Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Akre.
Hi Jenna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I grew up on a beautiful little farm in northern MN. In 2018, after several years of hard work, my husband and I moved our growing family back to my childhood home and we began farming. We tried our hands at several different kinds of farming, had our 4th baby, and got settled in. Now, we spend our time gardening, raising heritage breed hogs, chickens, a small beef herd, a couple of dairy cows, rabbits, honey bees, and goats.
In 2020, I started making and selling soap. My children were getting out of the baby stage and I had more time on my hands to be creative. In 2022, I joined our local farmers market where I sold my soaps and other apothecary-style items all inspired by our homestead. This year we started bringing our pasture-raised meats to farmer’s markets as well and Akre Homestead just keeps growing and evolving.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a farm business is full of obstacles and struggles. I had no idea how to start/run a business so I have had to learn as I go.
Farming has so many variables, so much can go wrong: bad weather, sick animals, low-yield years, and so many other things completely out of our control. And we have experienced our fair share.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a soap maker, farmer, wife, mother, and homemaker. I would say that I’m most known for my soaps. I love making soap, trying new recipes, adding ingredients right from our farm, and sharing it with people.
I am most proud of just being where I am. I dreamed of the life I have had for as long as I can remember, and I’m doing it! I think what sets me apart from others is I work hard, and love what I do. And that radiates through my business.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I don’t believe in luck. Maybe fate is more my style.
I believe that you have to work hard, and if you want something you have to keep trying. So I think I am where I am because of fate, and I’ve stayed here because I want this life, and I do my very best to stay here.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.akrehomestead.com
- Instagram: Akrehomestead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100056417483841&mibextid=ZbWKwL
