Over the Fence Farms Expands to Include New Branch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Mary Katherine Henley

Media Relations Marketing Coordinator

(580) 242-2750, Ext. 226

OVER THE FENCE FARMS EXPANDS TO INCLUDE NEW BRANCH

ENID,OKLA.  Over the Fence Farms, housed in the James W. Strate Center for Business Development, has gone from an idea in the mind of owner Linda Beguin to a thriving family business with two lines of retail merchandise and a brand new co-packing branch.

“I never could have pulled together a commercial kitchen on my own,” Beguin said. “Because the Center has that resource, I have been able to grow my business to what it is today.”

Over the Fence Farms is a family-owned business that makes specialty pickles, spices and baking mixes.

Its product is now in more than50 stores across Oklahoma, and they are already building a client base for their brand new co-packing branch. The new branch will be called Spotted Cow Packaging.

“The co-packing idea came from someone asking us to package something as a favor and really grew from that point,” Beguin said.

Beguin’s business became housed at the James W. Strate Center for Business Development in 2012.The company got its start when Beguin attended the annual Entrepreneurs Inspire Bootcamp, where she learned about how to start a thriving venture from industry professionals.

Oklahoma State University’s Riata Center for Entrepreneurship partners with Autry Technology Center to provide instructors, curriculum, giveaways and more for Inspire Bootcamp.

“OSU has been honored to have a chance to work with Autry in order to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in the Enid community through the Entrepreneurs Inspire Bootcamp,” Misty Stutsman, manager of events and outreach for the Riata Center, said.

The final night of the 2014 Bootcamp is Tuesday, September 30. Dr. Lee Manzer from OSU is presenting on marketing, and there will be a commencement and networking event afterward.

“The ability to have knowledgeable personnel on hand as well as having training available is what allowed my business to even exist,” Beguin said.

Beguin’s Over the Fence Farms also won second place in the 2013 Cherokee Strip Business Model Competition at the Center for Business Development. Her competitive streak doesn’t end there. She also plans to enter in the Dream Big Oklahoma Business Conception Competition.

--more--

The winner of the Dream Big Oklahoma Business Conception Competition gets $5,000 to put toward starting a new business or expanding their current one. The deadline to enter is October 3, 2014. After all entries are in, people can vote on their favorite idea by visiting dreambigoklahoma.com.

“Linda from Over the Fence Farms is a great example of an individual who has a great product and passion and was able to use all of the resources that Enid has to offer to see her dream come to fruition,” Stutsman said.

Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry serves nearly 13,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Business and Industry Services Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.

# # #