Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Maricle.
Hi Heidi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Agriculture has been an integral part of who I am for my whole life, however it wasn’t until 2019 that I realized that I wanted to have it be my career.
My heritage comes from farming and agriculture for several generations on my dad’s side. He passed his love for farming and animals to several of his kids–myself included. When I was 9 years old, we moved from living in the town of Bend to a small farm in Tumalo, and my life changed. From building forts in the brush, to raising sheep for 4-H, to riding and training horses, to raising meat chickens and egg chickens–those 19 acres felt like heaven. I learned how to irrigate, clean out chicken houses, drive tractor, pick rock, build fences and hundreds of other things that city kids miss out on. I learned how to work hard, push through difficult things, conquer my fears (ever feed livestock in the middle of the night with coyotes howling all around you when you are 10 years old?) and problem solve. I learned how to grow food, raise livestock and then cry when you butchered it– and then be grateful for it when eating it. I’m so thankful for my farm life childhood.
Fast forward a lot of years and a variety of jobs and moves– my brother Frank reached out to me asking if I would move back to the area and help him grow hemp. This was spring of 2019 right before the big boom of hemp. I agreed to come back to Central Oregon for the Summer only and help him tackle custom farming of 2000 acres of hemp. I ended up finding my career and passion in farming and have been here since. I worked for Frank for over 5 years doing everything from managing large work crews, to operating equipment, to installing irrigation of all kinds and a LOT more. His farming business morphed from hemp to hay to livestock and eggs and I learned so much and grew so much and worked SO MUCH! My record was working 218 hours in 2 weeks during hay season. During these 5 years I was honing the skills and fortitude I am now using in my own business.
In the fall of 2024, I started “You Need a Farm Girl.” I was looking for a way to make a living in agriculture doing the things I loved–but without the huge overhead of traditional agriculture (equipment, land, etc…). I saw that there was a huge need for skilled labor in the area, where many people moved out to the country but didn’t have the knowledge or ability to do all the things required on an acreage. I started small–doing manure removal for a local dairy, (a nice way to say shovelin shit!) and word spread quickly and pretty soon I was installing electric fences, cleaning irrigation ditches, weedwhacking, and doing some small tractor field work. I also got connected with an amazing organization called “School of Ranch” and got the opportunity to grow my skills and network through their hands-on classes. I was also able to teach a few! I got connected with “Friends of the Children” a non-profit organization that works with struggling youth. I love working with kids on their small ranch in Redmond Oregon teaching them the value of work and how to grow their own food. I manage their farm and get great joy from passing the love of farming to the kids.
In January 2026, I took over my sister’s landscape maintenance company. Her specialty was large property landscaping–”Farmscaping” and it was a fantastic opportunity to work on the large properties I love. With that merge, my business grew 3x and this farm girl got to use some of that fortitude obtained from years prior. Now I have an amazing team of 9 employees and a fleet of trucks and equipment. We are able to help homeowners create and maintain their “farm” whether that is a 40+ acre estate or a small lot in town.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In my life, I’ve learned that struggle creates strength and growth. “You Need a Farm Girl” is my 3rd business venture in the last 6 years. In 2020, I partnered in my own hemp farm. My partners and I poured money, time, and struggle into a 10 acre hemp farm on the east side of Bend, just to have the market crash and our crop value disintegrate. Multiple attempts to adapt to the changing market and produce other products couldn’t overcome the obstacles we faced and we ended up dissolving the business and partnership.
The entrepreneurship gene is strong in my family and in 2021 my brother and I partnered on a commercial trucking company. A series of unfortunate events ($7 diesel anyone??) eventually led to the disbanding of that venture as well.
Although those failed business ventures were extremely challenging, the greatest struggle I have is confidence and belief in myself. Can I do this? I think that’s the question that I ask myself more than any other. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It requires drive, determination, and flexibility. Long days and short nights, stress and anxiety often accompany the joys and rewards of owning your own business. And every day, every time I conquer an obstacle, I fix the next problem, every mistake I learn from, I stand a little bit straighter and I say “I CAN do this.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
“You Need a Farm Girl” is a farm and landscape service business. We provide skilled labor and education for home and property owners. Sometimes that looks like mowing and weeding, sometimes that is fencing, patio building and field work. My goal is to help homeowners create and maintain their dream outdoor space–creating beauty in the desert and easing the burden of farm ownership. What gives me joy is when customers feel empowered and no longer overwhelmed by their place. I love the satisfaction of tangibly making a difference– whether that is the transformation of weed removal or bringing life through irrigation or countless other ways we do that on a farm or property.
I am most proud of my team. I am extremely blessed to have a group of people who care about their work, go above and beyond to serve our customers and carry forth our standards of integrity. Our commitment to integrity in our work is what sets us apart. Integrity in completion and high standards in our work, integrity in our communication, and integrity in how we treat the people around us.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in Central Oregon/Bend area the majority of my life and I’ve seen a lot of changes. I love the friendliness of the people here and the amazing beauty we get to work in every day. What is a challenge is the clash between city and country culture. As the cities have grown and people have moved out to acreages from those cities, they don’t always understand the realities of agriculture. Tractors on the road, or animals getting loose can be a part of rural life and a reminder that sometimes we need to slow down and use that time to appreciate the beauty we live in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youneedafarmgirl.com
