TURNERS FALLS — After Jess Marsh Wissemann moved to Sunderland in 2010 to work on her husband’s family farm, she took on creative jobs, such as crafting signs that Warner Farm could take to farmers markets. What began as sketching on chalkboards grew into something bigger as Marsh Wissemann chased more intricate designs.

“I started wanting to make them more and more elaborate, and nicer looking, and I wanted them to last longer, so I started to really do a lot of research,” she said. “I discovered that signmaking was a trade and tradition.”

Marsh Wissemann developed her skills through research, conversations with established signmakers and a virtual class with an Australian signmaker.

“I just started making signs and never stopped,” she said.

Although Marsh Wissemann had worked in communications for Hampshire College and Deerfield Academy while helping out on the farm, when the pandemic hit, she began feeling more unfulfilled by her work and decided to focus on her creative pursuits.

Now, Marsh Wissemann’s efforts through her business, Hired Hand Signs, are being recognized. Following nominations from state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, Marsh Wissemann is being honored with an Outstanding Leadership Skills in Manufacturing Award for her hand-crafted signs that are changing the streetscapes of the Pioneer Valley.

Marsh Wissemann has made signs for businesses as far away as Cape Cod, but she prefers to work locally. She said there are so many unique businesses in the area that deserve specially crafted signs that represent the individual character of each business.

“I can’t imagine a better place to do this than the Pioneer Valley,” she said. “People are doing unique things out here. There’s great restaurants, shops, there’s so many reasons to love the area.”

She added that some of her favorite signs she has created are the signs for The People’s Pint and Hope & Olive in Greenfield and Waterway Arts in Turners Falls.

Her signs are not made with the now industry-standard printable vinyl. Instead, she practices traditional techniques and paints each sign by hand. The signs are typically made with help from carpenter and machinist Ted Arman.

“I’m practicing something that’s pretty archaic,” Marsh Wissemann said.

It depends on the size and intricacy of the design, but Marsh Wissemann said on average, it takes her a month to complete a sign, including design work, brainstorming with her clients and manufacturing. She added that permitting sometimes extends the timeline of a project even longer.

Comerford and Blais nominated Marsh Wissemann for the Outstanding Leadership Skills in Manufacturing Award, and presented her with a certificate on Friday. Marsh Wissemann will officially be honored at the ninth annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

“The Outstanding Leadership Skills in Manufacturing Award recognizes Jess as a visionary placemaker whose hand-painted signs are helping to define our downtowns,” Blais said in a statement.

“Jess is an example to us all for her work to inspire people to invest deeply into the places they live,” Comerford said in a statement. “She is more than deserving of this Outstanding Leadership Skills in Manufacturing Award.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.