Photos Courtesy of Ol Morris Farm, LLC
We met Eric and Lesley Guerra at Vintage Market Days a few months ago. Their handcrafted goat milk products caught our eye, but their story captured us. The Guerras, originally from Connecticut, left the Northeast for Virginia’s Elk Creek valleys. They didn’t just relocate—they completely changed their lifestyle.
Taking the Leap
Starting a full-time farm is always challenging. For Lesley, a former nurse, and Eric, a truck driver, it felt especially risky.
“When Eric was talking about it, he said, ‘I think I want to jump ship,'” Lesley recalls. “I told him, ‘If it were just us, maybe, but I have 14-year-old autistic twins. You can’t lose your insurance.”
Despite the risk, the couple made their dream of a 15-acre farm a reality. Vintage markets helped Eric leave his job, but the business’s heart remains in Elk Creek. Now, Old Morris Farm thrives. Draft horses work the fields, seven dogs roam, and Nigerian Dwarf and Mini-Nubian goats provide milk for body butters, scrubs, and soaps.
From Shed to Shop
To avoid shipping costs, the Guerras turned a shed into a cozy on-site store.
“I don’t want everybody in my house. It’s a farmhouse. I have teenagers,” Lesley laughs. Instead, the farm store has become a friendly gathering spot. The Guerras stock their own soaps and skincare, as well as home decor, candles, and products from seven or eight other small businesses, which helps support their neighbors through small commissions.
Visits require an appointment but offer a hands-on experience. In kidding season, Lesley says, “You can visit for an hour. I’ll hand you a bottle and say, ‘Feed that baby.'”
However, as lovely as the handmade products, farm store, and draft horses are, they are not the farm’s main purpose.
The Heart of the Farm
The Guerras created Old Morris Farm for their twin sons, Alex and Ryan.
“When we learned both were on the spectrum, I wondered what life would be like for them,” Lesley says. They built a place for the boys to thrive. The farm’s logo—two boys under a tree with a duck, chicken, and goat—reflects this vision. “Our website logo is inspired by brothers, created by family,” Lesley explains. Raising livestock has benefited the twins, teaching them routine, responsibility, and emotional control.
Cultivating Independence
For Alex, who struggled with social skills, the farm provides structure. Alex now manages chores with discipline. Lesley notes that when asked when he eats breakfast, he replies, “When my chores are done.” He sees the connection: “The goats paid for your breakfast.” This foundation even helps him assist at craft shows and speak with customers.
For Ryan, who has severe anxiety, animals provide calm and purpose. During kidding season, he even sleeps in the barn. “He worries: ‘What if they need me, Mom?'” Lesley says. With 26 pregnant goats, Ryan is quick to help. Recently, Ryan handled a difficult birth before Lesley knew. “He said, ‘Mom, this one was really stuck… I had it, Mom. It’s all good.”
The boys’ work ethic started early. When they were eight and wanted a Nintendo Switch, Lesley challenged them to earn it. With a donated fridge and an honor system, they sold eggs, paid for chicken feed, and kept a dollar per dozen. In five months, they saved $500 and bought the console.
For the Guerras, farming means more than crops and livestock. They’re building independence and confidence for their sons. The soaps might draw people in, but it’s the family’s purpose that keeps them returning.
