The holiday season is upon us, and things are hopping in the small business aspect of the farm.

As a lot of you readers know, the farm’s main income throughout the off-growing season is from selling doggy treats made from the mash of a local brewery here in town, The Seymour Brewing Co.

I’ve lost track through the six years that the treat business has been going how many treats I’ve actually made, but I know it has to be a lot of them from the callouses that exist on my fingers from pressing each shape out by hand.

Early in my farming journey, I learned about a group called Indiana Grown, which was started by Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to help small businesses and farms in Indiana showcase their products and thus get more exposure to potential buyers.

It didn’t cost anything to join, and after submitting my information for eligibility of certification, I received a pretty certificate in the mail signed by the lieutenant governor herself and then stood back and waited. It did not take long for me to realize what a blessing being a part of Indiana Grown was.

Thanks to my connection with Indiana Grown, the dog treats were sampled by Indiana’s first dog, Henry Holcomb, shortly after going public with them for National Dog Day, and regardless of one’s political affiliation or feeling, I was pretty stoked to be able to see the miniature schnauzer chowing down on a bag of I.P.A. Bites.

When I look now at that photo of the Hoosier first dog, I’m always amazed at how antiquated the treats were back then. The bags were a simple poly gift bag tied with a metallic twist tie and purple bow and the treats were the shape of little ducks. There wasn’t a reclosable seal, and I hadn’t developed the wherewithal yet to use a dehydrator to make the treats shelf stable. It’s amazing how much can change in just a few years.

Also thanks to Indiana Grown, this will be my second year to appear on an Indianapolis TV station. On Saturday, I appeared on WISH-TV 8 at 6:40 and 7:40 a.m. You never know what I’m going to say, and I have a feeling the moniker Mutha Clucka will be announced at least once.

I’ve been granted opportunities beyond what I would have ever thought a crazy chicken farmer would be privileged to, and it’s thanks to groups like Indiana Grown and also the support of a small town that I’ve been able to do what I continue to do.

Thank you for supporting this crazy Mutha Clucka. It is appreciated more than you know.

Until next time…

Stephanie Strothmann is owner of Purple Shamrock Farm LLC in rural Seymour. Send comments to [email protected].