I started two blogs in the last hour but they were stale. I think it’s because I spent many hours writing and editing the business plan. And if I had to guess, I’d say that I am on the verge of coming down with a cold. My brain is tired and unoriginal. So I am using my “blog re-post” card. This one is from back in August and was titled “Words From Strangers… Oh! The People You’ll Meet!” and is just as relevant now as it was then. I am grateful for all the words of encouragement from both strangers and people I know alike. It really makes a difference to know that everyone is rooting me on.
Enjoy,
Sarah
Below is an email from someone that I have never met. Tonight it made me cry. Gary, the author, lives in the WAY eastern part of Wisconsin. He called me after reading the article in The Country Today back in April. He was interested in potentially lending WeatherVane Creamery some money and he volunteered many dairy artifacts for decoration from his family estate. I remember him saying that he had never done anything like that before but that he was just really inspired by the article and wanted to help out. Ever since, we have been in touch via email or the phone. Last week, as I was boarding the plane in Raleigh, he called and we talked about Empowering Taste, the investor event and dinner that WeatherVane and our advisors are hosting next week. Gary is making the 600 mile round trip trek to bring me the milk cans and other items and to participate in the evening. This email is in response to me saying that I was excited and nervous for the event:
Hello, I can believe you’re getting nervous with this being one of the biggest responsibilities you’re taking on in life. I’ll try to calm you down if you need some support, not that I any good at that. You’ll do just fine. You have many years of experience at your disposal and your investors wouldn’t be coming if they didn’t see something special in you or your idea on the Weather Vane Creamery. Some will walk away and some will be your best supporters and those that support you know you have what it takes to make them money. That’s why they are coming because they believe in you. Yes they’re smart but you are in control because this was and is your passion and goal. You will do fine because they know they’re there for one reason and that’s for you to ask for their investment. It’s not like you’re bringing on some big surprise to them, they are expecting a return on their investment but they also want you to succeed or they wouldn’t be there. Look back on your other big moments with Starbucks and you managed yourself all the way to this point. I would say you’re taking the next step and that’s ownership and total management and you are in control to a point. The people you have met along the way wouldn’t have encouraged you to move forward if they didn’t see something good in this. All your home work on this will payoff and you will be grateful for the rewards. You have experience and they will see that during your meeting, that will go a long way.
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I really just wanted to share Gary’s email with you but then I started thinking about all of the other correspondence from strangers and friends that has both surprised me and kept me going all this time. I want to share those with you, too. Here they are.
Last Spring, I checked out the “Local River Falls” event at UWRF and met the farmers of Sweet Top Farm CSA. I was considering buying a share for the summer. This is from our email exchange:
I realized after you left yesterday that I recognized you from the article in Country Today about Weathervane Creamery. After we read the article, Adam and I were saying that we needed to meet you, and the next day, I did! We agree: where is all the good cheese!? I hope that you are making it over the hurdles mentioned in the article. We are rooting for you!
I received this one in the mail during the indiegogo campaign:
Dear Sara (sic),
Enclosed is a check in support of your new venture.
This picture is of a Gargoyle from Notre Dame de Paris. It’s function is to ward off evil spirits, bad karma, ill luck.
To be sure, I wish you success in your project.
This is an email that I received from a River Falls resident after the article ran in the River Falls Journal last winter:
Hello Sarah,
I am excited to know someone has the courage to start a real cheese shop in RF. I may have seen you at Whole Earth but not sure, I’ve only been in there about a half dozen times since I moved here in 1980. Originally I am from Janesville, Wi. and every other Sunday my parents would go to Monroe, Wi. to spend the afternoon with my mothers parents but we never came home without first stopping at a cheese factory to buy Swiss Cheese. In the 80′s I lived in Oshkosh and it didn’t take me long to find out that the Field’s Restaurant sold good ol’e Swiss Cheese. Since I’ve lived in this part of the country I would order cheese from Field’s or from my other store in Stoughton,Wi called “Cheesers”, Now I look forward to getting my cheese from “WVCREAMERY”.
I have been keeping my eyes open for a place for you to do business, so I hope you find a place for your business. The only place that comes to mind is on N Main across from the family restaurant or next door to the Westwind Supper Club. That bldg has just been remodeled and there isn’t anyone in there that I am aware of. That’s not down town but just thought I would bring that to your attention.
This was my first piece of fanmail dated November 21, 2011:
Wanted to let you know that as a resident of town, WeatherVane Creamery would be a welcome addition to the city of River Falls. It’s been sad seeing businesses like Lunds closing lately. You indicated that it would be a destination business. Are you familiar with the social concept of third place? This book may be of interest to you, “The Great Good Place: Coffee Shops, Community Centers, Beauty Parlors, General Stores, Bars, Hangouts and How They Get You Through the Day” by Ray Oldenburg.
I lived in Portland for eight years and moved back about two years ago. I’m curious, what co-op did you work for? Was it People’s? New Seasons? I’ll admit I was surprised the first time I saw Tillamook cheese at Econo foods. Unfortunately it didn’t unlock a business idea in my mind. It made me crave beer from the northwest.
And this remains a favorite by my friend Tony Julian, who delighted my inbox with this one day:
Did you hear about that dragon SARAH!!! SARAH who? SARAH Kowal, you know the cheese dragon.
Bringing cheese and prosperity to River Falls, one wheel at a time!!! She swoops in with fire in her breath and fills the hearts and stomachs of the community. She melts even the hardest Pecorino. People just love that dragon and cannot get enough of what she is offering. A pile of wealth is gathering at the feet of that dragon and she can’t give it away fast enough to not be flooded by it. If you haven’t met that dragon, you need to go. Go meet that dragon, be filled. Rejoice in the cheese. Bring her gifts. The more gifts you bring the more your riches will increase. You really got to meet this dragon and buy her cheese, I am just saying.
This just doesn’t feel complete without acknowledging the people who called or I ran into- the woman who wanted to sell me her coffee shop in Atwood, WI, the dairy farmers (Gay and Theresa) who just wanted to show support, the woman at the River Falls post office who said her grandson used the article in the River Falls Journal for his class project, and the woman at the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship who said “Oh! You are the lady from the internet!”