SchillingBridge: Small town living goes hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship

Throughout their 25 years as small business owners, Mike and Sharon Schilling have whittled entrepreneurship down to a science.

Since starting a farm supply company back in 1985, they’ve also created a seed supplier, a fertilizer plant and numerous other businesses, parlaying each previous venture into the next. In 2002, the couple’s entrepreneurship culminated in growing grapes at a nine-acre vineyard near Pawnee City. And, given that successful entrepreneurship is inextricably bound to innovation, it’s unsurprising that the couple’s latest venture — a combination winery/microbrewery — is the first of its kind in the nation.

“Back when we applied for our license in 2005, they told us we were the first company to apply for both a winery and a brewery license,” said Sharon Schilling, co-owner of SchillingBridge Winery and Microbrewery. “We realized the economic impact a winery has on a small town and the dollars that come into a community because of one, and Mike wanted to start a microbrewery as well.”

In addition to satisfying their own goals and ambitions, the Schillings hope their latest venture helps breath new life into the Pawnee City area. Now in its fifth year, the winery/microbrewery presents a compelling vision of the future young people can have in a rural area, both through the jobs it provides and the community growth it encourages.

“It seems like a lot of you people can’t wait to get out of small towns and go off to experience the rest of the world, but I think there are kids who want to stay in their hometown because they love small town living,” Sharon said. “We’re just providing an opportunity for those people to remain in small towns.”

“We don’t necessarily want to do all the job creation, but rather inspire other entrepreneurs to get out here and do what Mike and I did 25 years ago: come back to their hometown, start a business and create their own jobs,” she added.

In addition to once again experiencing that legendary small town hospitality, entrepreneurs returning to their former homes find themselves blessed by another essential perk: familiarity. Having lived in that small town once before, according to Sharon, puts one more in tune with the needs and opportunities of that community.

“That’s what I feel like a lot of people don’t understand: If you want to start a business, go to a small town,” Sharon said. “It’s so much easier. And look to your hometown first. Generally, you’ll better know what to expect, and overall, you’re going to get a much better response to your business.”

But even then, a small town set-up isn’t a guaranteed formula for instant success. Like any other business venture, location and a home-turf advantage are no substitute for copious amounts of good, honest work.

“The definition of entrepreneur is a risk-taker, though you can reduce some of that risk by going to a small town with a great idea, taking it further and trying to provide some jobs,” Sharon said. “But even in a small town, as an entrepreneur, you’re going to be working 8, 10, 12-hour days, 5 or 6 days a week; really working.

“My husband and I go home every day and joke ‘We’re so glad we’re making this look so easy.’ Like anything worth doing, it takes long hours and hard work.”