History
In November of 2007, Greg and Melinda Heindselman found and purchased a 161-acre piece of property located in Lewis County, Missouri. Greg's father, Russell Heindselman, had been selling fish since the 1970's, and our family was looking for the next move to continue growing the business. Buying this property was a big step for our family business.
We developed the land into a fishery by expanding the ponds that came with the property, as well as adding several more. Our goal was to raise fish to provide stock for the surrounding ponds and lakes of Lewis County.
Our business took off, and over the years our modest initial investment of 161 acres has grown to 686 acres. While still a faithful supplier for Lewis County, our customer base has expanded to all over the Midwest.
The farm has also expanded the diversity of our products. We now sell various row crops, handcrafted fine cedar furniture, fruits, berries, chestnuts, pecans, and more.
Our latest venture has been selling our products digitally through various online marketplaces, including this website!
Our Farm
While our property has tripled in size, we are still very much a family business. Greg and Melinda's original purchase is adjoined by both sons, Mike and Zach, as well as their wives Jayla and Shannon, and one grandson Dean. We each have different talents and focus on different areas of the business.
For example, Mike builds furniture. Jayla is our graphic designer. Zach and Shannon raise berries, while Dean helps (although he usually eats more than he puts in the bucket!)
Every family member has an important role in keeping our business running.
Committed to Quality
We also focus on producing as much as we can on our own to ensure consistent quality. For example, our furniture is hand-crafted using cedar trees that are grown on our property. While we occasionally purchase ingredients from outside, we really do try to do as much as we can on the farm, as we trust ourselves more than any retailer or manufacturer.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure the customer receives a quality product, in a timely manner, for a fair price.
From left: Matt, Greg, April (dog), Mike, and Russ Heindselman