Life & Work with Holly Longino of Fayetteville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Longino.

Hi Holly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in the quiet agricultural community of Inman, Georgia, where a love of animals and nature was part of everyday life. Surrounded by horses, chickens, cattle, and crops, I developed a deep connection to farm life early on and began raising dairy goats in 2000. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia and briefly teaching middle school, I became a mom and chose to homeschool my four kids. Seeing firsthand how immersive farm experiences could deepen learning, I decided to blend my teaching background with my passion for agriculture. I launched an agricultural enrichment programs on our small farm, where lessons rooted in animal care and nature became a powerful way to teach academics, responsibility, character, and confidence to children in our community.

Over time this small idea blossomed into what is now Freebird Farm in Fayetteville, GA — a place where kids (and families) engage in hands-on learning through classes like Farm Fusion and KinderFarming, field trips, tours, and community events that tie academic concepts to the real world. Through these programs, I’ve have had the joy of seeing hundreds of students grow through agricultural discovery, guided by curiosity and connection with animals and nature.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a homeschooling mom, I’ve always been intentional about growing Freebird Farm at a pace that protected both my children’s education and our family’s sense of balance. Farming—especially in the spring—doesn’t follow office hours; it can easily become a twenty-four-hour-a-day responsibility, and learning when to say “not yet” has been just as important as knowing when to say yes. Over the more than twenty-five years I’ve spent raising livestock, I’ve also watched the agricultural landscape shift dramatically. What was once the work of traditional farmers has expanded into a broader cultural movement, as more families seek homesteading skills and locally raised food. These changes in society and the marketplace have required me to adapt, pivot, and reimagine parts of the farm along the way—an ongoing process that continues to shape both my work and my purpose.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud of building a life and a business that are deeply rooted in place, purpose, and a genuine love of teaching. At heart, I am an educator, and Freebird Farm allows me to teach in the way that feels most natural and fulfilling to me—through hands-on experience, curiosity, and connection to the land. Our family built our timber-frame home using a sawmill and trees we cut ourselves, right next door to my parents and the home where I was raised. This continuity matters deeply to me. Freebird Farm grew from decades of raising livestock, my background in education, and the daily rhythm of homeschooling my own children while running a working farm. Rather than separating family life, education, and business, I decided to weave them together..

What truly sets Freebird Farm apart is the opportunity it gives me to teach so many children and adults in meaningful, lasting ways. Whether it’s a child discovering confidence through animal care or an adult reconnecting with where their food comes from, teaching through the farm is incredibly fulfilling. As interest in homesteading and local food has grown, I’ve adapted and pivoted while staying grounded in long-held values. I’m proud that what we offer isn’t a trend or a program pulled from a curriculum, but a lived experience—real learning shaped by real work, real responsibility, and a deep respect for both people and place.

What matters most to you? Why?
At the foundation of everything I do are my faith and my family. Without these, none of the rest would have meaning. Freebird Farm was built with family at its center—from the way we live and learn on the land to the way the business has grown over time—and I truly believe we could not have accomplished what we have without God’s guidance along the way. That perspective shapes not only how I run the farm, but why I do it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Freebirdfarm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freebird_farm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freebirdfarm

Image Credits
All images were taken by me.