From the Land of Kansas Trademark Program Promotes Kansas Products
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Many of Kansas’ ag-related businesses are small operations with wonderful products but need assistance with resources and expertise to market their wares. Fortunately, a state trademark program, From the Land of Kansas, provides resources and benefits to help ag businesses grow.
From the Land of Kansas offers an array of incentives including web listings, social media promotion, branding and networking opportunities to Kansas companies of all sizes who grow, raise, serve or produce Kansas products.
Madd House Hill, a dairy goat farm in Paola, started as a 4-H project 10 years ago. Cynthia and John Maddock’s four children wanted to raise livestock, and after much research and family discussion, the Maddocks purchased six Nigerian Dwarf goats. Now with a herd of 30, the Maddocks make and sell soaps, lotions, lip balms, cheeses, sauces and cheesecakes.
“All of our products are handcrafted using goat milk straight from our farm, essential oils and natural botanicals,” Cynthia Maddock says.
But with more than 30 products including lotions and soaps offered in several scents, keeping track of sales was a challenge. From the Land of Kansas members can purchase barcodes at bulk discount prices.
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“We were able to take advantage of this benefit and easily got everything managed,” Maddock says.
As a business owner, Maddock feels a sense of pride every time she applies a From the Land of Kansas logo to her products.
“The logo also signifies legitimacy,” she says. “This program brings together a group of farmers and small businesses who are serious about their products and in growing their businesses. From the Land of Kansas provides tools to help do that.”
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The Logo Means Local
Jenny Doty, manager of the Lenexa Farmers Market, says From the Land of Kansas is a great source of information. The Lenexa market only sells products grown, raised or made in the state or within 250 miles of the market, and when a market vendor attaches a From the Land of Kansas logo to a jar of jam or a loaf of freshly baked bread, the item has distinction, she says.
“When you travel, you want a product that’s made in the area to take back with you or give as a gift,” Doty says. “With the From Land of Kansas sticker, people know the item was bought with purpose. It means ‘this was specially made for you,’ and it represents our state well.”
Helping Businesses Grow
Sarah Jane May started making her namesake salsa in 2009 from an abundance of backyard garden tomatoes. When growing the produce for her products was unsustainable, she began sourcing tomatoes and peppers from growers in Sumner County.
Sarah Jane’s Salsa now offers 20 products including a variety of salsas, jellies, relishes and their most popular item: jalapeño mustard. Their products are now in about 80 retail locations throughout Kansas and in other states. A few years ago, they opened a specialty market in Argonia, May’s hometown, where they sell fresh produce in season and other Kansas-made products such as local honey and jellies.
“Anyone can start a business, but it takes a lot to sustain a business over time,” says May, who runs the company with her husband, Shane.
“You can’t Google everything,” she says of her early years in business. “And that’s what I was doing.”
May now uses From the Land of Kansas as a tool for research, citing help she received connecting with experts at Kansas State University and with applications for the Securing Local Food Systems grant.
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