Meet Jenna Horning

We recently connected with Jenna Horning and have shared our conversation below.

Jenna, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I think that I get my work ethic from how I was raised. My father was and is an extremely hard worker. Growing up in a military family, where my dad worked special forces, he was hardly around. But all that showed me is that working hard and putting in 100% is the only option in life. Back then, those guys were a special breed… they weren’t making any money and yet they were doing the most dangerous jobs asked of the military. Once he retired, he went straight into another demanding career in law enforcement. He has devoted his life to making sure everyone in his family, immediate and extended, are taken care of and provided for. He and my mom also set a standard that although they provided for us as kids, we were meant to stand on our own and start working towards our own goals early. I was earning money at 12 with babysitting and by the time I was 14, I was working in a restaurant bussing tables. In high school and college, I worked three jobs to pay for my living expenses and to get my degree. It was not exactly what I would want for my girls… I worked way too much… but it set a great foundation for a life of hard work and determination to make things happen. Sometimes things don’t go the way I hoped or planned, but I know that I can pivot and work hard and maybe find a new path or solution that works even better.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

In 2019 I decided it was the right time to break out the business plan I had written years early and open an ice cream shop! Our town didn’t have one and although we are a very small town, I thought a good ice cream shop would do well. Or at least, I had hoped it would! My oldest daughter has severe food allergies and so when I was working on a concept, I wanted to make sure it would accommodate those who struggled with these challenges. Going out for ice cream may seem simple and lighthearted, but for those with life threatening food allergies, it is actually pretty scary and most of the time isn’t even a possibility. So off we went. We opened on July 4, 2019 and haven’t looked back once! We cater to allergies as much as we can and we focus on our community and giving back. My husband and three daughters have been the biggest source of support and encouragement and that has made all the difference in how we are able to run our business. In fact, my husband recently finished the build out of our newest venture…. A renovated horse trailer turned mobile ice cream unit! Now we are able to reach areas outside of our immediate community with our mission and we are so excited about it!

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?

I think the most important qualities to have in starting and operating a small business would be determination, grit and humility. Most things can be achieved by putting your head down and working hard… not all, but most. You can’t possibly know or do all the things alone. I know I can put my head down and work all the hours but if I don’t allow others in on the journey or admit that surrounding myself with a community is equally beneficial, I am losing out; my business is losing out. My husband has added more value to my business than anyone. Although it is my business (he is a full time engineer), he does almost anything that I need to make all the things happen. My three daughters have been the biggest supporters and cheerleaders I could ask for. Along the way I have learned from old bosses, former and current employees of mine, friends and family and anyone else who may have a thought or opinion. I may not always agree or use what I hear, but it resonates. I have learned so much from those around me.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

My husband has been the most helpful in building my character and overcoming challenges. We have been together longer than we haven’t, 22 years now and have been friends for 26 years…. I’m only 40. lol as much as I would like to think I am who I am and I did that… it’s just not true. My husband is the most stubborn person I know and he just doesn’t allow me to get by with anything. If I want to throw a fit or complain, he calls me out and pushes me to be better. Or when I feel discouraged or sad about how something is going, he supports me and encourages me to keep moving forward. He isn’t always right, but either way, he makes me think…. And either to prove him wrong or to want to be better together, that type of encouragement works for me… for us.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Headshot- Holly Butler Photography

Teagan holding allergy sign- Dustin Lewis Images

All others are personal photos.

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