We had the good fortune of connecting with Jodi Millies and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jodi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I began my business as a way to utilize something that was more often than not going to waste. I worked with my cousins on their grass-fed beef and pasture raised pork farm in in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. We had a lot of cuts that most consumers deemed undesirable and I wanted to find a purpose for those cuts after putting so much time and effort into raising those animals.

 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When people ask me what I do I tell them I pour candles but honestly it is so much more than that! After finding a purpose for unwanted grass-fed beef tallow I began experimenting with scents and other products. I now offer hand poured tallow and beeswax candles in a variety of scents and sizes, reusable tin wax melts, reed diffusers, room sprays, tallow paw balm, grass-fed beef liver dog treats, and I’m in the testing stages of a whipped tallow balm.

I am most proud of being able to offer an alternative candle to the ones typically on the market, several of my customers have soy allergies and are able to enjoy candles because we do not use soy. I’ve learned to not take myself to seriously and to test, test, and test some more! I am continually working on the mantra of “being present is better than being perfect” when it comes to my social media presence. I avoid posting photos because I am so nitpicky with backgrounds or what I’m going to say and I need to remember that my audience doesn’t care if there are toys in the background of my workspace from my kids trying to “feed me” a pretend sandwich while mom is working!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I left Virginia in 2019 and moved back to the Milwaukee area to be closer to family. Some of my favorite things to do in this city are grab a wood fire pizza at Maggio’s in Wauwatosa, sit outside and enjoy a hard cider or sour at Lion’s Tail Brewing, depending on the season tailgate and go to a Brewers game, I also really enjoy hiking near our beautiful Lake Michigan at one of our amazing state parks like Kohler-Andrae and Harrington Beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t have began and continued my business without the encouragement of so many people! To start I have to give a shoutout to Molly Peterson. While working on her and her husband’s farm I learned so much. She was always my biggest cheerleader and still encourages people to shop my products although we live 900 miles away. She was a critical asset in helping me become USDA certified with our beef liver dog treats and is always eager to give me feedback on new products. I also need to give credit to my children’s grandparents, Dan and Patti, they have been the best supporters! Always encouraging me and offering a helping hand whether it is with pop up markets, or wicking, stamping bags, set up and tear down at events, and especially watching my kids so I can work! Lastly, but definitely not least I need to give some recognition to my fiancé Jason. After working a 40+ hour work week he is helping me wick, creating displays for my pop up markets, creating spread sheets to help me track sales, working events when I can’t, and being the most supportive partner!

Website: https://www.farmerscandleco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmerscandleco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-millies-a0542962/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/farmerscandleco

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.