Kate Gessford, owner of Old Dog Farms, along with Amy Moon joined the Weekday Wake-up on Wednesday, August 27 to promote the upcoming Jump Start Your Business Course starting in September.

(0:00) Joining me live in studio right now this morning (0:03) is Amy Moon talking about the Jumpstart Your Business. (0:06) And also Kate Guestford is joining us (0:08) over the phone this morning. (0:09) She’s the owner of Old Farm Dog, (0:11) one of the businesses that won a previous (0:13) Jumpstart Your Business course, (0:16) and both in studio.
(0:17) Amy, good morning, how are you today? (0:18) I’m doing great, how are you, Drew? (0:20) Hey, doing well, appreciate it. (0:21) And Kate, how about you? (0:22) We got you out there. (0:24) Doing great, Drew, thanks so much.
(0:26) Hey, perfect, thank you very much, (0:28) both of you for joining us. (0:30) And Jumpstart Your Business is on the way, (0:32) another course starting in September. (0:34) But look, guys, I don’t think we could even (0:36) talk about the course without bringing up Ken.
(0:40) Kate, last time we talked about Jumpstart Your Business, (0:45) you were actually here in studio with me (0:47) and Ken Shibley, of course, sitting right next to you. (0:50) He’s such a longstanding tradition (0:53) and helped make Jumpstart Your Business what it was. (0:55) And it was shortly after that interview (0:57) that he unexpectedly passed away and we lost him.
(1:00) And I just wanna give you both a chance to talk about Ken (1:02) because he was so instrumental for this program. (1:05) And Kate, maybe I’ll give you the chance to go first. (1:08) Yeah, thanks, Duke.
(1:10) So I have thought about Ken so much this summer. (1:14) With Old Dog Farm, he really believed in it, (1:17) and this isn’t an easy place to farm. (1:20) And I just felt his support all summer.
(1:23) And we carried out our vision. (1:25) I got five small growers to work together, (1:29) one of whom was a good friend of Ken’s (1:32) and put the two of us in touch. (1:34) So it just really felt like we were making him proud.
(1:39) Yeah, fantastic. (1:41) Thank you. (1:42) And Amy, I’ll be honest, when you reached out to me (1:44) and said, hey, can we do an interview (1:45) for Jumpstart Your Business? (1:46) I went, yes, it’s still happening (1:48) because Ken was the driving force on this (1:51) and he really got it rolling.
(1:52) Absolutely. (1:53) Ken and a friend of his started (1:54) Jumpstart Your Business 13 years ago, (1:57) and it really is a passion project for him. (2:00) And it was something that he felt (2:02) was very important for the valley.
(2:04) And Ken had been very instrumental in supporting the valley (2:09) and helping the valley to grow. (2:11) And this was definitely something (2:13) he had a lot of passion for. (2:16) And teaching people how to run a business (2:19) so that it keeps going is so important (2:22) for our local economy.
(2:24) Absolutely, no question. (2:25) And so it is continuing, (2:27) Jumpstart Your Business back in September. (2:29) So Amy, give us the details on the upcoming course.
(2:33) Absolutely. (2:34) So it is a series of eight courses. (2:37) It’s the very first class starts on September 10th.
(2:40) These classes are completely free to everyone. (2:45) And they are, (2:50) the presenters are local business owners. (2:53) So it’s people who live in the valley (2:55) who know how the valley works (2:57) and what it’s like to do business in the valley (2:59) who are presenting for these classes.
(3:02) And each week is kind of a different topic, right? (3:05) It takes a little, a deep dive (3:06) into a specific part of running a business (3:08) and how it all works. (3:09) Correct, correct. (3:10) So the classes, (3:12) so all the classes are focused on writing a business plan, (3:17) which is so important for running a business (3:20) because it basically lays out (3:23) what your business is all about, (3:24) how you want it to move, (3:26) and what it is you’re looking to achieve with your business.
(3:30) So our very first class on September 10th (3:33) is writing business plans. (3:35) And that is hosted or put on by Rob Conde (3:38) who is with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center. (3:41) And he comes up special from Rock Springs (3:44) to present this class.
(3:47) After that, we’re gonna have courses (3:48) on accounting, business structure, (3:53) financials, how to build your business, (3:55) sales and marketing, (3:56) and we’re gonna have some time (3:59) for people to write their business plans as well. (4:02) It’s worth mentioning as well, Amy, (4:03) I think this course is not only good (4:05) for those who are going to be starting a business, (4:07) entrepreneurs who are launching one, (4:08) but for those who have maybe been in business a while (4:10) and could use a little help (4:12) putting together a formal plan. (4:14) It’s for both of those, right? (4:15) Oh yeah, absolutely.
