021 | How to Start a Ranch with Caroline Nelson
Listen to this Business Building epsiode, “How to Start a Ranch with Caroline Nelson”, now available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Today, we are excited to have a Business Building episode! In these episodes, we’ll cover topics that cover growing your business from the ground up, scaling, outsourcing, and more.
In this episode of How to Start a Ranch with Caroline Nelson, we cover several important topics including:
What it looks like to make the leap from a non-agricultural lifestyle to starting your first business
Navigating your way through the ranching industry with a new business
Having the courage to push through the hard things when just starting out
How to diversify your services or products to bring more value to your audience
How to Start a Ranch, Beef or Sheep Business
At the beginning of this episode, Natalie and Tara start out by introducing podcast guest Caroline Nelson, who is the owner of Little Creek Lamb, Beef, and Ranch Goods. Caroline didn’t have the typical start like most agriculture entrepreneurs do. She fell in love with the lifestyle at just 10 years old when she visited Battle Creek Ranch. Her journey has now come full circle as she hosts women’s retreats at the ranch throughout the year.
Her business didn’t start with women’s retreats though. Caroline started her entrepreneurial journey with four free sheep that she got from a neighbor. At the time, she didn’t know anything about starting a lamb business or lambing but took the risk and started anyway. She notes how important it is to just get started before you feel that you’re ready.
Another aspect of this episode is working with what you have to start your first business. Caroline didn’t have much when she started, so she used the resources that she had available to her to get started. She was able to use some space at the ranch she worked on to keep her sheep and had several great mentors along the way to help her through the challenges of the direct-to-consumer meat business.
Make sure to listen to the full episode for Caroline’s full journey in starting her own ranch, diversifying her offerings, and launching her own women’s retreats.
About Caroline Nelson & Little Creek Ranch
Caroline is in year four of her business and has since branched to now offer not only, grass-fed lamb, but also beef and natural ranch goods like sheep's milk soap and lotion, seasonings, hand-poured soy candles, her popular subscription-based farm program, and educational retreats for women. She prides herself in prioritizing transparency and providing high-quality products. Learn more about Caroline and Little Creek below by exploring her links.
Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Little Creek Ranch Lamb, Beef, and Ranch Goods Website
Connect with Caroline on Instagram
Visit our website, Elevate Ag
Sign up for our Newsletter
Sign up for our course waitlist to be the first to know when doors open!
About Elevate Ag the Podcast
Where can I find tools and strategies to confidently and effectively share my story online? How do I monetize my brand? Where can I find community among women in agriculture and business? Can I cultivate my passion while also making money?
Welcome to Elevate the Podcast where we will answer ALL of these questions and so much more! Hosts Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik, along with their guests, will bring you tangible advice, useful tools, and bold strategies that you can implement to drive your business forward and elevate the voice of agriculture. This business interview and storytelling podcast serves agriculture, western and rural entrepreneurs who want to excel in the social space and make their dreams a reality. Tune in every week to dig into entrepreneurs’ stories as they share the problems they encountered and opportunities they created as a way to educate, inspire and encourage the dreamer inside of all of us.
Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
