I am no means a blogger of any kind but, with that being said I do however like to tell my story of how I got started selling my meats.
I always knew I wanted to raise cattle on my farm. I was that person who went and bought a cow before I even had fencing up. HA I had my calf on a leash for a few months before we built our fence. I would walk him everyday to get him some exercise. My neighbors thought I was crazy and they were right I was crazy for cows. I would have every cow if I could.
So over the years our herd grew. The more our herd grew the more I wanted to be a full time farmer. Even threw the harshest of winters and hotties dog days of summer I knew I wanted to be a full time farmer. But I never really knew how.
Every day I would get up and get ready for work thinking how can I quite my job and stay home and be a full time farmer. Then days turned to years and still I would think how can I make money being a full time farmer.
In 2019 I walked into our local nursery (as I have done many many times over the years) to but some flowers. I was standing at the counter writing a check to pay when the owner saw my farm name on my check and asked what we raise. I say I raise angus cattle. He asked if I sell my meat, well yes I do. We had sold some halves over the years but nothing to really make money. He then asked if I ever set up at farmers markets. Well we all the answer to that question. He proceed to tell me that their meat vendor was retiring and if I would be interested, in pure excitement I said yes. I left there thinking what did I just agree to. I told my husband when I got home and he too thought I was crazy. I thought how hard could this be.
Boy was I wrong. I spent the whole winter of 2019-2020 researching and learning all I could about being a vendor and then I just went for it. Purchased my trailer and freezers. Was all set and ready to go , then oh then covid hit. I could not get my license because everything was shut down. All this time and money I just could not give up now.
Well finally in July I was able get those license and off to market I went. I made my husband (Tim) go with me because I was a nervous wreck. It took a few trips to market before people got to know and trust us and it took off from there.
In Oct of 2021 my dream came true, I got to quite my job and be a full time farmer. Winter is still cold and summer is still hot but I do what I love and I love what I do.
Oh the wonderful people we have meet and the friends we have gained has just been wonderful. We are coming into are third summer of market and still enjoy every moment of it.
If I had to give any advice it would be to follow your dreams. It may take a hot min to get there but go for it. Life is to short and you only have one, so live it, dream it and go for it.
Have a blessed day