In the heart of Skagit Valley, where spring transforms the landscape into a vibrant sea of color, Andrew Miller has carved out a unique space in the region’s storied tulip farming tradition. As the CEO of Tulip Valley Farms, Miller is not only reshaping the way people experience tulips but also championing the future of agritourism in Washington.
Photograph by Dana Chrystler
A Non-Traditional Path to Farming
Miller’s journey began far from the tulip fields, with four graduate degrees and a career spanning military, business, and economic development. However, a deep-rooted connection to the region eventually pulled him back to Skagit Valley, and in 2022 he launched Tulip Valley Farms with a vision to create an immersive, hands-on tulip experience.
Building From the Ground Up
The farm’s inaugural bloom in 2023 coincided with the worst spring weather in 40 years, a test of resilience that Miller met head-on. Adverse conditions, the challenge of attracting visitors, and even a lawsuit from a competitor (later dismissed) might have deterred a less determined entrepreneur. Instead, Miller doubled down on his mission, refining the visitor experience and expanding community engagement.
Tulip Valley Farms has since evolved into a multifaceted destination, featuring not only stunning floral displays but also interactive u-pick opportunities, farm animals, and thoughtfully curated photo spots. It is currently the only u-pick field featured within the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the only u-pick daffodil field in the region, and the largest u-pick farm on the West Coast.
In October 2024, Tulip Valley Farms earned the prestigious title of “World’s Most Scenic Tulip U-Pick” at the World Tulip Summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
Photograph by Andrew Miller
A Rhythmic Dance with Nature
A successful tulip season requires a balanced trifecta of factors: a thriving festival, a robust harvest, and precise planting.
While planting is a precise science, selecting which tulips will paint the fields each year is an art—one Miller leaves to his wife, Holly, since he is, ironically, color blind. With her eye for hues and his passion for the land, they ensure each bloom season bursts with breathtaking variety.
Tulips are hand-planted each fall, when the soil has cooled but before the rain arrives. By January the first leaves break through, and by March daffodils signal the start of the season. As spring unfolds, Miller and his team dedicate 16- to 18-hour days to festival preparations. Once the festival winds down in May, the focus shifts to harvesting millions of bulbs, maintaining equipment, and preparing the fields for another cycle of renewal. When autumn arrives, the process of planting next year’s joy begins again.
A Community-First Approach
Miller sees Tulip Valley Farms as an economic engine for Skagit Valley.
“The tulip economy generates $83 million annually for local businesses,” he notes. “By bringing visitors here, we’re supporting restaurants, shops, and hotels.” But the farm’s impact extends beyond economics—it cultivates joy, wonder, and an unhurried escape from the fast pace of life.
Miller encourages visitors to slow down, sit among the blooms, and be present. He adds, “We didn’t build Tulip Valley Farms for a rushed experience. We built it so people would never want to leave.”
“Tulips exist purely for beauty,” Miller concludes. “And the world needs more of that.”
15245 Bradshaw Rd., Mount Vernon, tulipvalley.com
