
• Kate Gessford with Old Dog Farms earns business funding
The Jump Start Your Business Program has been helping bring classes run by local business leaders as well as funding to small businesses.
This past series of eight classes brought one of the largest turn-outs the program has seen. Coordinator Ken Schaible shared the wide variety of participants in the program saying, “every year we’re amazed that half the business that come in are for ideas that we’ve not had before”. From trucking to small farms, Jump Start Your Business has seen another successful class series.
Kate Gessford with Old Dog Farms shared her business throughout the program’s classes and ultimately received first place in the final business plan presentation to a panel of five judges.
Gessford shared her gardening passions throughout the program through her business, Old Dog Farms, which will provided vegetables, fruits, eggs, poultry and more for this year’s farmers market. The business invites other small growers to join them by bringing their products to the Old Dog Farms area at the farmers market to sell their goods. If farmers want to join and sell the items for themselves they can, or they can drop off items to sell on consignment through Old Dog Farms.
The Jump Start Your Business program was a benefit for Gessford. “I would use that time to brainstorm… and start to put the plan into action,” shared Gessford during her interview on SVI Radio’s Weekday Wake-Up.
One of the things she has gained throughout the program and her business plan presentation was her confidence in speaking about her business and being clear on what the values and goals are.
“We so rarely take the time to let ourselves think, plan, and put that vision into action.” With the program, she was able to have that time set aside and create a detailed plan to help bring success to Old Dog Farms this coming growing season.
For anyone interested in working with Kate Gessford at Old Dog Farms, they are encouraged to reach out via email: olddogfarmwy@gmail.com.
The next round of Jump Start Your Business classes will begin in September 2025. Jump Start Your Business can be found on Facebook.
The Jump Start Your Business Program continues to be a powerful resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing not only education and mentorship but also a supportive community to turn ideas into thriving businesses. With the success of this year’s participants, including Kate Gessford and her innovative approach with Old Dog Farms, the program has once again proven its value to the local business ecosystem. As the next round of classes approaches in September 2025, future entrepreneurs are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to develop their ideas, gain confidence, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.