In today’s day and age, the way that food is grown, produced, and distributed has become a prevalent problem, especially with the concept of sustainability coming to the forefront of our everyday lives. One of the major issues associated with produce is “conventional farming”, which is a type of farming system that relies on synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and intensive farming practices to maximize yields and profits. It involves large-scale monoculture crops, where a single crop is grown over a large area, with a heavy reliance on machinery for planting, harvesting, and processing. Conventional farming practices prioritize high productivity, efficiency, and profitability over environmental concerns, often resulting in negative impacts such as soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
About Bill and Kathy
In order to combat these issues and cultivate more sustainable methods when it comes to produce, Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff founded Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor in 2014. The launch of a fully-localized food store in Ann Arbor represented a significant shift in direction for the two co-founders, marking a new chapter in their careers. Kathy brought 25 years of expertise in marketing, strategy, and business planning gained from her experience working in the chemical, medical gasses, and automotive sectors. Bill, on the other hand, had over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, where he specialized in new product planning, corporate development, business development, and licensing. The two met while completing their MBAs at the University of Michigan.
The History of Argus
Argus Farm Stop’s mission is to grow Ann Arbor’s local agriculture economy by providing a platform for small and local farms to succeed. Essentially, Argus Farm Stop provides a place where local farms are able to sell locally-grown produce and other goods to consumers year-round. Argus Farm Stop has grown exponentially as a business and they now have three locations within Ann Arbor.
In August 2014, they opened their first “everyday year-round” farmer’s market on Liberty Street in a long-abandoned gas station. They immediately noticed that consumers who wanted to buy food from local farms were enthusiastic about having a convenient place to shop. In 2017, the farmers that were selling their produce through Argus insisted that they open a second location. They continued to adapt their business model to best serve their farmers, customers, and staff. In 2020, during the pandemic, they began an online business in response to requests from regular customers who could not get into grocery stores. That business is now an integral part of their offerings. In 2022, they expanded the second location by moving the market down the same block, a move that allowed them to fulfill their produce box and flower subscriptions. The Argus Farm Stop business has paid over $15 million to local farms and food producers. Their farmers receive 70% of the purchase price for their goods and they now have 200+ farms selling here throughout the year.
In 2015, the couple acquired Base Lake Farm situated in Webster Township north of Ann Arbor. The 258-acre property, which was formerly owned by the proprietors of Carl’s Chop House to supply beef to the renowned Detroit restaurant, is now the site of Baseline Farm, a grass-fed beef enterprise overseen by farmer John Cox, as well as an Airbnb. The couple bought the land to safeguard it from development through conservation easements and to maintain its use for farming.
As of 2021, Kathy and Bill remain actively engaged in the development and operation of Argus Farm Stop. Additionally, they, along with their team, provide webinars and training to assist individuals interested in creating a farm stop in their respective local communities. Kathy and Bill, who are parents to three children, currently reside in Ann Arbor.
How is Argus different?
Argus has an interesting financial approach. As a mission-driven L3C organization, Bill and Kathy aim to pay local farms as much as possible, while also providing staff with sustainable livelihoods and high-quality infrastructure to sell local food throughout the year. As a result, the organization has paid out over $15 million to local farms, which is remarkable for their mission. The customer demand for their products is what drives support for their mission. Despite this, their net income (excluding depreciation) has been breakeven each year, with slight negative or positive results. Some people describe their business model as either terrible because they make no money or fantastic because they have significant impact without needing to fundraise.
To sustain and embrace their recent business expansion, Argus is implementing significant changes. They have secured additional space at 1226 Packard for their Packard Argus Farm Stop Market and online fulfillment center. Meanwhile, their 1200 Packard store will transform into the Packard Argus Farm Stop Café. During the day, it will operate as a café, while at night it will function as a tavern. They will offer a more extensive selection of prepared foods from local restaurants, ready-to-eat produce, and New Zealand-style local fruit ice cream. Additionally, their café will host community events.
The recent expansion has resulted in a more defined and specialized staff roles at Argus. To support their activities across three locations in Ann Arbor, new management positions have been created. Laura Matney (Packard) and Travis Blume (Liberty), their experienced store managers, have taken on new responsibilities to provide support. Laura has become their first General Manager, while Travis will improve their internal systems and training with greater organization and integration. Working together with Bill and Kathy, they will oversee Argus as it undergoes transformation and growth in this new era.
