Small Businesses Stay “Sunnyside Up” through SBDC Services

By Lisa Jane Laird

Serving an area larger than the combined size of four small eastern U.S. states*, central Utah’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) works with small businesses to ensure they prosper and contribute to the economic prosperity of their communities.

“We always love to see someone’s dream come to pass as we help them reach their goals,” said Tim Chamberlain, director of the SBDC offices on Snow College’s Ephraim and Richfield campuses and the Nephi Learning Center.

“It’s to their advantage to use those services,” said Chamberlain, as the assistance is free to businesses and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. “We can work with clients from idea to start-up and beyond. I enjoy the process and looking at the different ways to help their business succeed. We are there to coach and provide resources and referrals.”

Sunnyside Up Pastures of Centerfield, Utah, is one of SBDC’s recent success stories. They moved their business model from traditional farming to sustainable agricultural practices and direct-to-the-consumer sales and marketing. Owners and siblings Stan Jensen and Megan Hutchinson used SBDC services to bounce ideas, explore resources, and gather referrals.

“I am not sure how anyone can start a business without their support,” Hutchinson said of the Snow College SBDC. “They were really instrumental and available anytime with advice and resources. We had multiple Zoom calls with them to bounce off ideas, the name, our logo, and the branding of our story. They taught us that we don’t just have a product, but a story to share. People want to buy from people and not a faceless conglomerate.”

Sunnyside Up Pastures has expanded its product lines and services since first visiting the SBDC in 2020. In the beginning, they were known for their pasture-fed beef and sweet corn. Now the farm includes more products such as pasture-fed poultry, pork, eggs, and more. They have moved beyond alfalfa to add 14 different plants in their pastures.

Expanding into education, Sunnyside Up Pastures hosted a sold-out Farm to Fork event in June 2024 featuring a professional chef from Park City, local seasonal foods, and their farm as an outdoor venue. They plan to host or cohost more events with info at www.supastures.net.

That educational mission includes the next generation of the Jensen clan as Stan has four children who work the farm and learn sustainable practices. Nephews also join them in the summer. Hutchinson enjoys watching them gain confidence and skills that translate off the farm, too. Niece Samantha Jensen runs the fresh egg business.

Hutchinson’s own experiences gave her the confidence to join a business pitch contest at the October 2023 One Utah Summit in Cedar City. She earned the Grand Prize, the State Bank Legacy & Values Award, and $15,000 in prize money. It was a good year as Sunnyside Up Pastures also earned the SBDC Business of the Year Award for 2023 in central Utah.

“We were grateful to find Snow College SBDC early on to get a fast start and not slug away by ourselves,” said Hutchinson. “They have your back. Running a business on its own is hard –don’t do it by yourself.”

SBDC services are free to businesses in the Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties. Connect with the Center at 435-283-7376.

*For comparison’s sake, the nearly 17,000 square mile SBDC service area is larger than Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey combined.