(4:16) And I think it’s a fabulous, (4:19) even if you’ve been running a business for decades, (4:22) maybe you need a refresher (4:23) or maybe you wanna know what the latest is. (4:26) And you can just come to one class (4:28) or you can come to all of them. (4:30) And it is, you know, (4:31) and there are a lot of people (4:32) who’ve been in business for a while (4:33) and they don’t realize what it is they don’t know.
(4:35) So this is a great way to find out what those things are. (4:38) Absolutely. (4:38) Kate Gessford also joining us over the phone this morning, (4:41) owner of Old Dog Farms.
(4:43) Kate, you went through this course. (4:45) It helped you launch your business (4:46) and turn it into a successful business. (4:48) What was your experience like (4:50) with Jumpstart Your Business? (4:52) I really valued the time to be guided (4:57) through thinking about the various aspects (5:00) of what I should consider with my business (5:03) and then use that time wisely (5:05) to put it into my situation.
(5:10) So we would learn about a business topic (5:12) and then I would really use that time (5:14) to think about what does this mean for me? (5:16) How do I apply it? (5:18) How do I launch my business successfully? (5:21) And without that time carved out, (5:23) I think it would have been a much more daunting (5:27) and less successful process. (5:29) Absolutely. (5:30) Now, of course, there is a little competition (5:34) as part of this, which Old Dog Farms won with Kate.
(5:39) And Amy, maybe tell us about that process (5:41) and how that works. (5:41) So yes, there is an optional competition. (5:44) And what this optional competition is, (5:46) is that you will present your business plan (5:49) that you have written over these eight to nine weeks.
(5:52) And we have a series of judges who are all local (5:56) who have, in fact, judged previously. (5:59) And there is, if you win, (6:01) there is the potential for some grant money (6:04) for your business. (6:06) But in order to win that grant money, (6:08) you are required to attend all of the classes.
(6:11) So you can’t just show up to one class (6:13) and then show up to present and get grant money. (6:17) That you do have to show the commitment (6:19) to learning all of these business points. (6:24) Excellent.
(6:24) So Amy, tell us how people can get signed up (6:27) and remind us the dates of when it starts. (6:29) You bet. (6:30) So again, classes begin on September 10th.
(6:33) All the classes are held (6:34) at the Star Valley Community Complex in Aetna. (6:37) They are, so they are all on Wednesday evening (6:39) and they start at 7 p.m. (6:40) And if you expect to be there about two hours, (6:43) then you can block your time appropriately. (6:45) In order to register, you can email our (6:50) jumpstartyourbusinesssv at gmail.com. (6:52) That’s all one word.
(6:56) Jumpstartyourbusinesssv at gmail.com. (6:58) Or you can call me. (7:00) My name is Amy and my phone number 307-690-6908. (7:08) And pre-registration is not required (7:10) but it is highly recommended (7:11) because we can get you the information out ahead of time (7:15) before that first class.
(7:16) Excellent. (7:17) So it’s coming up this September, (7:19) Jumpstart Your Business. (7:20) Kate, we’ll give you one last opportunity here.
(7:23) Why should business owners or future business owners (7:26) take this course? (7:29) Yeah, to make their dreams become a reality. (7:32) And if anybody wants to talk more about it (7:34) from the perspective of someone who’s done the course, (7:36) come visit me at the Alpine Farmers Market (7:40) in Alpine Civic Center four to seven on Thursdays. (7:44) We’ve got a couple more weeks.
(7:45) I’d love to chat. (7:46) Excellent. (7:47) That’s Kate Gessford with Old Dog Farms (7:48) and also Amy Moon discussing the upcoming (7:50) Jumpstart Your Business course.
(7:52) Amy, while we have you in studio, (7:53) of course you’re an active member (7:55) of the Rotary Club of Star Valley. (7:56) Absolutely. (7:56) And the Oktoberfest is this Saturday.
(7:59) Oh my gosh, I’m so excited. (8:01) We are having Oktoberfest on Saturday, August 30th. (8:05) Doors open at 5 p.m. (8:07) Food is served from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m. (8:10) Tickets are $15.
(8:12) What that $15 gets you is a bratwurst supper, (8:16) which is bratwurst, Polish sausage, sauerkraut, (8:19) potato salad, apple, a dessert, and a drink. (8:22) You get a free drink with that. (8:24) And because it is an Oktoberfest event, (8:27) we do have a beer tent, which also has wine, (8:31) so available for purchase as well.
(8:33) Of course, so it’s happening this Saturday (8:35) at the barn at the Star Valley Ranch RV Resort, right? (8:37) That is correct. (8:38) The barn with inside the RV Resort, correct. (8:41) Perfect.
(8:41) It’s happening this Saturday. (8:43) Again, that’s Amy Moon this morning, (8:44) Kate Gessford as well. (8:45) It’s all part of the weekday wake up on SVI Radio.