Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Tersteeg and Heather Lange.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Samantha: I grew up on my family’s crop and cow-calf operation. While I was in high school, I was active in 4-H and FFA. While I was in FFA, I met my best friend Heather. We competed on teams, attended many FFA events, and spent many shopping trips together! One day, I suggested to Heather she should date my brother, and after a few dates and years later, she became my sister-in-law! In FFA & 4-H, I discovered my passion for Agriculture and cattle. After high school, I continued my education in agriculture and majored in Animal Science. After college, I worked in communications in the pork industry for about 5 years. I met my husband, Sawyer, in college, and shortly after we were married, I decided to return to the home farm. Sawyer, my daughter, and I raise a registered cow-calf operation and sugar beets, corn, and soybeans in Olivia, MN. We started Farm Girl Fashion in 2019; we started our business online. We attended a few local craft/vendor events to help start our business. About a year and a half into opening our business, a small business owner in Glencoe, Brian, allowed us to have our inventory in-store at his shop!
Heather: I was raised on my family’s dairy farm. While in FFA in high school, I met Samantha; we quickly became best friends, and I started dating her brother a year later. She has always been like a sister to me, and I am lucky that she has officially become part of my family. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and worked as an RN on our farm before my husband and I started our family. My husband & I raise beef cattle, corn, and soybeans. Shortly after having our first child, I decided to stay home to raise our family and farm full-time. Samantha & I always talked about starting a boutique, and when we opened Farm Girl Fashion, we tied in our love & passion for agriculture. We started online and attended some local events. A year and a half later, our friend & owner of The Temple Service Center, Brian, graciously allowed us to share some of his storefront space, which helped our business grow even more. This year marks Farm Girl Fashion’s 5th Anniversary!
Would it have been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Samantha: We opened our business shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when in-person vendor events were canceled, significantly impacting our sales. However, we didn’t let this deter us. Everything is always changing with fashion, and we are determined to keep up with the trends.
Heather: About 5 months after we opened, COVID arrived, and, like everyone else, life changed quickly. Our vendor events were canceled, and our in-store traffic was significantly reduced. Shipping times were much longer as well. Owning our own business has been a learning process and has required some trial and error. We will forever be grateful for the personal and professional growth opportunities that have come with owning a small business.
We’ve been impressed with Farm Girl Fashion, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
Farm Girl Fashion is not just another boutique. It’s a unique blend of agriculture and fashion, owned by two farm girls at heart with a love for shopping! We take pride in giving our audience glimpses of our life in agriculture, incorporating updates about our farms on social media. Our background in agriculture is not just a part of our past, it’s a part of our brand. We strive to provide affordable, high-quality items that our customers can feel comfortable and confident in, in a variety of sizes.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the retail business, change is constant, especially in women’s fashion! We aren’t sure what to expect but we accept change as it comes and welcome the learning opportunities it brings with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopfarmgirlfashion.com
- Instagram: @shopfarmgirlfashion
- Facebook: @shopfarmgirlfashion
