We recently connected with Kim & Geoff Dickerson and have shared our conversation below.

Kim & Geoff, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

Once upon a time, nestled in the heart of St. Joseph, Michigan, stood a quaint grocery store known as Zick’s Vineland Foods. Founded by my grand[arents Harry and Shirley Zick, it was more than just a store; it was a cornerstone of the local community.

My mother spent her childhood days helping out at the store. She would often regale us with tales of those times, painting a picture of a vibrant place filled with laughter and warmth.

But it was within those very walls that my Uncle Garry Zick’s culinary journey began to take shape. At the age of twelve, he found himself captivated by the art of sausage making, under the teachings of Max Wolf, a German immigrant whose expertise in the craft was unrivaled, his knowledge and passion for sausage making igniting a spark within young Garry.

Garry’s skills flourished, and his love for sausage deepened. In 1983, armed with determination and a dream, Garry embarked on his own culinary adventure, opening a specialty sausage kitchen in nearby Berrien Springs, MI.

Driven by his fascination with “meat sticks,” Garry set out to create something truly unique. Thus, Zicks Sticks were born – shelf-stable meat snack sticks that would soon capture the hearts and taste buds of many. With each bite, customers savored the exceptional flavors and quality that had become synonymous with the Zick name.

As the years passed, Zick’s Specialty Meats flourished, garnering widespread acclaim for its smoked sausages, irresistible jerky, and other smoked meats. And alongside it grew their distribution arm called Buffalo Bobs, offering a curated selection of unique and exotic jerky and sticks that embody the essence of adventure and discovery.

As we reflect on our journey, we are reminded of the enduring spirit of my family that has shaped our path. We formed Ranch Hand Provisions down here in Texas so that we may share with others what all our family products have to offer. And as we look to the future, we remain committed to sharing our family’s story and flavors with the world. We hope our children (Jack, Claire and we have a third on the way) will be a part of the family business when they are a bit older.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

We formed Ranch Hand Provisions so that we could bring our family’s culinary history of smoked sausages, meats and jerky products to Texas. Driven by a passion for quality and a commitment to authenticity, we set out to offer a selection of smoked meats, jerky, and cured charcuterie that embody the essence of our family’s legacy. From savory smoked sausages to unique and delicious jerky, each product is crafted with care and attention to detail, ensuring a taste experience that is truly unparalleled.

With Ranch Hand Provisions, our aim is to not only share our family’s story but also to create a sense of connection and community through the shared enjoyment of exceptional food. As we continue on this journey, we invite you to join us in celebrating the flavors of our family’s smoked meats.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We participate in Artisian Markets on most weekends and have really fostered long standing relationships with clients that way. We have customers who are eager to come to a market we are at and we look forward to seeing familiar faces each time.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

We sell our products on our Shopify website as well as our wholesale site on Faire. One of the pros of having a website is that we have been able to have a platform where we can direct customers to be able to purchase our products. Con: We aren’t proficient in SEOs and trying to get our website to show up when people search for jerky and such so that has been a challenge.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ranchhandprovisions.com
• Instagram: ranchhandprovisions
• Facebook: Ranch Hand Provisions
• Linkedin: Ranch Hand Provisions