As I sit talking to Dean Helbley, the owner of Hillcrest, he says it’s funny how when your involved in the day to day operations of the farm, you don’t notice the continual evolvement of  the business.  Building a new greenhouse,  adding robotics to the planting program, and even finally getting computerized are things you don’t really think about,  they’re just all in a days work.

Looking back through the years though, Hillcrest has grown from a small local bedding plant wholesaler to the largest grower and producer in Clinton county.  Hillcrest now employs 8 full time employees and 5-10 seasonal employees. Dean attributes his success to his visions and his employees hard work and unique contributions to the company.

The Original Farm

He is quick to emphasize that his business’s success is dependant on not just him, but over 22 years of building relationships with the community, his suppliers, and his employees. He points out that his family is another big motivating factor for his success.  Hillcrest is also very involved with the community. They work with many  churches and civic organizations by donations and helping with fundraising.  Also, Hillcrest outreaches to the public through a weekly radio show and now on the internet.-

Dean Building the First Greenhouse

Selling bedding plants at the old red barn

The “original” Hillcrest farms was founded in 1874 and was a working farm of the Stewart Estate.  Dean bought the farm in 1982 and built one greenhouse off the back of the barn. There he grew seasonal bedding plants and vegetables. Dean recalls fondly how when he bought the farm the name Hillcrest 1874 was painted on the side of the original barn (which is still used today).  Through the addition of one greenhouse at a time, Hillcrest now has over 15 greenhouses and is working to expand it’s landscape and shrubbery department. 

Dean, who attended Penn State and graduated in 1978 with a B.S. in Horticulture and a minor in Plant Breeding, comes from a long line of farmers. Dean’s family used to grow corn for Doebler’s hybrids, a local seed corn company. Dean says the direction the business is taking is always dependant on the needs of the local community.  For example, we started the landscaping and hardscaping departments because there was a definite need and the same with  the shrubbery department.  We are a group of hardworking resourceful people who take pride in our work and we really think it shows in everything we do, and that’s what makes Hillcrest unique and special. 
 

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