After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Blake and Julie Hurst returned to Tarkio, Missouri to join Blake's father on the family farm. They lived in Tarkio for the first few years of their marriage. In town, Blake built their first greenhouse and they opened for retail business in 1982. Julie grew a few bedding plants and poinsettias with a lot of help from their two daughters, Lee and Ann, ages 3 and 2 respectively.

In 1983, Blake, Julie and the girls moved to a farm 10 miles northeast from Tarkio near the small town of Westboro, Missouri. Blake built two greenhouses there, approximately 2,700 square feet. In 1986, their son, Ben was born and Julie raised her first crop of mums. By 1988, Blake had built 2 more homemade greenhouses and Julie hired the first Hurst Greenery employees to help with the expanding business. At this time, Julie and Blake sold plants to the local grocery stores and nearby Earl Mays.

Since then, Blake has built or replaced a greenhouse nearly every year. Most recently, he built the first gutter connect range. Hurst Greenery sells bedding plants, perennials, mums, asters and hibiscus and delivers to a 4 state area with a box truck and three Dodge pickups and horse trailers. Hurst Greenery has around 2 acres of greenhouse space and employs 15 people seasonally.

In 2002, Blake and Julie moved back to town. Lee and Ryan Harms also joined Blake and Julie in the business and moved into the house on the farm. .

In September of 2003, Blake and Julie's first grandchild, Aaron, was born. Blake and Julie welcomed Gabe and Abbie (Lee and Ryan's) and Lizzie (Ann and Matt's) in May of 2007. Kenzie Fischer also joined the family in marriage in December of 2007 to Ben. 

In 2010, Blake was elected as President of Missouri Farm Bureau and Matt Schlueter, Blake and Julie's other son-in-law, joined the family business. 2010 also brought Blake and Julie's 5th grandchild when Joshua was born to Ann and Matt.

Ben currently attends law school at the University of Virginia while Kenzie works as a Medical Technologist at the University of Virginia Hospital. 

Hurst Greenery continues to grow and expand in family and acreage under roof. Come visit!

Right: Lee and the grandkids cool off on Blake and Julie's back step. In the background are elephant ears grown at Hurst Greenery. 

Right: Gabe and Abbie help Mom water in the "Big House."