Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda Severson, owner of Grand View Beef, located in Clarion, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Grand View Beef raises the highest quality 100% grass-fed beef with the highest quality care on our century family farm in Iowa. We ship it directly to families across the Midwest. We're passionately committed to stewarding God's cattle and soil and sharing our family's calling with others so they can better understand where their food comes from.
Tell us about yourself
We're Knute and Amanda Severson. We started in Grand View Beef after meeting in Seattle, WA, in 2016 while we were both interning for the Seattle Seahawks. Knute grew up on a century family in Iowa and kept seeing beef sell for crazy prices at the Seattle farmer's markets - he knew his family's beef tasted better. He realized that by moving back to Iowa and raising beef, he could provide a high-quality product to consumers while also securing a future for his family farm. We moved back to Iowa and started Grand View Beef in 2017, selling directly to end consumers so they could have a relationship with their farmers.
We're motivated each day by the desire to leave this place better than we found it so that future generations might have the same opportunities to grow and raise their own food on this ground. We're excited to be able to share our family's passion with others through high-quality, healthy meats that can nourish them well.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, just being here! Starting a farm is difficult and requires a ton of investment - both time and finances. We're so proud of how we've grown and built this business to now be able to ship our meats all across the Midwest.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There are no off days. Our animals need to eat and drink every day, regardless of what we have going on. That can often lead to feelings of exhaustion and burnout. Sometimes the hardest thing is just pulling on the chore boots and heading outside to make sure the chores are done for the day.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- People are investing in you, not a product! Share your story with authenticity and transparency, and the rest will follow.
- Ask for help when you need it. It's just not possible for you to be an expert at everything. It's much better to invest your time into things you're good at to better your business than to waste that time trying to learn a million new skills.
- Be agile. The past two years have taught us all that the future is unpredictable. The ability to pivot quickly and change your business model to meet what your customers need NOW is a huge way to set yourself apart from others.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
There is a lot of misinformation out there today about how food, especially meat, is raised. If we could encourage one thing, it's that if you have questions about how your food is being raised, you reach out and ask a farmer directly. It's our livelihood and our passion - we are more than happy to share that with you and answer any questions that you have.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://grandviewbeef.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandViewBeef/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandviewbeef/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
