There is a certain degree of comfort that comes from knowing where your food comes from.

Sisters and fellow Lakeland alumni Jordy Howlett and Jacy Spreen are determined to help demystify the process with the help of their mother, Sheila, and their farm-to-table shop, Mama Sheila's Farm Store.

Located on their farm in Parkland County, Alta. the shop sells farm-fresh products, as well as other locally-sourced handmade goods. It began as an agribusiness assignment for Howlett, who completed the program in 2021.

Planting the seed

After completing Lakeland's crop technology diploma program in 2020, Howlett continued her studies in agribusiness. The seed for her family's new enterprise grew out of a group project in 2021, where Howlett was tasked to develop a business plan.

“It was right in the midst of COVID-19 and people really wanted to know where their food was coming from,” Howlett explains. “The other girls in my group and I thought it would be a great idea to make a business plan to give people what they want. So, we did our plan on a farm store.”

The Class of 2020 and 2021 grad went back to her family's farm and shared the idea with her mother and sister.

“We already had cows, pigs and chickens,” Howlett says. “We already produce our own food for ourselves. Why not just produce more to give people good food? It would be the sort of business that fills the gap between you and where your food comes from. So many people don't get to see where food comes from, they just go to the grocery store. But with us, you can visit our farm, see where your cows, chickens or pigs come from. They go from our farm to the butcher in Barrhead and then to our farm store.”

“It started out as a conversation,” Spreen recalls. “Jordy brought up the business plan for a hypothetical store and said, ‘Hey, wouldn't it be crazy if we did this?'”

Watching it grow

Spreen credits Lakeland College's “learning and growth mindset” with inspiring her to set her sights higher and look at the bigger picture - which helped when the idea of the farm store was suggested.

She came to the college determined to spend two years earning her child and youth care counsellor diploma before entering the workforce after graduating in 2019. An instructor at Lakeland inspired her to keep learning.

“They planted the seed and said they thought I'd be a really good fit in the social services field,” Spreen explains. “When it came time to graduate, I thought, ‘What's two more years?' I wanted to continue expanding my knowledge and growth.”

She spent two more years at MacEwan University, graduating with a degree in child and youth care. Afterwards, she began a career in social services.

It was that same learning and growth philosophy that had Spreen jumping at the chance to try something new - entering into business with her sister and her mother.

“Lakeland just plants that seed to see what else is out there, to keep growing, to keep learning,” Spreen says. “To not be scared to try new things and to put yourself out there. When my sister brought up the business plan, it was just like, ‘Let's give it a try.'”

Ready for harvest

Mama Sheila's Farm Store opened in April 2021. “We provide beef, chicken, pork and eggs,” Howlett says. “Other local vendors bring in their items as well. It's going pretty well.”

Spreen explains, “It's definitely been a learning curve for us. It's been really helpful that Jordy has so much knowledge from her Lakeland experience. She's teaching us how to apply what she learned in the agribusiness program. We've learned so much about how small businesses function in the industry and the demand for farm-to-table products.”

“That's the important part,” Howlett agrees. “We really wanted to be able to give good food back to our local community. We were raised on good food like this.”

This past fall, Howlett's business plan came full circle as the farm hosted animal science technology diploma students from Lakeland who stopped by for a tour.

“It was so amazing,” says Howlett. “It's great to see that a business plan that started at Lakeland came to life and then we were able to bring Lakeland students back to it so they could see the finished product. It really makes you proud of what you've made and the instructors that helped you do it."

Sowing future success

Even as they stay busy with Mama Sheila's Farm Store, neither Howlett nor Spreen have forgotten their other ambitions.

In addition to her work at the shop, Spreen continues to work full time. She is a therapeutic support navigator for CASA Mental Health, which provides mental health services to Albertans ages three to 18 and their families. Spreen assists families as they transition back into the community after accessing intensive therapies offered through the agency.

Along with behind-the-scenes financial work and customer service at the shop, Howlett has continued her studies. She's completing Lakeland's bachelor of agriculture technology program. She is finishing her practicum, working with the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network, using weather stations and smart maps to track in-field variability.

The network shares data and expertise with farmers, industry and developers to better help in the use and development of agriculture technologies.

“I wanted to try something different,” Howlett says. “The agriculture technology degree is new and I want to use it to find something new.” That need to put themselves out there and try something new was a seed planted at Lakeland College, Spreen suggests.

“Lakeland is encouraging, telling me there's more out there,” Spreen says. “That growth and learning mindset, that's really helped me - helped us - in our personal careers and with the store.”

Learn more about their business at facebook.com/mamasheilasfarmstore.

Photos: Top to bottom-1. Jordy Howlett, Sheila Howlett and Jacy Spreen share a laugh. 2. The trio outside their store. 3. Jacy, Sheila and Jordy. 4. Jordy with a calf. Photos courtesy of Wright at Home Photography by Nicole Wright.