Learn about lavender at this one-of-a-kind State College area farm
At Happy Valley Lavender Farm, owners Donna and Jaime Lent have been hard at work behind the scenes getting this relatively new farm up and running — and, this summer, they’re opening the farm to the public for its very first open house.
The lavender farm, located on West College Avenue in Ferguson Township, is the only one of its kind in the area, with an acre of the 20-acre property housing nearly a thousand lavender plants. Donna and Jaime purchased the farm three years ago, moving to Happy Valley to be closer to family.
They didn’t originally intend to start such a business, but they found the land and lavender were a perfect fit for one another. Lavender, though, is very labor-intensive. The Lents hand-harvest the flowers, and it takes a few years for the plants to fully mature. As such, the two have so far worked to build up the retail and wholesale sides of the business and are now getting ready to welcome guests to the property for an agrotourism experience.
Over its short history, Happy Valley Lavender Farm has, more or less, bloomed.
“Last year, I cut and dried over 500 bouquets,” Donna said. “We’re the only ones [growing lavender] in this area, and we’re trying to do more wholesaling, which has really evolved. I was busy this whole winter. I was very surprised. I couldn’t believe it.”
Currently, Rothrock Coffee uses the farm’s lavender buds to make lavender syrups and baked goods. Most recently, Meyer Dairy has begun using the farm’s lavender in its ice cream.
“That’s really gratifying, to see the lavender that we grew and harvested, and now it’s supplying the ice cream. It really makes us feel so good to know that it’s being put to good use like that,” Donna said.
Various retailers such as Daniel Vaughn Designs, Avant Garden and Consignment Cottage also carry some of the farm’s products, like bath salts and bouquets. And PYP Studio plans to begin using the locally created lavender oil soon during some of its yoga sessions.
The upcoming open house is scheduled to take place approximately when the lavender plants will be in full bloom, as well as when the Lents will be doing some harvesting, allowing visitors to see the property at its picture-perfect peak, as well as glean insights into the farm’s operations.
“We’ll give [guests] a tour of the fields, and our barn will be set up with our products,” said Donna. “This gives them an opportunity to see what we’re growing and learn a little bit about lavender.”
Happy Valley Lavender Farm’s open house will take place June 22-July 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 for adults, free for children under 6; pets and professional photography are not permitted (though professional photography sessions at the farm can be booked separately). Tours will take about 30 minutes, but there are no set tour times. Attendees who want to participate in a tour should come prepared to walk to and through the fields, as well as encounter the occasional pollinator similarly attracted to the blooms.
Donna advises that, in addition to wearing comfortable shoes, attendees should also bring sunscreen and notes that tours will still take place in the event of a light rain, so dress appropriately for the weather.
While the Lents have planned the event for what they believe will be the best time to see the blooms, based on previous years, Donna also cautioned that, like any plant, the flowers are weather-dependent and the blooms are reliant on sunshine and heat. Accordingly, if the open house dates change, an update will be posted on Facebook.
This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 6:30 AM.