Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Bell.
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in rural New Jersey and had a passion for animals starting at a young age. I was active in local 4H and loved spending summers with my grandparents in Kansas helping on their farm. When my family moved to South Carolina in 1992, I had an opportunity to start volunteering at Split Creek Farm and jumped at the chance! My volunteering turned into a job once I was old enough to work and I soaked in everything I could about animal husbandry, cheese making, and the business side of the farm. I graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor’s of Science with a focus in Animal and Veterinary Science. I also received an Associates Degree from Tri-County Technical College and am a full time Certified Veterinary Technician. Since the original owner’s passing in 2015, I own Split Creek Farm and serve as the primary manager of day-to-day operations which includes all aspects of goat milk product production, herd management, and animal wellness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s farming…so definitely not! Farmers wake up every day to face challenges, be it from internal or external sources. It’s a running (not so funny) joke that farming is the only profession where we are expected to purchase everything at retail and sell everything at wholesale. There are not enough hours in the day, money in the bank, or workers on payroll to allow for a “smooth road”. To be a farmer requires dedication, perseverance, and a little bit of crazy. But I love what I do and will continue to do so for as long as I can.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Simply, I am a goat farmer. Specifically, I run a commercial farmstead Grade A Goat Dairy. Split Creek Farm is a true farmstead operation meaning we do everything on site from start to finish. We raise our own animals, milk twice a day (rain or shine or power outage), process that milk into National and International award winning artisan cheese, package that cheese, market it to stores, restaurants, and distributors, and deliver it to those accounts. I am most proud to hold the honor of having the number 1 feta in the United States and number 2 feta in the WORLD! This is not just a job or a career for me. This is a passion.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
That would require me to have time outside of farming. Just kidding – sort of. What helps me most is experience and mentors along the way sharing their successes and failures to help me grow. I, in turn, share with others so we can all benefit and be better in what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.splitcreek.com
- Instagram: split_creek_farm
- Facebook: Split Creek Farm, LLC