Argus Farm Stop is committed to its mission of engaging everyone in the food system to help support small-to-medium sized farms in local communities. The current trend towards industrialized food grown on mega farms far away and transported long distances to consumers is concerning. To address this issue, Argus is actively exploring ways to promote healthy local food and enable local farms to earn sustainable livelihoods. They are determined to expand and transform the local food economy in the Ann Arbor community, raise awareness of the farm stop model, and advocate for a favorable regulatory environment for local food.
The food sold at Argus is typically grown locally within 5-50 miles of their market, on small farms that use sustainable and eco-friendly practices such as crop rotation and integrated pest management. None of their farmers are conventional, and some are even certified organic or utilize “beyond organic” methods. Their livestock and poultry are raised humanely and with good health in mind, and their eggs come from free-range hens.
Since their produce is often picked on the same day it is delivered, customers frequently notice how fresh it is compared to food shipped from far away. Additionally, their farmers take an active role in ensuring that their produce is displayed and stored to their high standards, as their name is on the product and they care deeply about its quality.
What is the social impact of Argus?
Argus Farm Stop supports the environment. Buying local food means that they use fewer fossil fuels in transportation. Sustainable farming methods use fewer chemicals and promote biological diversity. Their farms are small, and their farmers enjoy having a market where they can grow all year, a short distance from their farms. Argus is also better for the community and the local economy. When customers shop at Argus, they are buying directly from the farms and producers. Argus’s farmers own and price their goods. They receive 70% of that selling price, which is a significantly better margin than they can achieve in any other retail setting. The latest USDA study shows that small farms receive only 14.9 cents of every dollar of selling price from a traditional store.
When customers shop at Argus, they are joining a community formed around local food. When a customer comes in, they are likely to meet a farmer delivering goods, another customer asking questions about the products in the market, or a staffer who can explain the growing practices of their farms. Argus has a variety of farms for their various products (dairy, eggs, meat and fish, and sweets).
At Argus Farm Stop, they sell locally-sourced produce from a diverse range of farms that they personally know and visit. Their farmers deliver their products to their store in person, which provides customers with the opportunity to ask them questions directly. Growing practices are a hot topic at their store, as their customers are keen on learning more about what they consume. They pride themselves on offering a wide selection of products from farms that use natural, organic, or certified organic growing practices, in response to the requests of their customers.
Each farm’s growing practices are clearly labeled on their signage, and the staff is knowledgeable about each of their local farms. While some of the farms they sell for may use more conventional practices, they make sure to specify this on the signage.
In addition to conventional produce, they also offer Ark of Taste products, which prioritize taste over shipability or storage features. They are proud to partner with two seed companies in Ann Arbor that grow Ark of Taste seeds and seedlings, allowing them to offer their customers an even greater variety of fresh, flavorful produce.
The social impact of selling local food and supporting local farmers is far-reaching and significant. By choosing to buy locally-sourced produce, consumers are making a conscious decision to support the local economy and to prioritize the health and well-being of their community.
One of the most immediate benefits of buying local is the positive impact it has on small-scale farmers. These farmers often face numerous challenges, such as fluctuating prices, unpredictable weather, and fierce competition from larger agricultural corporations. However, by purchasing their products directly from local farmers, consumers are helping to ensure their livelihood and sustainability. In turn, this can help to create a more resilient and diverse local economy, with stronger connections between producers and consumers.
Buying locally-sourced food also has positive environmental implications. By reducing the distance that food travels, the carbon footprint of transportation and shipping is significantly reduced. Additionally, many small-scale farmers prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly growing practices, which can help to preserve local ecosystems and reduce the amount of harmful chemicals used in agriculture.
Another key social impact of buying local food is the promotion of healthy eating habits. Local produce is often fresher, more nutrient-dense, and free of preservatives and chemicals commonly used in long-distance transportation. By encouraging consumers to choose fresh, whole foods, local farmers can help to combat the rising rates of diet-related illnesses such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Finally, buying local can also help to foster a sense of community and connection between consumers and producers. By knowing where their food comes from, consumers can develop a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into growing and harvesting fresh produce. Additionally, many local farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs offer opportunities for consumers to meet and interact with local farmers, further strengthening the bond between producers and consumers.
The social impact of selling local food and supporting local farmers cannot be overstated. By choosing to buy locally-sourced produce, consumers can help to support small-scale farmers, reduce their carbon footprint, promote healthy eating habits, and foster a stronger sense of community. As we continue to face global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity, the importance of supporting local food systems will only continue to grow.
