66) during multiple Middle East deployments. Ashore, she was the Flag Aide to the Superintendent of the US Naval Academy, then the Speechwriter to the Chief of Naval Operations. She did her department head tours in USS LASSEN (DDG 82), again deploying to the Middle East and later the Caribbean. She separated from active duty in August of 2020 to pursue her farming career.
"It can sometimes feel like I'm the only veteran in agriculture. The Farmer Veteran Coalition helps me know that I am not alone! Farming and running a small business can be isolating, and the FVC provides really terrific resources for its members."
Riamede Farm is an old-fashioned apple farm, dedicated to preserving agricultural heritage, the tradition of the harvest, and the unique charm of vintage apple trees.
Their believe Riamede Farm was one of the first pick-your-own apple orchards in New Jersey, having first opened its orchards to the public during harvest back in 1974. They have apple pickers who arrive today with their young child in tow and tell them that Riamede Farm was their favorite fall outing when they were their child’s age!
The farm comprises of 68 acres with half of their orchards still nurturing big old seedling apple trees planted nearly a century ago by Lowry and Maria Mead in the 1930s. The old trees are genuine antiques and provide the farm with a 19th century feeling. Riamede’s acreage has been a farm since the late 1700s, and Ashley is proud to continue to uphold that agricultural heritage.
Ashley was looking for a strong connection to community through food. The farm became available and she jumped at the opportunity to lead in a new way. She also loves learning, and challenges, and learning to farm in her mid-thirties was definitely one!
"I am proud to be an American farmer. At Riamede, we provide a really important link for our visitors, who mostly live in cities and urban areas, straight to the food that they eat. So many kids visit and don't know where their food comes from, and it's really a privilege to be able to educate our customers and allow them onto a working farm. I also love working with my staff, especially all the local high schoolers who work here on fall weekends. The farm is often their first job, and I get to teach them how to work and interact with our customers. It's really meaningful to be part of their development and watch them grow as leaders in their own way."
