Young mom entrepreneur makes a splash with experiential farm
2023-06-14 18:06:00
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
Qin Mengjuan, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, made a life-changing decision four years ago when she left her job in Guangzhou and returned to her hometown of Anfusi Town in central China’s Hubei Province.
Little did she know that, after a few twists and turns, she would evolve a "Cute Chicken and Yard" parent-child farm concept that would captivate the hearts of many and become a popular destination for visitors seeking a unique experience.
The story stretches back to 2019 when Qin, who had been working for a decade in Guangzhou as an advertising campaign planner, decided to return home and live a more relaxed lifestyle.
Qin’s family operated a chicken farm. The COVID-19 pandemic was bad news for the business with sales slowing almost to a standstill.
Qin’s experience in advertising and her skills in creating short videos served the family well. She set up an online sales channel and the family went from selling a mere handful of chickens per day to selling hundreds and even thousands.
Qin began developing her online presence, sharing captivating stories and moments from rural life on the popular short-video platform Douyin.
In 2022, after the birth of her second child, Qin decided to develop the farm into a parent-child experience farm.
The mother of two kids, Qin designed every aspect of the farm around the concept of a joyful countryside playground for children and families.
Combining her advertising expertise with her parents-in-law's agricultural knowledge, Qin quickly gained traction. Her collection of nearly 300 short videos chronicling the farm's evolution and heartwarming moments with her children resonated with viewers, attracting followers to the "Cute Chicken and Yard" channel.
Promoting organic, healthy chickens, Qin opted for free-range farming methods with catering becoming the primary source of income for her thriving business.
“The highest daily revenue for the farm was 10,000 yuan,” Qin said.
As the demand for native chickens soared, Qin started to involve local villagers in her business. By engaging the community, Qin offered local farmers an opportunity to feed the chickens while she purchased the mature birds, guaranteeing top-quality products and expanding sales channels.
One of the farm's most enticing offerings is its adoption service, allowing visitors to participate in the farm's agricultural activities firsthand. From planting and cultivating fruits and vegetables to tending to fruit trees, chickens, and ducks, nearly 30 families have already embraced this unique opportunity.
Visitors, like Mrs. Yu from Yichang, were enchanted by the farm's charm. "We discovered the farm online and thought it would be a delightful experience. We enjoyed picking fresh vegetables and strawberries, cooking our own meals, and relished the relaxed and comfortable ambiance. It's the life we've yearned for," said Mrs. Yu.
With its diverse range of experiential programs, including fishing, camping, fruit and vegetable picking, and a children's playground, the "Cute Chicken and Yard" farm has welcomed over 30,000 visitors to date.
The farm is thriving but Qin remains ambitious. Eager to explore new horizons, she is keen to create more engaging, entertaining and diverse video content.
Qin Mengjuan, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, made a life-changing decision four years ago when she left her job in Guangzhou and returned to her hometown of Anfusi Town in central China’s Hubei Province.
Little did she know that, after a few twists and turns, she would evolve a "Cute Chicken and Yard" parent-child farm concept that would captivate the hearts of many and become a popular destination for visitors seeking a unique experience.
The story stretches back to 2019 when Qin, who had been working for a decade in Guangzhou as an advertising campaign planner, decided to return home and live a more relaxed lifestyle.
Qin’s family operated a chicken farm. The COVID-19 pandemic was bad news for the business with sales slowing almost to a standstill.
Qin’s experience in advertising and her skills in creating short videos served the family well. She set up an online sales channel and the family went from selling a mere handful of chickens per day to selling hundreds and even thousands.
Qin began developing her online presence, sharing captivating stories and moments from rural life on the popular short-video platform Douyin.
In 2022, after the birth of her second child, Qin decided to develop the farm into a parent-child experience farm.
The mother of two kids, Qin designed every aspect of the farm around the concept of a joyful countryside playground for children and families.
Combining her advertising expertise with her parents-in-law's agricultural knowledge, Qin quickly gained traction. Her collection of nearly 300 short videos chronicling the farm's evolution and heartwarming moments with her children resonated with viewers, attracting followers to the "Cute Chicken and Yard" channel.
Promoting organic, healthy chickens, Qin opted for free-range farming methods with catering becoming the primary source of income for her thriving business.
“The highest daily revenue for the farm was 10,000 yuan,” Qin said.
As the demand for native chickens soared, Qin started to involve local villagers in her business. By engaging the community, Qin offered local farmers an opportunity to feed the chickens while she purchased the mature birds, guaranteeing top-quality products and expanding sales channels.
One of the farm's most enticing offerings is its adoption service, allowing visitors to participate in the farm's agricultural activities firsthand. From planting and cultivating fruits and vegetables to tending to fruit trees, chickens, and ducks, nearly 30 families have already embraced this unique opportunity.
Visitors, like Mrs. Yu from Yichang, were enchanted by the farm's charm. "We discovered the farm online and thought it would be a delightful experience. We enjoyed picking fresh vegetables and strawberries, cooking our own meals, and relished the relaxed and comfortable ambiance. It's the life we've yearned for," said Mrs. Yu.
With its diverse range of experiential programs, including fishing, camping, fruit and vegetable picking, and a children's playground, the "Cute Chicken and Yard" farm has welcomed over 30,000 visitors to date.
The farm is thriving but Qin remains ambitious. Eager to explore new horizons, she is keen to create more engaging, entertaining and diverse video content.
