12- Megan Sharpe
Welcome back to another heartwarming episode of Small Business Bestie! This time around, we dive into life on Homegrown Direct, LLC, a family-owned farm with deep roots stretching all the way back to 1783. Our lovely guest, Meghan Sharpe, shared some incredibly valuable nuggets about her role alongside her husband, Jacob, who each have defined lanes in managing the farm, showing just how trust and clearly divided responsibilities can vastly improve efficiency in a small business.
Meghan walked us through some of the unpredictable challenges that come with farming, like sudden equipment failures and unpredictable weather, such as frosts and storms that can threaten their crops. She talked about the resilience needed to manage a farm and the innovative solutions they come up with. For instance, Jacob has cleverly found alternate markets like selling produce to dog food companies, and offering less-than-perfect produce at a discount to food pantries, highlighting the importance of adaptability in their line of work.
A particularly poignant part of the chat was Meghan’s honesty about the pressures of maintaining that perfect social media image. It turns out, there's often a gap between what's posted online and the gritty reality of farm life. Meghan also opened up about personal challenges, like caring for her special needs daughter, bringing home the truth that what we see online is often just a fragment of someone's reality. Embrassing those imperfections, both in life and in the appearance of their produce, has become a heartfelt part of their business philosophy.
Meghan also touched on something quite profound about setting personal and professional boundaries. Learning to delegate, despite the anxiety it brings, has been truly transformative for her. She revealed how stepping out of her comfort zone, like attending more public events and opening up about personal challenges, has encouraged her growth not just as a business owner but also on a personal level.
Her journey is truly inspirational, mixing her background in psychology and social switching gears into full-time management of the family farm after a family crisis. It’s fascinating to see her evolution, emphasizing how versatile and resilient women can be, especially in taking up significant roles in family businesses. Plus, Meghan’s active effort to build and personalize her brand, Homegrown Direct, is something many can look up to, especially in industries typically dominated by men.
All in all, our chat with Meghan was nothing short of uplifting, full of real talk about the highs and lows of running a family farm while juggling personal responsibilities. It’s clear that whatever challenges come their way, Meghan and her family’s spirit of resilience and creativity remains unshaken. What an incredible reminder of the power of staying true to oneself and the beauty of growing through what you go through!
Follow Megan on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=41116589
Follow Homegrown Direct on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/homegrowndirectllc
Visit their website:
https://homegrowndirectllc.com/
Connect with Michelle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/smallbusinessbesties
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