Success Story for MEDAL

Sandee and Anthony have taken advantage of various MEDAL services. Anthony found assistance writing a business plan for his farm (Oh My Gato) after saving through the DreamSavers (3-to-1 matched savings) program. Sandee is currently working on her business plan for a photography business while she saves with DreamSavers. Along the way they have received assistance on their marketing efforts, crafting their message, preliminary design, and some marketing materials.

They both attended our "Everything You Need to Know before Starting a Food Business" event to explore other value adding activities they could engage in on their farm. There they met other food entrepreneurs, shared experiences, learned how to navigate the requirements for selling eggs from their chickens, and explored the idea of producing goats milk cheese.

Through established connections with the Think Local Umpqua initiative they contacted Sean Vincent of the Mark V Bar & Grill in Downtown Roseburg. Anthony was able to sell fresh produce to add to Mark V's menu. These two businesses are working to establish a long term relationship. Anthony is growing specialty crops for the restaurant, and the Mark V has identified the goal of becoming a leader of Local Foods and sustainability in the region.

Think Local Umpqua has also allowed them to connect with other farmers doing similar projects in the area.

"It's so great having people we can talk with about the growing pains we're going through and know we're not alone," said Sandee. "The other farmers have been such a great resources for not only knowledge and advice, but also customer referrals."

When they put in their new bread oven this fall, they know they can count on the help of their new farmer friends. When those friends are ready to put in the road side farm stand that they're working towards, they know they can call on Sandee and Anthony.