Business Advice from Bill and Kathy
Considering the drastic career change that both Bill and Kathy experienced, they have some business advice to offer those who are interested in business. In regards to how succeed as an entrepreneur, Bill says that if you are going into a new field, especially the startup field, it is imperative to know what your partners’ strengths and weaknesses are. It is also important to work hard in order to complement those strengths and weaknesses in order to ensure that your business is as successful as possible. Bill also describes how him and Kathy are a unique case because they are married, so it is especially important for them to fundamentally understand each other on both a professional and personal level. In order to make sure they would work well together, they even went and interviewed other married couples who worked together in business in order to understand what not to do. This resulted in them dividing the tasks, with Kathy spearheading the customer producer facing issues and Bill managing the back-office and organizational tasks, as well as plumbing and electrical tasks. They have learned that by dividing the tasks based on their strengths, they can cover more bases.
Kathy also describes how she believes that it is very important to have other perspectives when starting a business, because they provide insights that you may not have thought about. For example, when she took an entrepreneur class at the University of Michigan, the professor told the two of them that they should consider going into business together. At the time, they did not agree with him, but in hindsight, they realized that he had a valuable perspective.
Bill also believes that in order to be rewarded, it is important to think outside of the box. In business, there is usually not one “correct” next step to take, and he said this is an important mindset because it cultivates creative ideas and unique solutions. This was an important part of their decision when they decided to quit their successful careers and pursue a business idea based on their passions. Both of them think that it has been a very valuable experience by starting from the beginning and learning all of the basics of the food industry.
Conclusion
Argus supports local agriculture by providing a platform for local farmers and producers to sell their products directly to consumers, Argus Farm Stop supports the local agriculture industry. This, in turn, helps to preserve farmland and encourages sustainable farming practices. They also promote healthy eating by offering fresh, healthy, and locally sourced food, which promotes healthy eating habits and improves access to fresh produce for the community. This is particularly important in areas where access to healthy food is limited. Argus Farm Stop fosters a sense of community. They provide a space where farmers, producers, and consumers can connect and interact, fostering a sense of community and social cohesion. Additionally, the market hosts various events throughout the year, such as cooking classes and community dinners, which further strengthen the community. They also support the local Ann Arbor economy by buying from local farmers and producers, Argus Farm Stop helps to keep money in the local economy, creating jobs and supporting small businesses. Overall, they are a very environmentally sustainable business as they help to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transportation. This contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
In conclusion, Bill and Kathy have created a positive social impact through Argus by supporting local agriculture, promoting healthy eating habits, fostering community, supporting the local economy, and contributing to environmental sustainability.
Works Cited
BA 100 Winter Class 2 Video – Argus Farm Stop, University of Michigan – Ross School of Business, https://umich.instructure.com/courses/563611/assignments/1722430?module_item_id=2736919. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
BA 100 Winter Class 7 Video – Argus Farm Stop, University of Michigan – Ross School of Business, https://umich.instructure.com/courses/563611/assignments/1722450?module_item_id=2335034. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
Katz, Jaden. “Sustainability, Accessibility, Great Food: Argus Farm Stop Does It All.” The Michigan Daily, The Michigan Daily, 9 Jan. 2023, https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/argus-farm-stop-ann-arbor-is-lucky-to-have-you/.
Sample, Kathy, and Bill Brinkerhoff. Argus Farm Stop, https://www.argusfarmstop.com/.
Scholz, Clifford Dean. “Farms for Tomorrow Podcast: Kathy Sample & Bill Brinkerhoff, Argus Farm …” Resilience, Farms for Tomorrow, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.resilience.org/stories/2022-02-03/farms-for-tomorrow-podcast-kathy-sample-bill-brinkerhoff-argus-farm-shop/.
Vielmetti, Edward, and Mary Morgan. “Ann Arbor.” LocalWiki, https://localwiki.org/ann-arbor/Argus_Farm_Stop.
Works Cited – Images
“Argus Farm Stop – Liberty.” Argus Farm Stop, https://www.argusfarmstop.com/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
“Argus Farm Stop: Growing Our Local Food Economy.” Argus Farm Stop, https://www.argusfarmstop.com/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
Bronson, Eric. “Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff.” Michigan Impact, University of Michigan, https://impact.govrel.umich.edu/argus-farm-stop/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
“Liberty Location.” Argus Farm Stop, http://www.argusfarmstop.com/hours-locations. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
“Our Mission.” Argus Farm Stop, https://www.argusfarmstop.com/our-mission. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
