Chad Snelling (left) and Jeff Wince have a successful farm and skin-care product business in rural Licking County. (Credit: Marilyn Jones)
Greeted by four rescue dogs as I walk toward the 19th-century farmhouse in rural Licking County, I know their barks are more of an announcement than a warning. Once in the yard, the welcoming committee swells to include several turkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, and guineas before farm owners Jeff Wince and Chad Snelling open the door of their 1823 home and invite me in.
Wince, born and raised in rural Licking County, and Snelling, city-born and -raised, bought the house and seven acres in 2010 after years of debate. “I had never been on a farm,” Snelling says with a smile, “and never, ever did I think I would become a farmer.”
It was the historic house that convinced Snelling to give it a try, and Tilton Hollow Farm was born. Ironically, Wince still works a fulltime job in Columbus, while Snelling is the fulltime farmer.
“The farm was established by the Tilton family,” says Wince. “When I was looking at an 1875 almanac, I discovered the farm next door was owned by my fourth and fifth great-grandfathers. I came right back to my roots and brought Chad with me.”
Members of The Energy Cooperative in Newark, the two started a business in 2013 making and selling soap and natural skin-care products from goat’s milk. “We sell between 300 and 600 bars of soap a month, depending on the season,” Wince says.
“You met a lot of our animals already,” says Snelling. “We also have 27 very spoiled dairy goats, plus 15 sheep and a sheepdog, and one very opinionated alpaca.”
From the house I am invited to explore the property. Past a pond and along a well-worn pathway, I find a paddock with an assortment of goats, all clamoring for my attention. It’s clear that they are loved and taken good care of.
“We give our animals a wonderful life in return for the wonderful products they help us create,” Snelling says.
”We also hold workshops throughout the year,” Wince adds. “Now we’re looking into some new areas, such as getting certified for dairy production, including cheese and butter.”
Tilton Hollow sells its products online. Workshops, including “Planting a Fall Garden,” “Fermenting — Kimchi & Krauts,” “Cheese Making,” and “Hollowday Greenery Decorations,” can also be booked online.
“I never imagined working on a farm, let alone making soap or owning goats,” says Snelling. “Now I never want to leave here.”
