Molly Jones’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Molly Jones shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Molly , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
The biggest misconception about our business is that we are a petting zoo. While our animals are very friendly and well socialized, we do not operate a zoo. We are a working farm that takes biosecurity, animal safety, and human safety very seriously. We often get requests to visit the farm to see the animals. While we love teaching and providing experiences, we have limited the animal experiences to photography sessions at this time. We hope that in the future we will have ample enough space to offer agritourism on a larger scale.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Molly Jones, one-half of Jones Mini Farm. My husband Dusty and I purchased our home in 2018 and have built a small livestock operation on the property. Our vision is ever-changing and evolving as the years have continued. Owning livestock is not an inexpensive endeavor. Our Mission is to produce and provide community members and livestock owners with natural farm-sourced products and healthy, productive livestock. We are located in the heart of the Lowcountry, South Carolina. Our journey started with one goat named Pig. She changed our lives. We needed her more than we thought she needed us. Jones Mini Farm, as a brand, aspires to be a sustainable resource of fresh, natural products for our community. We desire to be recognized as a trusted resource of products and knowledge. Our goal is to be a credible name within the dairy and poultry communities for producing vibrant, productive, healthy, and parasite-resistant livestock capable of living long, productive lives.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My family taught me about work ethic. I was born into a family of hard-working American entrepreneurs, farmers, engineers, mechanics, academics, and creatives. I was taught early on that hard work results in rewards and security for my future. From grandparent generations to my parents, the example of hard work and dedication was evident.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to chase her passions without fear of failure. For so many years, I followed a path I felt was expected of me. I chose to please others often times sacrificing my own desires. Being an only child in a family of so many successful adults, I felt a sense of pressure that was not necessarily translated by my parents and grandparents, but from their examples of how they lived their lives. I would tell my younger self not to worry about what the expected path is, but to follow the path you find that makes you happy.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I believed if I stayed in a traditional work setting 9-5, collected a paycheck, paid into retirement, and paid my taxes, that I would not struggle. The reality of my generation is that we are finding out these truths we were told growing up are no longer that. We are finding that owning a home, saving for retirement, making the purchases we need, and creating a foundation are not as achievable as we were taught to believe. For this reason, I now choose to live for the moment. I choose to experience all I can NOW. I am not waiting for retirement to live my life. When we can afford to take the trip, we take it!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
This question really hits home for me. I have achieved what I wanted professionally, and found it has not satisfied me fully. I feel a continuous pull to create and build something of my own. I have tapped into this pull by creating Jones Mini Farm. The farm is not our day job; both Dusty and I work in a 9-5 career. We are blessed in our achievements and the organizations we work for, but I still feel something is missing. It is difficult to juggle both at times.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jonesminifarm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonesminifarm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejonesminifarm
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonesminifarm