Meet Mandy McGuire | IHeart Media Sales Rep and Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mandy McGuire and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mandy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Truly, it’s to start monetizing off of a lifestyle I love very much and knew could grow based on what I’m seeing has a turn/shift with agriculture, farming and homesteading as a view point from other people. Beyond just my love for animals, and living a more simple life, there is money to be made from people who love it too! Whether wanting to grow their own garden, farm or even just enjoy watching it on social media.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been in marketing and media sales since the day I graduated college. I love helping people and companies grow their business. I never really thought about having my own. One day 10’years ago, living in the suburbs about 10 minutes from my current job at the time, my husband said he’d like to be closer to his family farm, which at the time was 1hr and 30 min away. I couldn’t be that far from my job so we compromised. We moved 45 min between his family farm and 45 min from my job in the other direction. In the country!!!!! I felt very isolated at first, far away from what I knew, and not sure if having so much land, and space from where and what I was used to would make me happy. It did more than that after some growing pains. I realized this was the only way to live. During Covid, I was home more and and Daniel, my husband, wanted to get back to his roots, but also have something that could eat the back pasture, and wanted cows. Foreign to me!!! I was like, “let’s get fluffy cows” ha! Highlands were beautiful, docile, and at the time hitting a huge popularity it had seemed. So we started there! Well, I made a mistake, the chickens came first…but then it was just every animal I could fit into my barn or acreage. So money was just flying out the door buy buying animals and feeding them. It was trying making me happy during a really hard time in the world. I then decided to start a social media account for my little hobby farm, and that just kind of grew a little and took on a life of its own. I’m sure in some way I was using my marketing knowledge and pouring it on their, and then that became a venture and I started making money with ambassador partnerships, almost influencing in the lifestyle. I thought, this is a way to connect and build companionship in my farming community, learn more, and also share this little world of me and my journey. Sharing with people while showing off what I was being educated on those product wise, how to use, how to build, how to, well everything…and everything came with some sort of company I could help market. Tons of people do it everyday and word of mouth on social spreads! So between breeding for the right animals, with the right genetics, and social media, I was making a nice side hustle for myself and family. So we created a business!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love love love my little town of Granville Ohio! I’d obviously show them my farm animals, they would help with farm chores, for sure! I’d also show them around the small village of Granville. From antique shopping at Sister Salvage, clothing boutiques, like The Green Velvet, our locally owned restaurants like The Station for Breakfast, The Broadway Pub for some great lunch, the historic Buxton in for dinner and a spook! They say it’s haunted. There are so many places to hang out that have so much character, like having a cider at Seek no Further or our brewery Three Tigers!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have to say my husband. Without him I wouldn’t see the quiet, the country life and its simplicity. He has shown and taught me how to tend to the farm, cherish and care for animals, and how to celebrate the simple joys. He’s been my true farm life teacher, partner, and my hearts compass!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcguirehobbyfarm/