Shannon worked to support them through the difficult times of shutdowns in 2020. “The pandemic obviously affected everyone, especially those with retail businesses like 3 North Vines,” Shannon said. “Nate and Kristi were very adaptive and made changes so that they could keep their business open, and as a result they actually had one of their most prosperous years ever.” For instance, the Shopbells added an outdoor patio, additional outside seating, an updated menu and hosted several small outdoor weddings. “To me, this is the true definition of a successful, creative and innovative business owner – adjusting to change while building your customer base all while remaining profitable,” Shannon said. “With Kristi’s bubbly personality and industry knowledge, Nate’s attention to detail, and Ryan’s knowledge and experience, they make an excellent team and truly are the recipe for success.” Kristi, Nate, their two sons Parker (10) and Lincoln (8) are enjoying their rural life and running their growing business. “There are days I miss sitting behind a computer, but Nate, the kids and I love where we live and work,” she said. “People coming to our farm are here for this exact experience.” ■
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AGRICULTURE – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com/openfieldsblog. Margin Protection and Why You Should Take a Look at it This Fall Crop insurance continues to be the number one method used to mitigate the financial risks involved with growing a crop.
Answering Questions About Timber Financing Cameron Rowe, GreenStone’s financial services officer and timber expert understands the specific needs for operating loans, equipment loans, leases, mortgages, and letters of credit. ■
Commodity Updates From dairy to grape to potato and beyond, get the latest updates on the diverse commodities in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Partners — Fall 2021
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