b'SMALL BUSINESSBy the second week, Lisa says they were better prepared. Thankfully, we were able to process people a little easier, but we still ran out of pork within a few hours.As the weeks passed, the Danforths alternated between selling at the farmers market and directly on their family farm, located about 10 miles from Nashville. By mid-summer, the Danforths decided it was time to open a retail shop, which is located adjacent to Our Place Hotel, also owned by the Danforths.The building had been a restaurant and dress shop, Lisa says. When we originally bought the building, the plan was to extend the hotel, but we got busy on the farm and didnt get to it. Family Business: Lauren Carpenter, Terry and Lisa Danforth, Clayton and Lindsey Danforth, Aubree Carpenter, and Reed Danforth.Less than a year after opening, Lisa says the store is still a work in progress. Im continuing to add more products. My goal is to have asVisit The Danforth Family many local and regional Georgia products as possible. Farms Country StoreLocal Shop: Danforth Family Farms Country Store located in Nashville, Georgia The Danforth Family Farms Country Store, located at 102 N. Davis102 N. Davis Street Nashville, GAStreet, Nashville, is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.A Country Store Experienceand Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Danforth Family Farms Country StoreL ocated in a former gas station in downtown Nashville, Georgia, Danforth Family Farms Country Store is becoming a popular stop for locals and tourists.I had a truck loaded with 10,000 pounds Featuring a large selection of fresh porkSelling directly to the consumer was anof pork, says Terry, who asked himself, products from Danforth Family Farmsoption. We had thought about startingWhat if this doesnt work?and beef from McKinnon Cattle in nearbya private label before, but COVID quicklySharing her husbands concerns, Lisa says, Douglas, the nostalgic store also carries anpushed us in that direction, says Terry,I remember following the truck to town assortment of Georgia-made products andwho has been raising hogs since 1980.and thinking about what would we do with country-themed home dcor. Within a few weeks, the Danforths hadall this meat?For Terry and Lisa Danforth, opening asecured a local USDA processor, purchased retail shop, especially during a pandemic,a refrigerated truck, and obtained theTheir apprehension quickly diminished was mainly out of necessity.necessary permits. as they pulled up to the farmers market. We told people to be there at 9 a.m., and During the emergence of COVID-19,Free from antibiotics and growthat 7:30 a.m., there was already a line, he Danforth Family Farms, like many otherhormones, Danforth Family Farmssays. I wondered what these people were pork producers, was impacted by theselection of pork includes bacon, ham,doing there so early, but then I found out temporary closing of national meatsausage, chops, tenderloins, and ribs.they were waiting on us.processing plants.Starting their direct sale operation at the In hindsight, Lisa says they werent We were still sending some hogs toNashville Farmers Market, the Danforthsexpecting a large number of customers. processing facilities, Terry says. Therelied on word-of-mouth and social mediaWe had one cash register on a system I problem was most of them were runningposts and admitted they werent sure whathadnt even practiced. People stood in line at half production because of employeesresponse they would receive.for hours as we had to use scraps of paper being out with COVID. to write down their orders. 34 SG MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 BUSINESS + CULTURE 35'