Meet Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall | Farmer & Greenhouse Grower

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had been growing plants for some customers for a few years, but I had a big problem, I would have to stop during planting season to meet with customers to give them their plants. I grow corn and soybeans, large row crops, with my father…I don’t have time to stop and meet with people. So I had to figure out a way to continue to service existing customers, as well as reach newer ones. I utilized existing technology, out it together, and it works. We opened April 30th, and there hasn’t been a day without at least one customer, it’s really rather amazing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I graduated college with my bachelor’s of science in biology w/ honors. I then moved to Dallas, TX, I was a public and private fitness instructor (had 19 different fitness certifications), moved to Little Rock, AR where I worked in a clinical research lab. I was published in two scientific journals by the age of 25. After that, I moved to OKC, where I was a fitness instructor, then onto Los Angeles to try acting. While in college in Chicago, I modeled, and continued modeling, and actually still do. I was a “must-join” to the SAG-AFTRA union just after three months of being in LA (from actually working, not performing any sexual favors or kissing arse). I used my business and creative mind to get to where I am, not my body. I went back and forth from Chicago and LA acting, and decided one day, my lease was coming up in LA, to move back home.

Every time I went back home, which I was never gone for over four months at a time, I was always happy, truly happy. Farming is something I grew up doing, and I always helped during planting and harvest seasons, every year. It didn’t hit me, until that one day in LA, that farming has been the most consistent thing in my life, and I was always happy working outside, working with our black Angus cattle, and especially working with my dad. We have a fun relationship, and work very well together. It was just my dad, who was running the farm, and I didn’t think that was fair that he have all of that responsibility on his shoulders, taking care of so many others, but no one taking care of him, and helping him. So I decided that he’s done so much for me, that I’m going to start doing so much for him. Hopefully I’ve helped ease some of his stress.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, where I live, my neighbors are my cattle. I have taken my city friends all around the farm, and they love it. Not only do they enjoy just seeing how it all works, but the fact that they are literally “one with nature.” It’s so quiet and calm out here, something that you cannot replicate in a city. Trust me, you can’t, I’ve tried. The smell of the freshest fresh air, even with a hint of cow manure, it still smells better than a city. We have side-by-sides to ride in, ride all around the country, feel the wind in your hair, cut flowers, see how my pumpkins are growing, talk to the cows and feed them old donuts and bananas, prepare for them t-bone steaks and ribeyes that they have never had as fresh as they have in the city, tour the small town of where I’m from (Riggston, IL-7 houses). My great-grandfather, Hunter Funk, he started the John Deere dealership there, and it’s still a JD dealership today. My dad wanted to be a farmer, not a businessman in a suit, so he didn’t want to be involved with the dealership-good thing because farming is way better than how horribly cooperate JD has become.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Nicole Brashear, she recommended me for this interview, and she has always been a huge supporter of me and my dreams. Also, my parents and husband…without them, none of this would have been fully possible in this span of time.

Website: www.thewittyfarmer.com

Instagram: @thewittyfarmer, @grabngrowgreenhouse @thejennysauer

Twitter: @thewittyfarmer

Facebook: @thewittyfarmer @grabngrowgreenhouse