The UCCEO team recently had the joy of spending a beautiful morning at Rendleman Orchards, visiting with the wonderful Michelle Sirles. Michelle and her husband, Wayne Sirles—son of Ren and Betty—represent the fifth generation to carry on the incredible 152-year legacy of their family farm. While they take great pride in their rich heritage, they’re equally passionate about embracing innovative, forward-thinking ideas to keep their farm thriving for generations to come.
As we stood outside the Farm Market that Betty lovingly started years ago, Michelle shared a glimpse into their journey of growth. What once accounted for just 10% of their business—retail sales—has grown to nearly 30%, thanks to thoughtful expansion and a vision to make Rendleman Orchards a true destination for visitors. Their wholesale and commercial operations remain strong, while their retail and agri-tourism efforts continue to flourish, bringing new attention not only to their farm but to other family farms, specialty growers, and agri-tourism businesses across the region and beyond.
A wonderful addition to their legacy is that Rendleman Orchards is now officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places—and even more remarkably, as their own Historic District! This prestigious designation honors the rich history and enduring impact of the Rendleman family farm. You can read more about this monumental recognition here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17TLcsQURo/?mibextid=wwXIfr
It’s inspiring to see how a deep respect for tradition, combined with innovation and community connection, can create such a powerful legacy.
The AJ Wildcats student Jayci Needling
shares her many takeaways:
“On Tuesday, we went to Rendleman Orchards, and our guest speaker was Mrs. Michelle Sirles. I was really excited for this visit because I always come out there to take pictures with the flowers, eat their peaches, and I wanted to learn more about the business. I thought she would talk mostly about the peaches and everything they grow, like Flamms did, but instead she shared about how Rendleman Orchards has been a family-owned business for over 150 years and how they made major changes to their system in 2019.
I learned a lot from Mrs. Sirles about what it takes to grow and improve a business, and I can apply that to my own future business by focusing on being different. She emphasized at least four times how important it is to stand out from other businesses. I was also impressed to learn about the historic project they completed with the nearby house—it was a big undertaking, but they got it done.
The whole atmosphere at Rendleman’s is so welcoming and inspiring. One big takeaway I had from her was when she said, “The guy in the gym who does one more rep will always be better than the guy who didn’t.” I can apply that mindset to both softball and the business I plan to start in the spring. I’m really glad we went because I learned so much.”
Thank you Michelle for sharing not just your morning, but fresh doughnuts, apple cider slushes and floats (DELICIOUS, btw) swag and the MANY pieces of advice and inspiration! We had a great time!!!🍎❤️🍏
