We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maggie Rutland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maggie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

If you live in South Carolina, you know that hurricane Helene came further inland than what was expected. As a farmer whose husband was away with the military at the time. I prepared as much as I could for heavy rain and powerful wind. But what we got was so much worse tornados touching down, heavy rain and pure destruction. The next morning after surviving through the night in the middle of the house holding my baby, just praying for my family and animals to be okay. I opened the door to see all our hard work thrown across the pasture. Fences ripped out the ground. my chickens trapped. Trees that have been here for 100 years or more down all over the farm. We of course were alive and safe. So, we were thankful. I was so upset though. Had no idea where to start. We had no power and no idea when we would get it back. I drug out our generator to run our 3 freezers full of meat. Because no matter what I couldn’t lose all our product. it’s the only way our farm could recover. At that time, I had also been storing 2 whole hogs and 100 chicken products at Augusta Locally Grown in Augusta who we sell with. I got a text saying someone was trying to reach me. I panicked thinking we had lost all our meat; they were keeping there. But it was the total opposite, they were planning to give back to the community after the hurricane, and they knew how badly we had been hit. So, they Bought ALL OUR MEAT! Everything! They cooked it all and handed it out to everyone in need. They spread so much kindness in everything they do. But that day! that day I will never forget. they took all my worry and made it disappear. They helped us rebuild everything we lost. They could have bought meat from anywhere and probably a lot cheaper meat. But they choose to invest in us, they choose to help us! and believe in us. They still continue to, to this day. We will always have a relationship with them because they choose us. They support us. and to me, that was the kindest thing anyone has ever done.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Maggie Rutland, the co-owner of Rutland Ranch LLC in Aiken, South Carolina. My husband and I started this farm 4 years ago with nothing but land and drive. We didn’t come from farming families, but my family had farmland from back when my great grandpa farmed. It had sat dormant since 1970 when he retired. We had really got hooked watching Joel Salatin, Justin Rhodes and Sheraton Park Farms. So, my husband told me that is what he wanted to do. He wanted to raise pasture raised meats and do regenerative farming. So, we drew out a business plan and approached my grandma with our plans. she was hesitant at first. but finally, she agreed! we built our house and got started building everything we would need to raise pasture poultry, Fast forward 4 years we offer pasture raised, vaccine and hormone free, poultry, pork and eggs. and we are working on getting our beef started as well. I think what sets us apart from others is our quality of meats and the care we give our animals. We offer open gate policy. You can come at any time and see the farm and the animals we raise and how we raise them. We will answer all your questions and make you feel 100% you’re buying the best meat for your family. Plus, with our open gate policy I feel like it makes our customers feel comfortable with us and a lot of them have become like family! One of my proudest moments recently, that made me feel so good about everything we are doing. Is we have had a lot of meetings at the farm lately with potential grants that we are looking to apply for. and EVERY single person that has come out to observe our farm and see our plans. Have said they don’t think they have ever seen a cleaner farm with the cleanest happiest animals. The one they were most surprised of was our pigs. one guy even said they don’t stink. every pig farm they have been to stinks. and its true! ha-ha when you raise the animals in a natural way. They don’t. Our pigs get so much space and woods and green pasture to run and play in., and they are never penned up. It’s what allows us to be pasture raised and vaccine free and antibiotic free on top of that. When animals are raised in clean natural habitat, they don’t get worms, pig lice (yes that’s a thing and its horrible!) And they don’t get sick. The main thing I want people to know about us is we love this! we love this way of life! we love the animals! we are not trying to get rich. we just want to continue doing what we love and supplying our family and others with meat that they don’t have to question.

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

Markets! Honestly. I am a people person. So, I love to talk, I love to hear other people’s stories and make them feel heard. I love people. I have met some of the most amazing people doing markets with huge connections. Alot of those are still our customers till this day. We plan on reaching out to more markets to set up at. Just to get our name out there. Events are the second source. Even if they just take a business card! at least they have it. I got a call last year from a lady going through her wallet and saw the card. and She had completely forgotten about wanting to preorder meat. but she had that card, so she was able to reach out.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I absolutely do! I want everyone that shops with us to know they are always welcomed here. And I always let them know their loyalty is appreciated in one way or another. Discounts, Free Extras. We also do trading with our clients who own their own businesses. And I always do social media shout outs to any of our clients with their own business to send people their way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rutland-ranch.square.site/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/Rutlandranch150
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087056079616
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RutlandRanch