Income Opportunity: Value Added Products
Presented by: Michael Ruzycki, Ruzycki Farms & Jona Kay Squires, Mid-America Technology Center
Grow your production by adding canned & packaged products with incubator kitchens. These certified kitchens provide a variety of assistance from business development to packaging & distribution.
About speakers:
Jona Kay Squires: Jona Kay & her husband Mark are fifth generation agricultural producers and are passionate about breathing agriculture everyday of their lives. They involved their three kids, Maverick, Gatlin and Jentry from an early age in their livestock operation of raising cattle, goats and pigs so they may experience hard work, the challenges of working with nature while developing grit, confidence, the ability to communicate with customers and understanding marketing and sales. Jona’s full time job is working as an agriculture business coordinator for Mid-America Technology Center where she serves Cleveland, Garvin and McClain Counties by helping producers with business plans, record keeping, applying for NRCS Grants for High Tunnels and other programs. She truly loves her job and those who work in the agricultural industry!
Michael Ruzucki: Michael and his wife, Emily, own Ruzycki Farms in Jones, Ok. Ruzycki Farms was established in 2008 and Michael and Emily were married on 6-7-8 in their garden during their very first season. Since that first year of farming the Ruzycki’s have had many, many adventures which included an indoor market called The Veggie Lounge where they sold homegrown produce and homemade products. They have since relocated and rebuilt their own farm and indoor market. Every year the Ruzycki’s have invested into their farm business and it continues to prosper and grow. They have a very large customer base while also serving several OKC restaurants.
