Beginning Sunny Hollow Farms
In 1996, I had enough of working in the corporate world. I had three children and I worked 80-90 hours a week. Something had to give.

I am a Christian. When you are down on the bottom you finally ask God for help and direction. I waited patiently for the right answer. After I quit, I had several job offers but nothing seem right. Over and over I kept hearing my inner voice say... Jill, I give everyone a talent. What is yours? I remember thinking all I know how to do is cook and can. For as long as I can remember I have found deep satisfaction and happiness in cooking. When I was a small child I followed anyone around to watch them cook, especially my grandmother. When I would think of having a business where I shared cooking and canning with others I felt a peace unlike any other than I have ever felt. I knew this was a right decision.

I became a woman on a mission! I want to say at that point I didn't know "squat" about having a food business but I knew I could do it with God's help. As I started making decisions God opened doors when they needed open and shut the doors that I didn't need to go through. If I started to make a decision that was not where I should be I could feel it. That didn't mean that I always listened. I have made wrong decisions but I pick up the pieces, dust myself off and start again. It has taken me years to learn how to do that. I am sure God sits in heaven and rolls his eyes at some of the things I have done!

Sunny Hollow Farms' Theme
I am very proud of my heritage and being from West Virginia. West Virginia is rich in history, culture and food. We are a very diverse state. As I have traveled I realize we are ethnic! When I started I thought everyone "canned" and everyone ate brown beans and cornbread. I was wrong. I choose to feature in our products a taste from the past and the present.

Style of Marketing
When I opened the business we marketed through wholesale and I also traveled to shows, fairs, and festivals. It was very apparent if someone sampled the products they bought vs. being on a grocery store shelf. I always felt if I could just get it in their mouth I didn't have to do any selling! The only way to do that on a steady basis was to market directly to the customers. In 2004 we started selling only through home parties and events.

Ode to Carla
In 2001 I was doing a show in Pittsburgh, PA and saw one of my regular customers, Carla. We, of course, started to talk. You have to know both of us, we are "Chatty Cathy's". Anyway, I told her I wanted to do direct sales but had no idea how to start. She was so excited and made me swear I would let her be my first Chef. Of course, I did. As I did the research and secured funding, (and it takes longer than you plan) Carla was my inspiration. I can NEVER thank her enough. She would call or email me to see when I was going to make the change or tell me she couldn't wait. That would encourage me so much. I am sure everyone thought she was crazy to believe in me. Carla, at the time, was a single parent and so am I. We believed in each other. It is so much easier to go down the road of life when you have someone like her to be there beside you.

Goals and Desires
One of my personal and business goals is to provide a means for anyone who needs to work, can. Anyone, can sell a food product if it is good. None of us set our goals to be divorced, financially in a bind or whatever is hard for someone to go through. I want to offer a helping hand. I want Sunny Hollow Farms to be a vehicle for anyone that needs it. I have people around me that are my rock when I need it and I would like to provide that for someone else.

The future is bright. No matter where I go or the company goes as long as I have God I will be ok. I pray this for each of you. Thanks for listening.

God Bless,
Jill Brookover, founder