Betsy Burton takes a village and builds a world around it

By Tamara Haddad Redstone Review

LYONS – Walking into Betsy Burton’s home is like walking into Southern Living magazine for Rosie the Riveter. One gets the immediate sense that something is happening, and you want to be a part of it. It could be felting a row of alphabet balls for a three-year-old Farmette friend to managing the participants and recipients of the philanthropic Farmette Farm Dinners, which support local employment, statewide exposure for Lyons, and international nonprofits.

Burton, co-owner of Farmette and River Bend, has an authentic charm, is exuberant with ideas, and possesses the business acumen to back it up. Some might say that Burton, with her passion for animals, the arts, and sustainability, is a zealous philanthropist; those who know her say, “Betsy doesn’t know how to live any other way.”

A native of Tennessee, Burton, at 26 years old, packed her bags and moved to Colorado. “I wanted to be a hippie,” said Burton. “So I moved to Eldora and lived in a 500-square foot wood-burning home for 15 years.”

While there, Burton taught kindergarten classes and founded Little Bear School, a thriving preschool, for two decades. When she took a trip to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival around 2000, the trajectory of her life turned to the unexpected; she met her equal, her soul mate, her husband, Mike Whipp. “Yes, we became inseparable. He had a thermostat,” quips Burton.

Rarely is the bond between two best friends so intoxicating. It is only possible to talk about one by referencing the other. Whipp came with a serial-entrepreneur spirit, and Burton brought a passion for philanthropy. The wife and husband team harnessed the unique ability to combine their skills and resources to create a powerful force for good. This type of “caring capitalism” is a form of philanthropy that uses its business acumen to benefit society in meaningful ways. In the mid-1980s, when the term was coined, names like Ben and Jerry, Patagonia, and later, E-Town came to mind.

One of their earliest business ventures began when Whipp and his friend Gordon Knight purchased Lyons Old Post Office and opened a community-centric coffee shop. “My mama named it,” said Burton. “Betty Burton named the coffee shop, the

Alliance and Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission. “We hosted the event at our home in Apple Valley in the early years.” Said Burton. “And then the Farmette, and now we host it at River Bend.” and flowers to its roster.

River Bend is a beautifully maintained property on the banks of the St. Vrain River under the towering, dramatic red stone cliffs Lyons is known for. Before River Bend, the picturesque event space was a trailer park, an example of Whipp’s authentic stewardship of affordable housing in Lyons.

“We started the farm growing vegetables and flowers,” said Burton. “Zinnas, zinnias, I had so many zinnias. Thank goodness for my helpers. They took the flower farm to a whole new level.”

Stone Cup.” The Stone Cup wasn’t your average coffee shop. For almost three years, Burton and Whip created a culture that empowered musicians, artists, and employees. In its third year, Stone Cup was sold to one of those employees, Mindy Tallent, who, with her family, built the legacy into a Lyons staple for decades to come.

It wasn’t all rainbows. In 2007, Burton opened and closed an art gallery in Estes Park. “That one cost Mike Whipp a chunk,” said Burton. This is short-sighted because the art gallery experience gave the Burton-Whipp duo the impetus to conceive and host the charity event now known as Art at River Bend, a collaborative benefit between Boulder County Arts

He purchased the trailer park business and nurtured it until the devastating flood of 2013. After he cleared the land and filled the deep rivercarved crevices with mud, everyone’s hands were tied. From FEMA to Lyons BOT, the uncertain regulations and curiously missing water taps made it impossible for Whipp and Burton to rebuild the 50+-year-old trailer park. They looked at the things working at the Farmette and decided that the River Bend property could also fill in as a unique event venue Burton and Whipp created the Farmette over 15 years ago as a sustainable farm. They opened the house on the property to the Boulder County Homeless Shelter, where the residents could work on and learn about growing their own food. Burton has long supported sustainable farming and community gardens and is an advocate with SlowFood, (501(c)(3). “I really enjoy seeing the long-term positive effects of locally-grown food and environmental sustainability.” said Burton. The Farmette has evolved with these values by adding educational workshops, weddings, special events, international fundraising dinners,

Indeed, in the same way they empowered Tallent to take over the Stone Cup, Burton and Whipp continue encouraging their employees to be partners and break out on their own. Kim and Grant Hamil, and GarrisonSchulte worked on the Farmette and opened Plume & Furrow, a cut flower farm and design studio. “I’m so proud of them’” said Burton, “We don’t have employees, we have family, and we want them to succeed.” Kayla also came to Betsy’s mind. “Kayla is the Farmette’s wonderful venue manager. She started her own business, Dahlia Events and Designs.” Part of Burton and Whipp’s support is in the form of profit sharing, “We hope they (the Farmette family) take the business over one day,” said Whipp.

The most recent philanthropic partnership of Burton and Whipp is the fundraiser for the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF), the Hootenanny. It is a wild success that brings in more money than the Farm dinners, and 100 percent of the proceeds are disbursed equally between the two nonprofits that distribute the money to help, people, groups, volunteers, Food Pantry and others.

By leveraging their joint capabilities, Burton and Whipp make an even more significant impact than either could do alone. Through this partnership, they create jobs and opportunities for others. And keep caring capitalism at the forefront of business.

Betsy Barton and Mike Whip are cofounders of the Farmette at 4121 Ute Hwy., Lyons, and a leading part of an investment group and facilitators at 501 W. Main St., Lyons.

Tamara Vega Haddad is an advocate for small businesses and Lyons’ economic development. She has an Interior Design Certificate, specializing in Biophilic Design, and works with Tucker Real Estate Group as an agent.