Life & Work with Julie Stiewig of Fort Morgan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Stiewig.

Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As it goes, the story of how I arrived where I am today is a cumulation small choices and experiences that all added up! My interest in food systems was sparked during my time at CSU in the Warner College of Natural Resources. A long time friend and fellow student and I created a club called Mindful Source, with the goal of connecting local youth to where their food comes from as we learned about the complexities between humans and how we interact with our environment. We had both experienced growing up in Fort Collins, where “local is cool” and had a deep appreciation for the natural world and all that it offers us. That area of Colorado offers access to small local farms, well established farmers markets and a host of other collaborative opportunities right at our fingertips, so we decided to tap in. The club was well supported while it lasted, however he and I followed our own paths elsewhere after graduating and the club was no longer. Shortly after graduation in Spring 2017, I spent a summer teaching outdoor education to K-12 students at Teton Science School through an Americorps program. After our short stint in Wyoming, my partner, Kevin, and I decided to move to Vermont after he graduated that fall. The opportunity arose to work at Cedar Circle Farm, in a farmstand that was stocked with fresh, delicious local items, many of which we’re harvested in the fields right behind the farmstand. CCF has a holistic approach to supporting community agriculture through a long standing farm store, abundant farm fields next to the Connecticut River with active R&D, and a host of education programs. I felt proud to be a part of something that aligned so close to my original goals when creating Mindful Source, and a lifestyle that I felt connected to as I entered into my adult years. No big box stores for miles, small and successful farms all over the place, and a close connection to living with and for your local community. The local youth were immersed in nature and the farm, the farmers worked closely with the farmstand staff to communicate availability of produce and what was coming next, and it was a bustling operation open the majority of the week to the public. My partner and I took in all the opportunities to learn and travel while we lived there, but decided the Vermont winter wasn’t for us as we had been renting a yurt with no power and water, and came back home to Fort Collins. After about a year working at a hemp farm and production facility, I was laid off during COVID, and my partner felt the pull to move back to the farm and ranch where he grew up, in the northeastern plains of Colorado. An exciting move, I wondered what I’d find nestled into a community so focused on ag production. After working for a local greenhouse for about a year, I was feeling disconnected to my community and questioning if the move was going to last after so many fulfilling experiences that came before it. Aside from my partner and his family, I had made few connections and was not finding that same spark of access to local food and community that I had become accustomed to, as much of the ag production is focused on exporting on industrial levels and not so much to the surrounding community. With a rain cloud over my head, it’s now 2021, I had just turned 26 and went into a local health insurance provider to navigate signing up for my own policy. We got to talking about how the new community adjustment was going, she shared some history of the community as someone who was born and raised here, and also filled me in about a community project that was on the rise. Fast forward to a few board meetings later, I was offered a position to manage a non-profit called The Block: Commissary Kitchen & Events in Fort Morgan. Still pinching myself 4 years later, this position has led to more opportunity than I could imagine. As the only commissary kitchen in NE Colorado, The Block fills a gap of connecting local foodpreneurs to commercial kitchen access, and the opportunity to join a supportive community of fellow food business owners. With 5 different event spaces, I’m able to host food-focused events that support these local entrepreneurs such as Foodpreneur Meetups, the Fort Morgan Farmers Market and Food Truck Fridays, as well as provide space for all members of the community to gather in different capacities. Through building the ecosystem of The Block, I’ve stayed aware of the fact that it can be problematic to move into a new community, and work to alter it so it’s more comfortable for yourself and past lived experiences. I hope that with that awareness, I’ve been intentional in creating new opportunities for community members that fit a need that was lacking, adding to the community instead of taking away from it. These movements take time, and with solid support from other community partners and organizations, I hope it has a positive lasting impact on the community, similar to what I had experienced in Fort Collins and Vermont. Kevin and I also began our own foodpreneur journey in 2021, when we started Two Drifters Farm. Between the 2 of us, we raise ducks and geese for eggs and meat, bees for pollination and sometimes honey when the seasons allow, we grow a variety of flowers for build your own bouquet bars at markets, and fresh fruit and veg for our family. When we started, we sold by ourselves on the side of the road under a canopy tent. We’ve seen the stark difference of trying to sell alone, versus at the Fort Morgan Farmers Market, and can verify that more is in fact merrier. Even at a small market with folks selling similar items, I’ll take collaboration over competition any day and the comradery that comes with a market is unmatched. The market offers a variety of options in one convenient place, giving community members the opportunity to choose what interests them most. As buyers connect with sellers, relationships develop and grow providing consistent support, and ideally, consumers will remain open to trying new products as new folks are encouraged to began their foodpreneur journeys. In a small rural community, long-term success is much more likely when we work together rather than compete against one another. My 5 years in this area have continued to inspire me, providing growth through challenge and access to a beautifully supportive community.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth roads are hard to come by, especially when they’re made of dirt like they are out here! But, if it was easy everyone would do it, right? I’ve had a steep learning curve through most of my recent professional experiences, but I stay motivated to continue learning as these choices align with my values and have access to an amazing support system. On a personal level, I believe it is important to stay curious about what each day will bring. We have a lot of pressure to perform and stay productive, but we are only human and can only “accomplish” so much in a day. Balance is truly everything, and I’ve learned the hard way how important boundaries are. Prioritizing mental and physical health and making time for social activities, passion projects and rest have been non-negotiables to my lifestyle. On a professional level, I’ve learned to approach new situations with the same curiosity mindset, ask for help and clarity often, build a network of supportive and creative people you can call on, and keep healthy, flexible and realistic perspectives on the short and long term vision of the business. Working in an industry and alongside people I care about often fuels me, but that passion can also lead to overworking if I’m not careful. By building in those non-negotiables, I’ve found the balance tends to hold. There will be bumps in the road, but they’re a lot more manageable when you’ve built in space to slow down and steer with intention.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through the lense of The Block, it’s been my priority since day 1 to foster genuine connection and a culture of collaboration. I meet businesses owners at every stage, some brand new and some that have been in the game for decades and are seeking new opportunities. It is inspiring to hear their stories and their “why”, which is baked into everything they create. It’s a unique manager position, I get to wear all the hats of “building manager”, making sure the heavily shared use building is operating at a high standard, schedules are set and followed, and communication stays steady with prospective event hosts and kitchen members. Also, I get to be on the sidelines as these businesses experience their many “firsts”, all the way to moving into their own space, buying a bigger truck, or taking ownership after managing. Without staff to manage, I get to work collaboratively with these kitchen members and building users, where we create a flexible, creative space full of resources and support. It can be a rollercoaster of many moving parts, but in the grand scheme of things such is life. We get to learn together, celebrate together and when it gets tough we know we’re not alone.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’d encourage readers to enter new spaces with compassion and curiosity. We show up to life only with the knowledge of what we’ve experienced so far, but sometimes the unexpected and uncomfortable will prove to be even greater than we could’ve imagined. Be open to the expansion that can come through adversity, and say yes to opportunities when they arise!

Pricing:

• Contact me for any pricing questions or building tours!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theblock-mc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/two.drifters.farm, https://www.facebook.com/theblockfortmorgan/

Image Credits
All taken by me