Inside the Harvest House, Murphy (Newman) Liggio ’17 and McKaylee (Boak) Knight '19 blend a colorful mix of fruits and vegetables into handcrafted juices and smoothies rooted in intention and care. Launched this fall by the two SUNY Potsdam alumni, the Canton-based business reflects their shared values as mothers, former student-athletes, and lifelong North Country natives.
“We saw the need for healthy options, especially now as we are both busy moms. We both have a passion for health and wellness and wanted to provide the North Country with these options,” they said.
Born and raised in Canton, N.Y., the longtime friends now live on the same street in their childhood community, just one house apart. Their bond—shaped childhood hockey practices, collegiate lacrosse at SUNY Potsdam, and now the shared rhythms of parenthood—has only deepened as they embark on their first business venture together.
“We both played hockey growing up and found ourselves together in the rink quite often. That is where things kicked off at a young age, and our friendship continued to grow from there. Now, we both have young kids, Vivian and Crew, who are only a few months apart in age, so we spend our time talking about all things Harvest House while having playdates," Murphy and McKaylee reminisced.
Located at 21 Court Street in Canton, Harvest House offers a menu of fresh juices and smoothies made with simple, whole ingredients. Juice options include Garden Party (green apple, pineapple, spinach, cucumber, celery, lemon and ginger) and Sippin’ Pretty (apple, beet, carrot and lemon). Smoothie selections range from Golden Hour (lemon electrolytes, mango, pineapple, hibiscus tea, lemon juice, agave, coconut water, coconut milk, dragon fruit coconut cream) to Lime Light (green apple, coconut, kale, avocado, green spirulina, lime, ginger, coconut water). Every beverage is crafted without added sugar or preservatives.
“We really wanted our ingredients to be clean and intentional. Both of us have had close family or friends with cancer and we were really inspired by one individual who tremendously changed his trajectory by juicing and following the Chris Beats Cancer approach,” they said.
Their Path
After graduating from Canton High School, Murphy initially enrolled at Niagara University. Realizing it wasn’t the right fit, she returned home and transferred to SUNY Potsdam—an experience that quickly reshaped her plans.
“My intentions were to spend a semester at home, regroup, then go somewhere new. After a month at Potsdam and playing for the women's lacrosse team, I knew I wasn’t leaving,” Murphy said. “Coach Bruce welcomed me in, as did the entire team and I felt like it was where I needed to be at the time. I will forever be thankful for Lauren Bruce! My favorite memories are all involving lacrosse—from big wins for the program, to overnight trips with some of my best friends, my memories of Potsdam are all so special.”
Murphy (Newman) Liggio ’17 (Photo by Jason Hunter)
Murphy earned a degree in psychology, which led to a full-time career as a high school guidance counselor. Along the way, she took undergraduate courses with Tanya Hewitt, a longtime professor of exercise science at SUNY Potsdam, whose classes explored healthy living and physical fitness.
“She really inspired me to continue learning. Though I enjoy my job, I’ve always known that my passion lies in fitness and nutrition. I began teaching workout classes and have always dreamed of owning my own business that is health and nutrition related, I just wasn’t sure what. I often say McKaylee is the brains in the business department, and I focus on the nutritional aspect of things,” she said.
For McKaylee, SUNY Potsdam offered the opportunity to stay close to home. Like Murphy, joining the women’s lacrosse team confirmed she had found the right place. Though their time on the team didn’t overlap—Murphy graduated in 2017 and McKaylee joined the team in 2018—their experiences were similarly formative.
“My time there really started to shine once I joined the women’s lacrosse team—being part of that community was honestly the highlight of my college years. The friendships, the practices, the energy… it all made Potsdam feel like home,” McKaylee said.
Academically, McKaylee pursued a degree in English literature, an unexpected choice that has proven invaluable as an entrepreneur.
“What really lit me up was reading and the way stories shape how we see the world. It ended up being the best decision I could’ve made,” she said. “Even though I didn’t specifically seek out business classes, my coursework taught me a lot of skills I use every day while launching this business—how to think critically, communicate clearly, manage large projects, and analyze information from different angles. Looking back, the transition into literature helped me become adaptable and open-minded, which has been huge in navigating the uncertainty and creativity required to start something new.”
From SUNY Potsdam, to motherhood and entrepreneurship, Murphy and McKaylee have carried forward the lessons of teamwork, resilience, and community that they developed on the turf field at SUNY Potsdam. Through Harvest House, they are not only building a business, but also creating a space rooted in wellness, friendship, and hometown pride—one thoughtfully blended drink at a time.
Article by Jason Hunter, Photos by Laura Wells