Courtney works to harvest and transport sweet corn.

In this episode, I spoke with Keyli Courtney, Carlisle County FFA secretary and my long-time friend, to discuss her experience growing her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) into a business.

During her freshman year, Courtney began researching different pesticides and crops that correlate with Western Kentucky and curating a plan. During her sophomore year, she put this plan into action. From partnering with Nutrien, to working alongside her local chapter, Courtney shares insights in this episode about establishing a successful season of agribusiness growth.

She focused on advertising through social media outlets like Facebook. She did this by offering fun competitions for viewers to participate in, creating fun and free marketing for herself. During her junior year, she continued to develop her business by using new techniques like passive selling. In doing this, she combined self-serve stands and her old strategies (roadside selling) to maximize her customer outreach.

Courtney emphasizes her experience managing her time in running and expanding her business, as well as learning and overcoming different challenges. Her work ethic materializes in the effort she put in to compete in and win vegetable production proficiency awards in her area.

We can learn from Courtney’s dedication and experience. When starting a new adventure in different business field, it is important to look to those that may have similar struggles. In this episode, we can gain an understanding of the importance of connecting with customers and getting inspiration for your work from Courtney, especially when running similar operations.