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Popular farmers' market vendor started making goat's milk soaps and lotions while in high school

Ashley Siferd launched her business career when she was a sophomore at Cory-Rawson High School as a way to help pay for college.

She excelled in her business and while in high school in 2011 was one of 10 (the only girl) agri-entrepreneur award winners at the National FFA convention.

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Now entering her final year at University of Northwestern Ohio, she continues her business “Old Homestead Soaps and Lotions.” And, for her eighth season, she sells her homemade products each Saturday at Bluffton’s Farmers’ Market.

“Homemade goat’s milk soap and lotion is made from fresh goat’s milk,” she said. “We raise dairy goats and milk them to make our products.”

All products are produced in the Siferd home and sold from there and at the farmers’ market.

Siferd has 30 goats including Alpines, Nubians and Oberhasli. While it takes only 15 minutes to create the soap, it takes two weeks for the soap to cure. Her mother, Teresa, assists in the soap making.

In addition to being a Bluffton vendor, Siferd is also a vendor at the Lima Farmers’ Market.

She also holds a Christmas open house and attends some crafts shows with her products. Her customers range from Ohio to Wisconsin, California, several other states and even France.

Products include:
4-ounce bars of soap
3-ounce bottles of lotion
8-ounce pump bottles of lotion
7-ounce canning jar lotion
Lip balms
Laundry soap

With over 30 fragrances, customers can choose from everything ranging from bay rum to warm vanilla sugar.

Vendor contact information:
Old Homestead Soaps and Lotions
Ashley Siferd
2855 County Road 29
Bluffton, OH 45817
419-358-6713
[email protected]
www.oldhomesteadsoaps.com

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