Hello Brooke!
Brooke Hockett that is; newlywed, college student, and entrepreneur.  Perhaps you've met or seen her at one of the many art festivals in eastern South Dakota or running to class or to work.  She is a busy girl and loving every minute of it. 

Brooke is the designer and owner of Brooke Co. What started out as a hobby as she made gifts for friends and family, her talent soon had people seeing what she was capable of and Brooke Co. was born.  Brooke is a small town girl that has talent pouring out of every pore. She loves her rural beginnings and never wants to leave and in a way that part of her is included in the products she creates. She's a lover also of supporting local and strives to encourage and desire to see her rural community progress.  

Brooke puts love, devotion and care into each product that she makes. Hand painting and hand-scripting each quote without stencils or vinyl and making signs from real wood, her products are authentically made.  Her T-shirts, pillows and more too are hand-scripted, then screen-printed in her studio as well.  Not stopping with individual sales, Brooke also welcomes wholesale and custom orders.  

Brooke is an outstanding young lady and everyone that knows her loves her. Her passion for life exudes from every pore and her zest for what is real and genuine radiates from her including her faith. Brooke loves what she is doing and is thrilled to be kicking off her new website Brookecohome.com 
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I've given you a peek into Brooke Hockett's story here, but check out her website for her products and look for her on Facebook as well.  You'll enjoy the journey!! 

Jenilee tells her amazing story on the start of her business to the place she is today.  Having started in 2016 and reaching out to Deuel Area Development, Inc. in Deuel County, SD to use their kitchen incubator, Jenilee began making her dream a reality.  Using the Deuel Community Kitchen in Toronto, SD Jenilee began her finished recipe to begin making and selling her product.  Watch the video, as it's the best way to hear in her own words how her love for cooking began, her grandmother, her family and how her idea came to fruition.  

Deuel Area Development, welcomes others who are on the path to becoming an entrepreneur for E-coaching, making a business plan or other.  But what Jenilee realized was how this licensed kitchen could help her dream come through.  The kitchen incubator is located in Toronto, SD and thanks to the Deubrook School System, this incubator is a growing enterprise to help individuals who have a recipe they want to get off the ground.  This incubator makes it possible because it is licensed and that is a requirement to make a product that can be sold in stores.  A goal of a kitchen incubator is to help grow business.  Thanks to a USDA Rural Development grant, it was realized by DADi and is growing in the number of chefs.  To read more about it go to Deuel Area Development's website in the drop down under Success Stories; and a video that was produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Jenilee, with the help of her family members and especially her husband Luke and son Dylan have worked countless hours to make this happen.  See here her beginning photo journey from the beginning to where she is today.  It's just the beginning for Jenilee. For her business information and how to reach her, check her out on the Catagory & Map page here in Travel Backroads. 

Here's an interview that we did with Megan Fritzsche, Office Assistant for Miller, South Dakota's On Hand Economic Development.

Here's the backstory: last year Tammy Caffee, On Hand Economic Development Director, recognized that Miller only had one business signed on to represent the town of Miller, South Dakota. Tammy then reached out to inquire how Miller could have a larger presence, as a community, for the 'Go Local' publication.

Here's where the story gets pretty neat.
In May of this year, 2017, we reached out to Tammy Caffee again to inquire how we could help their community have a larger presence: the ability to showcase their own small businesses in their town, community. This is where Megan stepped up and walked the streets in her community and asked so many business owners what they would like to do. But, we were pressed for time: the business owners wanted to do photos, and stories and be able to tell about their brands and products they sell. 

When speaking with Megan today, here's a little take-away for everyone in our state to find valuable: Megan stated, "I was at the bank this week and noticed one women from Faulkton that I knew. She was with four other friends and I asked her what brought her to town." Her friend stated, "We wanted to spend the day in Miller, to shop and eat at your local businesses." 

How cool is that! <Traveling Backroads>

Megan also shared with us, "Miller often has business women come to town to shop at specific stores here. Those women are from Pierre, Huron and beyond." 

What Megan and the community of Miller did was to pool together to highlight why you should stop - take the backroads - as you travel across the state. So many businesses are unique in their own way - offering products that you just can't find anywhere else. But, do people know about you? 

Megan stated that she was very pleased with how Miller teamed up to help one another in their venture of supporting local businesses as a team effort. Miller had 13+ businesses sign-up to list their shops and stores, and it has proven to be a community where people pride themselves in each other's crafts.
 
Thank you Tammy, Megan and the town of Miller for believing in your community and for trusting us to keep working alongside you. - Find your avenue, Travel Backroads

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Pat is the Founder of WE: Women Entrepreneurs and Women ENERGIZED. WE is an organization of women business owners in communities in the Midwest who gather together monthly to support, inspire, educate, listen, learn and laugh with one another.

The women entrepreneurs gather to share ideas on advertising, branding, physical and digital presence, promotions within the community, supporting the community events and venues. The Women of WE  work to collaborate and co-operate for their businesses and their community.

"The world is blessed when WE do what WE do best!"

1. "The Mindset of a Woman in Business and Women in Leadership"  is a one-day seminar written by business owner/leadership trainer, Pat McGill. The seminar is a personal and professional development of the mindset of a woman in business and leadership.
2. "With Grit and Grace" is designed for communities eager to 'thrive and grow.' Pat McGill believes in rural communities and her new program Pat's believes a community needs to 'thrive' for their citizens and they will grow. As part of the program, Pat will come to your community for a two-day visit and work with one of a multiple organizations on way to capitalize on the community's strengths and assets.  She can chat with your Chamber of Commerce, share with your school, present to your hospital, create a special program for the 'seasoned customers' of a local bank,or network with the local women leaders eager to see your rural community thrive and grow.​

A Little Bit about Pat:   A former middle-school teacher and adjunct professor of human relations, Pat holds a master's degree in education from St. Mary's University in Minnesota. She's convinced, however, that her talents are rooted in her Midwestern upbringing, Irish heritage.  As a member of the National Speakers Association, Pat presents professional development keynotes and workshops. Her "Pat-tested, Boomer-approved" material is at once entertaining and informative, and helps her to engage those of varying backgrounds, in different lifestyles, professions and industries. A certified Psycho-Geometrics trainer, Pat is further positioned to facilitate effective communication strategies that appear to a variety of learning style. 

If you are interested in bringing Pat McGill to your community to work with women in
business and leadership please contact her at :
patmcgill5@gmail.com  
712.330.3636

Deuel Community Kitchen (Toronto, SD) - A Kitchen Incubator Story

Incubators can help a small community and food producers because they are designed to grow business!

Incubators make it financially possible for a start-up food manufacturer to take advantage of available professional kitchen space while they grow their business. This commercial kitchen facility is available to producers and packagers of specialty and gourmet food, caterers, and individual chefs that want to get their special recipe off and running. Those individuals who want to take a special recipe to market or create a food or natural resource business will want to consider the use of this kitchen. A kitchen is for start-ups and existing food processors.