Conversations with Karen Jack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Jack

Hi Karen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a 5th generation farmer and rancher in Rural Nebraska. You could say agriculture is hereditary or at the very least the passion for agriculture. I farm and ranch with my dad on an operation that has farmed the same ground for over 130 years. Female Farmer Rancher is an extension of the passion and love that I have for agriculture.
I’ve also started and run 3 other businesses, a bourbon whiskey brand called “Field to Flasks”, a direct to consumer beef company called “Pasture Bites”, and a real estate investment and short term rental company called “Relaxation Rentals”.

I started Female Farmer Rancher because I wanted to diversify the industry in providing a way for social media to provide income. I have always enjoyed being bold, I like to wear makeup and dress in loud outfits and I didnt realize modeling next to ag equipment was a way to do that. I think there is a certain power when you combine beauty and grit together. I just so happened to have the work ethic and drive to be able to do both.

I believe that Fashion and Farming can coexist. I created Female Farmer Rancher to show the real, raw, and bold side of agriculture. Rural life can feel isolating, but Female Farmer Rancher’s social media presence has allowed me to connect with people who share my passion for social media collaboration, all while bringing light to the farming and ranching industries.

Farming and Ranching are wonderful industries to be in however, they are not always profitable. So I set out to create more control in the pricing of the commodities that we grow on the farm. That’s where Field To Flasks Bourbon was born. Bourbon is made up of at least 50% corn, so it felt like a good addition to the Female Farmer Rancher brands. I want to grow and sell the commodities we produce all the way through to the end consumer. To date, we are in 112 locations in Nebraska and growing with the first bourbon product, Field to Flasks.

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?
In an industry where prices are not in your control, there are always challenges. Ive worked to overcome some of those challenges by creating additional products and brands that can tie in to agriculture and utilize the existing assets that I have,. Specifically the farm.

For Female Farmer Rancher, my challenges come from those who dont understand the use of the internet to make money or who are stuck in the old way of doing things. This can be an obstacle, especially living in a rural community. I believe the internet is a tool and social media can change a persons income if they are willing to do the work and develop a personal brand.

Building a team is really important to me and to my businesses. Hiring the right individual that you can trust with your brand and your products is a challenge. I’m very fortunate to have the full time team that I do, I’ve slowly worked to create my own economy of friends, family, and employees.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Farmer, Rancher, Real-estate Investor, Social Media Influencer, and an Entrepreneur through and through. My work didnt start this way, but now I am mostly focused on developing out the different brands and businesses that fall under my Female Farmer Rancher corporation. Besides being hands on in my farm and cattle operations, I would say that I am the Chief Marketer and Executive Officer of my different ventures.

I started doing social media marketing and influencing over 5 years ago, from there my brand experienced some pretty significant growth and I was able to branch out in to other capital ventures like short term and long term rental investments and one that I am most proud of, my bourbon whiskey brand Field to Flasks. Field to Flasks embodies a lot of what Female Farmer Rancher also highlights, good hard working individuals in the Midwest.

My husband would say that the thing that sets me apart from others is my un-willingness to accept the word
“No” as an answer. This may be true, but i dont know that it that sets me apart per se. What I think sets me apart from others is action and education. Im not afraid to learn about an industry that interests me, even if im not well versed in a subject yet. And the second is action. I’m not afraid to take calculated risks on something that I think could pay dividends in the future. I like to always be growing when possible.

What’s next?
Besides growing Female Farmer Rancher’s social media audience, I’m looking to grow the Field to Flask’s brand to distribution in 5 additional states, maybe even more. The bourbon brand is a huge undertaking and takes a majority of my efforts currently.

However, Im always thinking about and looking for new opportunities that I can apply my expertise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://femalefarmerrancher.com/
• Other: https://www.fieldtoflasks.com/