Andrew, a colorblind tulip farmer, Air Force veteran, and multi-degreed entrepreneur who’s rewriting the script on what it means to innovate in agriculture. After serving as a linguist and intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and later holding leadership roles at Amazon and Expedia, Andrew returned home to Mount Vernon, Washington to build a bold new vision for American floriculture.
Andrew, founder of Tulip Valley Farms—a vibrant, immersive flower farm in the heart of Washington’s Skagit Valley. But Andrew’s path to farming is anything but traditional. From his early career as a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer to high-level roles at tech giants Amazon and Expedia, he’s built a career defined by bold pivots, community commitment, and strategic vision.
Raised in Mount Vernon, Andrew returned home after years in the corporate world to invest in his roots—literally. With a law degree, MBA, and master’s in organizational leadership, he leveraged his diverse background to launch Tulip Valley Farms, a business now recognized nationally for its experiential approach to floriculture and farm tourism.
He opens up about being colorblind and how he and his wife Holly—Tulip Valley’s self-appointed Chief Color Officer—have made it work. We also dive into the challenges of entrepreneurship, including his removal as CEO from a previous tulip venture and how that setback ignited the vision for something even greater.
Andrew shares how Tulip Valley Farms blends agriculture, innovation, and storytelling to create authentic farm experiences—from U-pick tulip fields to hands-on events. With features in national media and honors from the World Tulip Summit, his farm is not just beautiful—it’s a blueprint for how agritourism can inspire, educate, and thrive.