Oft Boy's Flock and Feather Farms
At Town Square, we love to support entrepreneurs and welcome them into our community, and this is one of the best stories yet.
It started with chickens. Then came the ducks. And turkeys. And a peacock. And a goose. The gardens have been there for years but expanded last year during the pandemic. Pumpkins. Flowers. Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and yes, popcorn.
Even with freezing and canning, the crop was getting BIG. So David and Nicholas Oft, ages 12 and 9, launched Oft’s Flock and Feather Farms….with a little help from their chauffeurs and business managers (also known as mom and dad) Brenda and Mark. “We took this as an opportunity to help the boys learn more about hard work and learn some business skills as well,” explains Brenda.
David and Nicholas’ first big gig: The Market at Town Square during the summer of 2020. There, they developed a loyal following of customers who returned week after week not only to shop, but to swap fishing stories and “talk about almost anything” with these energetic and outgoing entrepreneurs.
David is the businessman and public speaker. Nicholas is more involved in product development (recently accepted as a member in the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers Club).
Now coming back for an encore performance, the Oft boys will be bringing their act to the Saturday Spring Market at Town Square. But there is plenty that goes on backstage. Even with the recent freezing temperatures, the boys get bundled up before school to do their chores. This past week, they spent time mapping out the garden, looking up planting and growing dates, and figuring out what to plant based on timing and what sold well at the market.
“They’re learning about time management, planning ahead, doing math in their heads, and how to interact with people to tell them about their business and provide customer service.”
If by now you think that mom and dad must be doing it all, you are wrong. Mom is a commodity broker and grain market consultant, and dad works as a start-up technician/engineer. After both growing up on farms--Brenda between Dalton and Pardeeville, and Mark in Cambria--they settled with their family on four acres outside Kingston.
Brenda says she does give them guidance, help with social media and….well... she and Mark provide the seeds and plants, but the business belongs to the boys. Also this year, with the encouragement of mom and dad, David and Nicholas have agreed that they’ll be investing some of their profits--yet another start-up business skill.
So come over to the Market and meet these two young entrepreneurs. They’re sure to entertain you, inspire you, and fill your market bags with deliciousness.
The Market
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