We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenn Nimmrichter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenn below.
Jenn, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
When I was 11 years old, a woman was spinning yarn at the park on an antique wheel while her husband sailed model sail boats. We were mesmerized because it wasn’t something you saw every day. My Mom and her talked a bit while I just watched her hands work effortlessly between the fiber and the flyer. The woman asked me if I wanted to try and, like most people, I declined with the “I couldn’t ever do that” excuse. Now let’s fast forward to my early 20’s. I had a surreal experience in Scotland where I could learn how to scissor shear the sheep. Nobody else volunteered. You could say that it was only natural that the lanolin got in to my blood stream. My Mom opened a rug hooking studio that morphed in to a yarn shop. I learned to knit and the rest is history. My purpose was behind a wheel, on a farm, an in the design studio.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The Sheepwalk Ranch was born from an idea I had while being held hostage by weather in Oberwart, Austria. We were trying to start a new life there, but while my husband went one way, I went another. My mind was constantly searching for that name, concept, opportunity. Months of stagnation were making me uneasy. My marriage was unraveling and I knew I would have to recycle my energy in to a new life as the single mom. For some, fiber arts is just a hobby that old ladies stash in their big purses. For me, it was art history, ancient civilizations, historical re-enactment and totally relevant to the modern world. If you look at what the Fibershed movement has kickstarted then you will understand why what I do is not just a cute hobby.
I started small with taking over my Mom’s shop, learning the fundamentals of yarn making, exploring fiber breeds and expanding my business and marketing skills. We couldn’t afford to hire anyone so it was important that we be self-sufficient and innovative on a dime. Moving the shop from California to Texas meant taking financial hit, but it allowed me to deconstruct all we had created to start building a stronger brand.
Texas gave me a chance to explore farming. The shop gives us space to bring farm to table. It wasn’t clear when I moved, but it has become clear now that everything I had to learn for the business was going to help me to nurture the “sheepwalk” concept I planted in 2007. It would be immature of me to say “I did it all” because it takes a village, a support group, a few good friends to hold your head up in the harder times and the will to succeed even if it means PBJ sandwiches for another week.
The breakthrough for me occurred during the Covid outbreak. I had to go home, face myself and start creating to avoid being forgotten. While many businesses went under, a hundred more were being created quietly in homes across America. What kept me sane was living in the country. I finally had time to work with my livestock, make meaningful tutorials and update the vision board. The Ranch was a collective project that meant expansion of wool breeds, an on-site studio, the growth of Texas Wool Week and, finally, the expansion move of adding a fiber mill. The fiber mill was on the vision board long before I moved to Texas, but was the hardest to get to. Today we help others tell their stories through their fiber, make use of all the fiber we shear away from our critters and provide the education to back it all up.
We committed to the name Texas Wool Week in 2024 as a response to what we were seeing globally. The Fibershed movement is a global experience, but in Texas it is barely going. We began composting our wool in 2021 as a fun project. The mill helps us expand the agricultural aspect. The sheep help with the regenerative aspect. We can talk about all of this at our mill gatherings, festivals and schools. I love to call it “full circle economics of farming” because we can feed ourselves, feed the earth, slow down fashion to focus on healthier living and earth friendly products while still having fun.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The best class I ever took was Marketing 101. I won’t lie. It was hard to focus and do the homework, but that class opened the door to graphic design. Every business owner should be able to take the wheel at any time even if designing is not your strength. Understanding product development and social media leads to knowing who you are and what you want.
The next is your vision board. It might change a little over time, but that little seed if watered and fed will take you places you never thought you would go. I had to remind myself that there were no straight lines because I was going to be forced to learn the ins and outs of fiber production, arts and festivals before I could establish myself as the team leader, business owner, and ranch manager.
There will always be someone who wants to hold you back. They can only succeed if you let them write your story. My success is owed to those people who tried to stand in my way and define me to others. I had to become stronger and smarter with every twist and turn on my journey. And, intuition is there for a reason.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
The biggest area of growth in my business is when I took ownership of my ideas and turned off the outside noise. There’s always going to be someone who wants to stand in your way and most often it is you. You are your worst enemy. Second guessing, trying to mind read, worrying about outcomes. These are the real enemy. I tell people that I am more infamous than famous because I am the one who sees the open door and walks through it. This may mean I am competition for someone else or detouring to gain more knowledge. The clients and friends who know me well will support my efforts as long as I remain honest in my endeavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thesheepwalkranch.com
- Instagram: followthesheepwalk
- Facebook: followthesheepwalk
- Youtube: followthesheepwalk
Image Credits
Photo credits to Jennifer Nimmrichter
