The Veterans Day event at Kospia Farms was an afternoon of remembrance, good food and a welcoming community. Maureen and Barry Kospia run Kospia Farms, a 26-acre nursery Barry Kospia’s family has owned since 1969. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the farm located in Alburtis.

“The focus was always selling nursery products and doing landscaping and hardscaping, which we continue to do,” Maureen Kospia said. “But about five years ago, we reinvested in the farm to bring in retail components into our buildings.”

Kospia Farms now sells outdoor furniture, outdoor living products, plus an eclectic collection of art created by local community members. Within their renovated storefronts on the property, one can view an assortment of work by the 90 different local artists the Kospias support.

“This gives us year-round presence as well.” Maureen Kospia added, “So, a nursery, typically, closes in the fall. But this allows us to stay open year-round. So, we’re open seven days a week until Christmas. After Christmas it is weekends only until spring.”

With such a welcoming environment, Kospia Farms has grown into a popular venue for holiday and pop-up events. They bring in various local musicians to perform and try to create an ever growing feeling of community on their farm.

“We also focus in-season on two to three bigger events, where we offer up the farm, to really focus on community. One is for pets, fundraising for animals. We did another for women in business,” Maureen Kospia said. “But Veterans Day is near and dear to my heart. My stepfather was in Vietnam, my son is in the military, Barry’s father was in the Navy. So, Veterans Day is important to all of us.”

The event was, in fact, very special. At around noon, members of Boy Scout Troop 25 conducted a flag retirement. They read the names of all the veterans who have died, who have retired and those in service. As they read the names, a flag was laid in a fire. There was a feeling of patriotism amongst the crowd.

In addition, there were pony rides and a giant bounce house for the kids, a wine tasting for the adults, a chili contest, live music and access to all the Kospia Farm storefronts.

All proceeds and fundraisers help local veterans and Boy Scouts.