By Neil Turitz
Photographs by Abigail Fenton
Matt Baumgartner has a charming intensity about him. He is ultra focused and, by his own admission, demanding. That’s not necessarily a negative, though, since they’re the qualities that helped him turn June Farms in West Sand Lake into one of the Upper Hudson Valley’s standout wedding venues.
Not that this was ever the plan.
“The plan was to raise beef and pork for restaurants, but I didn’t like the killing part of it.” He gets emotional recalling the first time he had to send animals off to the butcher, and continues, “It was more than I could handle, so I pivoted to see if people wanted to come out and visit with the animals, and turned the pig barn into a bar and restaurant. That was the beginning of June Farms.”
They did one wedding, he says, “and then did more of them and started building cabins. I had no clue what it would turn into, which is why, when anybody says, ‘what’s your plan for the next five years?’ It’s just a foolish question for me, because it never goes according to plan.”
The woods make a romantic and rustic setting for an intimate wedding, and the Hobbit House has whimsical touches that delight overnight guests.
Baumgartner was no stranger to the hospitality industry, having opened up 15 restaurants over the years, most of which were smashing successes. Over time, though, he sold them off, one by one, until his focus was solely on June Farms, which features Highland cows, Shire horses, Gloucestershire Old Spot and Tamworth pigs, Nigerian Dwarf goats, as well as sheep and chickens. People can wander around the farm on their own or take guided tours. They can buy tickets to brush cows or help with animal feedings or take an egg candling class.
Some people feel he charges too much for these experiences, to which he responds: “They make people happy, and anyone that’s complaining about it needs to come brush a cow. It’ll cheer them up.”
The charming and unique cabins (“Hobbit House” is a favorite) get booked up, and the wedding business is thriving to the point that Amazon started streaming June Farms, a reality show, in November. The project was born when Baumgartner met TV producer Omid Kahangi in New York City more than a decade ago about a different concept that never took off. The two men became friends, and the combination of weddings and Baumgartner’s singular blend of focus, passion, and charisma made it a no brainer.
That intensity is on display in the show, as is his demanding nature. While it’s certainly a risk to put oneself out there to be judged by millions of people, Baumgartner is okay with that. “I find these qualities to be important for success,” he says.
For better or worse, his big personality is what will sell the show, along with the picturesque grounds of June Farms and the spectacular weddings showcased in the show’s first season. If it leads to more bookings, it will be all worth it, but even without, Baumgartner knows he’s got something good going there, on 120 acres outside of Albany.
The Pony Barn is a cozy space for hosting gatherings.
