Allison Laclair, Director of Operations for ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, Helps Grow Opportunity

Allison Laclair, recently promoted to Director of Operations for ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, is an invaluable team member and professional leader in countless ways. Ever since she began working at the farm as an intern in 2016, her focus has always been on teamwork and growth, helping expand the farm’s business operations and cultivating a strong farm community on-site and off.   

ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm—a therapeutic vocational farming program for individuals with developmental disability, autism, or brain injury—provides employment support and meaningful daily activities to 80+ participants.   

Allie grew up helping out with her family’s Christmas Tree farm in Hatfield. She first heard of ServiceNet and the farm while searching for a college internship.  

“My younger brother had just been referred to the farm and started working there,” Allie says. “I needed to complete an internship, and I was looking to work with people with disabilities. Plus, I was already familiar with running an agricultural business because of my family. Everything just fell into place, and I had an amazing internship experience.”   

Allie loved working at the farm so much that after graduating from college in 2017, she returned to the farm first as a program assistant, then program manager, and now director of operations. Throughout her time at the farm, Allie has successfully helped grow the farm’s various business aspects, playing an essential role in communications and logistics across the different farm locations and the Rooster Café.   

For example, when the farm store first opened, it had one small fridge and only a handful of goods for sale. Now, beyond the dozens of food staples, fresh eggs, meat, veggies, and much more available at the store, the farm has several other successful business ventures, including CSA farm shares, the distribution of shiitake mushrooms and fresh eggs to a variety of local businesses and restaurants, ServiceNet’s own Rooster Café, and more. And with renovations to the commercial kitchen at the farm currently underway, there are even more opportunities on the horizon.    

For Allie, this business success, while exciting, is also a deeper reflection of what is so special about the farm—the keen sense of belonging and purpose that is grown there.   

“The community is one of the biggest reasons I value this place,” Allie says. “I work with an amazing group of people, and everyone is always welcoming and friendly. That is something special you don’t find everywhere you work.” 

Interested in employment within our diverse network of mental health and human service programs throughout western Massachusetts? See our current job openings and apply today.