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Travel Backroads
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Their Story

Rebecca Undem ~ Podcast~Small Town Big Talk

3/31/2020

2 Comments

 
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Rebecca Undem reigns from Oakes, ND...a returnee of sorts after experiencing the big life and not so big life; you'll want to get to know Rebecca.  Her Podcast is a great way to begin. Of course I'm not just saying that because it's my episode I'm featuring here, but because I mean it!! What a fun time I spent with her telling her how Travel Backroads came about.  But, you'll want to get to know the spirit behind this woman.  Her heart she puts out there along with her knowledge, her journey and more, as she settles back in to small town living big with her husband and 3 children; a professional on the plains of North Dakota.  Don't stop, find her here and bring her to your community or simply grab your latte and have a listen--you'll love it either way.
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What a Fun Interview with Rebecca on her Podcast on Stitcher.  Thank you Rebecca! You have our "rural" backs!  We are rural! 
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​https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-small-town-big-talk-show
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Welcome to a Shiny Idea...

6/30/2019

1 Comment

 

Silver Linings Vintage Rentals

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Meet Carmen Dyar from Rapid City, South Dakota.  What you'll read here is Carmen's own story right from her own lips, figuratively speaking. As owner of Travel Backroads, I met Carmen at a Dakota Resources RuralX Conference held in Mitchell SD.  Carmen was just one of several entrepreneurs showcased there.  Read the story of her journey, then know that "slvrlinings is not just a new chapter , but a whole new book": 

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MY ROOTS

My passion for Airstreams developed in the mid-1990s. In 2003 my husband and I finally acquired our first, a 1966 Overlander Land Yacht. Together, Pete and I renovated “Bertie,” an homage to the original owner, into an updated space we both loved.

In 2008 we found our 1962 Bambi, a treasured diamond in the rough and my heart’s desire, which we gutted for a rebuild and complete renovation. It was my dream to one day rent both out for others to have opportunity to have the Airstream experience.
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MY SILVER LINING

In the years that followed, life shifted, our focus shifted, and the Bambi project was put on hold. In 2016 Pete passed away, and my partner in life, love, and Airstreams were gone. Since then my life has been one of transitions, trials and tribulations. I shed many possessions but kept the beloved silver trailers. After the clouds cleared a little,  I made a decision; the time had come to get that Airstream dream rolling again.

THIS IS A SILVER LINING STORY IN PROGRESS..."It is our greatest thrill to be working toward creating an experience to share." ~~Carmen  
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This new project brings onboard Tyler as project manager and builder for our renovation process. We can't wait to share our story with you--from creating inspired spaces for photo and film backdrops, to pop-up boutiques and party venues but especially camping adventures where one can come away with their own campfire tales. Contact me for more information and to share your story. 

 www.slvrlinings.com | Slvrstories@gmail.com |605.877.5834  
Rapid City, SD

1 Comment

Florals and Finds Expands

1/31/2019

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Florals and Finds has been such a success in Clear Lake SD that owners Margit and Sharon decided to add on to their business.  Florals and Finds Boutique opened this Fall next door and features women's fashions, jewelry, some footwear, scarves and more.  The great thing as far as this storyteller is concerned is that they include Plus Size clothing too so they are a woman's "all-size shop!"  (We need to create an urban dictionary name for this--because it's necessary and great when boutiques are inclusive to all-size women! )

Arla Olson, a favorite salesperson, that could be found across the street at Joyce's in Clear Lake joined the team along with Kayla Fritz Bucknell, daughter to Margit. Joining the two stores together, they began their commitment to continue great service and bring new and unique boutique items to the area.  Arla adds her 40 years experience in helping women find their perfect fit and desired style.  Her many years experience is quite the asset to Floral and Finds Boutique.  Arla has an uncanny memory of women's styles and sizes and once you get to know her, she's got your style.  Even husband's trust her expertise to let her do the shopping.  

Kayla adds her own flair and expertise to the equation.  Having started to sell Plunder jewelry after her and her husband moved back to Clear Lake, it has grown amazingly in the east central region, and beyond.  Kayla sells their boutique items via Facebook Live and they ship their styles and fashions around the world.  It is a unique concept and one our small rural communities need to grasp. Online sales is necessary along with the personal touch of 'hands on."  Of course if at some point you are not happy with your choice if purchased online, they stand by their product and sales.  Kayla also adds touches of youthfulness being a young mother of two little boys.

The biggest sales pitch for their shop is they listen to their customers and when they go to market they're thinking of their clientele. If you're coming through Clear Lake and the shops are not open, be sure to call them as well to set up an appointment.  Between the four of them, they'll try to meet whatever need you have.

