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

Serreta, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I remember sitting in church and listening to a sermon about being a WATER WALKER. It’s the story about in the midst of a storm Peter walked to Jesus… he was walking on water. BUT THEN HE LOST FOCUS…. I said on that day I wanted to be a water walker. Life goes on and I get hit with a hard blow. I had to have brain surgery. The surgery was scary but I had to walk on water. I was told I would no longer be able to work. I had to walk in water. I took my father’s recipe for making pickles and started a company.
The thing is… I HAVE LEARNED TO FOCUS… I am a risk-taker…a water-walker… I have STUPID FAITH in what God told me He would do with this business. I am excited about my journey. I am now in the process of scaling my business. Actually getting ready to HIRE 2 part time people.
We are adding more products to the PICKLE LINE….
We are opening a food truck. We are in the process of getting our own space to produce our pickles…..aaaaaannnnd we are working on the farm. So SFP Farms should have a small showing next year with fresh produce.
It is just really exciting to be a WATER WALKER….

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.

You know in the black community everyone had a grandmother or a mother that canned, made pickles or something. My Mama canned. My Daddy made these pickles. Wheeeewww they are good. Well, when I was told I would no longer be able to work I was super depressed. I called my Dad and he was like come home. I will teach you how to make the pickles. I came home and learned how to make pickles. I then started learning more and more about canning and what pickles. It was exciting and calming. I needed the pickles to keep going. So we have 5 products we actually produce now.
Sweet with a lil heat pickle
Sweet with a whole lotta heat pickle
Sweet with a lil heat relish
Mizz Gwen’s pepper jelly
Pickled blueberries

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding??!! What? Where? No really. I had terrible credit. I knew I could not go to any bank anywhere and ask for a loan.
As a black woman, I am a natural fighter. So I did what I do. I sacrificed one of my checks and purchased jars and products and went for it. Through the process, I have won pitch competitions and been rewarded grants through the Arkansas Vocational Rehabilitation department. I have used every extra dime towards the business. My Dad and my brother have both invested in order for me to scale to where I am now.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I actually started the business in Nashville TN. Covid hit and my Dad’s wife passed and he asked me to move back home to Arkansas. It was not in the plan, but God knows where you need to be and when.
Arkansas has been good to me and to Sarge’s Famous Pickles.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sargesfamouspickles.com
• Instagram: @Sarge’s Famous Pickles
• Facebook: Sarge’s Famous Pickles