Rising Stars: Meet Mattie Miller of Colorado Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mattie Miller

Hi Mattie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised Amish in WI. I am the youngest of 10 kids, 4 boys and 6 girls. some of my siblings and my mom still live on the home place in WI. I left home in the middle of the night with the clothes I was wearing! I knew if I mentioned to my family I was leaving they wouldn’t let me leave.

After leaving I had to get my birth certificate and social security number. Learn how to drive! Get a job! I had so many people along the way who helped me so much. I am so grateful!

My first job was furniture manufacturing! I had never gone to high school or collage and didn’t know anything about big machines. I was a fast learner though just by doing.

It took me years to figure out who I am and what I want out of life, I had many distractions along the way. In 2006 rape happened and I was expecting my oldest daughter. I was scared to death of being a mom and especially a solo mom. Thats really when I started standing up for who I am and not allowing people to run my life. I decided to move to MT. to get out of the area.

Making recipes really started in 2011 when I was pregnant with my second child and was unable to get a job. I did baking and sold it at a camp ground to be able to support us. After my daughter was born I was able to get a job again and worked at a grocery store when a customer came in asking for spicy jelly. The store didn’t have any to his satisfaction and he looked at me saying (you need to make a jalapeno Raspberry jelly) I agreed to try it if he would tell me if it was good or not. I started working on it and kept changing it to try to get it right (20 times maybe) One day when I gave him a jar he said now its good. Then I had to make the recipe bigger so I could make bigger batches. That was the start! I entered in the Lincoln County Fair in NW Montana, that recipe got blue ribbon 3 years in a row!
In 2015 I had been making jam for about 3 years and had the product on a few grocery store shelves and was kinda burned out, my kids were little and someone who I thought was a friend approached me about moving to Ohio and doing a taxi service for the Amish in that area thinking I could take my girls with me and maybe not have to work so hard. I put making jam on the shelf because I knew I couldn’t compete in Ohio and I didn’t have the facility. We moved across the country to Ohio in June 2015 at first all was good but as a the kids got older they didn’t want to go with me anymore. I mean what kid wants to ride around in a van all day.

In 2021 I started thinking I really wanted to get my brand out there again and now my kids are old enough to help me. I felt trapped because I knew I didn’t really want to stay in Ohio either. In August of 2022 I was invited to a online goal setting group through a group of friends where we all had goals we wanted to accomplish and we coached each other. My coach was someone who I had never met before (Ken Price) from California. we spent some time getting to know each other so I could decide what my goal should be. When I told him about the jam business and how I had started it but didn’t continue. I made the comment to him. Maybe someday I will start again and get my brand out there. He says he heard the passion in my voice when I talked about it so he was the one that kept asking me ( why not get started now) When I ran out of excuses I could see how I could get started again.
I started just at home in my own kitchen! My past customers were still following me on FB so I reached out to let them know I was getting started again. the first few months I was busy. I also was still driving taxi at this point because that paid the bills. I decide I wanted get moved. we talked a lot about where and how to get it done. In June of 2023 I was packing to move to Colorado Springs, we got here July 1. Moving across the country with two kids and a business by myself was a challenge. I set out to get my food license, finding a space to be able to make it in a commercial kitchen.

I also needed a job to be able to live while I get this going. I got a job driving Groome transportation shuttle from Colorado Springs to Denver daily. I work between 50 to 55 hours per week. Plus making jam and selling through my website and also at farmers markets and word of mouth! My girls help me running farmers markets and shows when needed.
At this time I am looking at a food manufacturing company to make it for me when that happens we will be talking to distributors to get it out there across the state and someday nation wide. I am forever grateful for the values I got from my heritage! hard work pays off if you keep going!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a bumpy ride, Growing up I did many things like field work with horses and since I was short I didn’t have an easy time to get the job done. I was also taught that I could figure it out if I tried so the subconsious was like If I don’t figure it out on my own, I am a burden. I also felt the same way when started trying to build a website for selling the jam. I didn’t learn how to copy and paste email until just a few years ago. so you might be able to imagine what it was like to try and build a website for the first time.

I made so many mistakes along the way!

I didn’t have the money to pay someone to do it for me. I still manage it all myself. I had someone complain about an order I had sent out and I felt like I wanted to quit. Thank God Ken had told me when I first restarted that if I feel like quitting I should call him.

Having to work more than a full time job just to survive and support my kids could be reason enough to say There is enough jam options out there. NO one needs mine! I know this is what I was put here to do because its what gives me purpose. It’s my jam! love creating the recipes so I will keep going!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I go out to markets I have this amazing ability to connect with people. Have great conversation! Connect with them in a way that is remembered.
The same way while driving the shuttle from Colorado Springs to Denver. I love listening to people and get to know them. While they might ask questions about me. That is all good, I am a very open person! I have this ability to make people feel safe to talk to me and so many people just want to be heard! I am known for connecting with people well and making friends easy because I am so open! I am proud of being the mom that sought out successful people so I could learn and grow in the way that aligned with who I am. Hopefully my kids will see this and learn from it as well.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Get around people who believe in you. Follow those who will tell you the truth. I wish I had known how many people want to talk you into doing things for their own benefit. If it doesn’t benefit them they don’t have time for you. That is how you know a true leader.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mattiesjamsjellies.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millmattie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattie.miller3
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattieMiller780

Image Credits
Gary Stasy, Imagery Enlightened – Telling Your Story