If you recall in reading our previous article here, Margit was a grade school teacher for many years, So be sure to scroll down and find the original downtown story of how this team in Clear Lake got their start.  Or click here.
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Brooke Co. Hand Lettering

5/30/2018

2 Comments

 
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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!! 

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2 Comments

Day of the Dead Salsa

2/3/2018

13 Comments

 
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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. 


From the Beginning, cutting onions.
Beginning new dicer for tomatoes.
Trying out her new dicer for tomatoes.
A lot of tomatoes
One and half year later; Luke dicing onions.
Adding her special recipe of spices.
Checking it out.
It's a family affair! Dylan, Luke and Jenilee
13 Comments

On Hand in Miller SD

6/16/2017

1 Comment

 
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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Florals & Finds; New to You

5/29/2017

1 Comment

 
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After 32 years of teaching elementary students, Margit Fritz found herself in a new profession; the owner of the new retail business Floral & Finds in downtown Clear Lake.  Joining forces with a local friend, Sharon Voss, who had tremendous experience in florals, they formed a partnership and opened their doors in the Spring of 2016.

Margit went through the normal channels of beginning a business from formalizing the plan to having their brand created. Purchasing an old building, the next step of the partnership began and renovations began.  Margit had been collecting antiques and collectibles for years and her collection of choice-items pleasantly fit right into the decor they were planning. Taking old tin roofing from one part of the building and adding into another part was just an example of the changes they made. Another was taking an old church window and woodwork and implanting in one of the walls within the store.  Pictures are shown here of some of the renovations that turned Florals & Finds into what it is today; a year later and very successful.
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Both Margit and Sharon bring their own talents into the operation.  Floral arrangements with fresh and silks, green and blooming plants are Sharon’s specialty.  Margit brings her years of collecting into the mix with unexpected “finds” as well as new ideas along with wedding planning and home interior design. 
Florals & Finds adds to the ambiance of downtown Clear Lake when most little towns are struggling to keep going and new businesses are looking to build in the higher traffic areas. Stores like this give new life to a struggling economy and help to turn it into a more flourishing community.  Both spouses are also involved in their own right in the community. Margit’s husband Duke is the owner of Fritz Chevrolet who just celebrated their 90th birthday this past year.

Florals & Finds is located on Highway 15 that runs through Clear Lake in Deuel County.  A backroad business in the east central part of South Dakota, supported by the local and area residents, invites others to take a side trip and stop in see what items one cannot live without. 
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Pat McGill, MA ED

5/26/2017

1 Comment

 
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Pat McGill, MA ED
Women Entrepreneurs and Women Energized
Speaker, trainer, author, columnist and adjunct professor of Education

​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!"

Her Programs: 

  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, Spirit, 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.​​

Testimony

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Deuel Community Kitchen

5/21/2017

2 Comments

 
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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.

Most start-up food enterprises begin in a home kitchen. But the home kitchen becomes a liability because of special licensing that is required and laws that prevent the home kitchen recipe when it goes to the marketplace. Legally then the start-up food enterprise must manufacture their product from a professional kitchen. This is where a kitchen incubator comes in. Chefs (user of a kitchen) will be able to offer long or short-term leases at reasonable rates on a flexible time-share basis. Food entrepreneurs become ‘legal’ by working in this certified kitchen space because it, in turn, can be inspected more easily.
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Available to use are professional standard ovens, refrigerators, mixers, food processors, storage space, worktables, pots and pans, utensils and locked storage space. This professional space will have a list of requirements in using the space, but also guidelines that will need to be followed when using the kitchen. The entrepreneurs enter into an agreement with the facility, with each other and in this case with the non-profit Deuel Area Development (DADi) that began the incubator. Using a kitchen incubator is a relatively new concept and definitely in a rural setting.




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The DCK began with a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant.   With the help of DADi and assistance of Dakota Rural Action and Deubrook School District the Deuel Community Kitchen came to fruition.

Once a product is ready for marketing, the producer can help with a business plan and making connections with the Small Business Development Centers. It is the hope of USDA Rural Development that other small communities with available licensed kitchens can use DCK as a model. Other items to consider when starting a kitchen: location to 'chefs', insurance, Serv-Safe licensing, labeling, kitchen inspections and licensing, Department of Health regulations, kitchen's availability, potential users, marketing and determination, community awareness, and marketing.
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    A Kitchen Incubator In SD
    Brooke Co. Hand Lettering
    Day Of The Dead Salsa
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