A Basket Full of Blessings

The Cook family builds their company, family and the community.

Reagan Cook began working for the Greenfield Basket Company at the age of 16. The local company in North East had been in business since 1933, supplying people across the country with handmade baskets for harvesting and many other purposes in the home.

He learned about all phases of the business from owners who had acquired the company 30 years earlier. But the owners were now ready to retire.

Reagan’s parents, Steve and Janel Cook, were interested in this company that had been a part of the community for so long, turning out wonderful products for both local grape growers and customers nationwide. 

At the time, however, they were involved in producing video content for their YouTube channel, which had more than 60,000 subscribers. The channel presented daily tips on living a healthy life in the country with faith and family. Subjects ranged from raising chickens for eggs to hunting for food. Janel also started and oversaw a homeschool co-op. She has homeschooled all seven of the Cook children.  

In 2024, after much consideration, Janel and Steve purchased the basket company. Reagan was 19 at the time, and very knowledgeable about the inner workings of the business. He was a natural fit for making sure all of the machines (many over 30 years old) continued to run smoothly.  

Steve spends a lot of time overseeing operations and the hands-on process. Janel logs about 25 to 30 hours a week at the company, in addition to teaching the four children who are still homeschooled. It’s a busy life, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I enjoy working with my family, meeting our customers, designing new baskets, and taking care of the greenhouse.”

Janel has added three new specialty baskets to the already extensive line offered by Greenfield. In addition to the baskets for harvesting produce, there are Easter baskets, gift baskets, picnic baskets, and plenty of designs for the home, including mail baskets, clothes hampers, lap desks, purse baskets, pie carriers and bread baskets.

All are made from natural wood, with each one individually produced in a variety of colors.

This is the busiest time of year until November, and the team of employees will produce about 8,000 bushel baskets per month! The company is slowly beginning to upgrade the machines from hydraulic to pneumatic, as time and budget allow.

Baskets are shipped out to the four corners of the U.S. and Canada. 

Steve and Janel’s entrepreneurial spirit has not been lost on their children. Their daughter Abigail has a bakery that she started at the age of 13, called Abigail’s Sweet Treats. She makes beautiful (and delicious) custom royal iced cookies. You can find the creations on her Facebook page. 

In addition to Reagan’s work at the company, he has a side hustle designing and producing custom apparel, specializing in T-shirts, sweatshirts and other items that are custom printed. 

Janel says, “Some families don’t like working together. But I love it! I love being able to see Steve and Reagan all day long. I love working with our employees. God has blessed us a lot to be able to do this and share it with the community.”

To learn more, visit greenfieldbasketmanufacturing.com.