Fulfilling and growing my woodworking and design dream!
I grew up around woodworking, and took an interest to it from an early age. I've had a lifelong passion for the craft, and it has always been my dream to make it a career. After a lot of detours, I'm happy I can finally say I'm on my way to fulfilling those dreams.
I grew up on a dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota's beautiful Driftless Region. After obtaining a degree in computer programming and working in the industry for a short time, I decided that an office job wasn't what I envisioned for myself long term. Being an avid outdoorsman, I took a big leap of faith and moved west on a whim to get as far away from an office job as possible! I attended a short hunting guide / packing program in Montana which set me up for transitioning into being a hunting guide in Idaho.
I spent nearly 12 years working for a guest lodge in the beautiful and rugged River of No Return Wilderness, guiding hunts during the open seasons, and maintaining the rest of the property year round after working my way up to being Ranch Foreman. I loved every minute of my time there. Fortunately, the job afforded me the opportunity to purchase my first home, and slowly start acquiring the tools to get back into woodworking.
For a few years while still working at the ranch full time, I was doing small projects on the side and opened my Etsy store to sell a few things here and there. Over time, I saw my sales begin to increase, and thought maybe someday I would be able to do the woodworking full time like I had dreamed when I was younger.
Life doesn't always go as planned, and unfortunately after all my time in the wilderness, living out another dream, it was time for a change that came sooner than I had anticipated or hoped.
I decided to sell my home in Idaho and moved back to Minnesota, while I searched for another opportunity, not even thinking about woodworking full time at that point. I got a job as the ranch manager at a horse farm in western Washington, so I made the trip across the country again. I was able to continue my side business while working there, but after about six months, I decided it wasn't a long term fit for me.
So, I moved back to Minnesota AGAIN, and made the decision that it was time to sink or swim with my woodworking dream, even though the timing wasn't perfect. So I built a shop inside my family's old dairy barn, got my tools organized and up and running, and went to work trying to get my name out there and offering new items in my Etsy store.
It was slow going the first year, but I was seeing steady growth and some optimism that I could make the dream work. It has been three years now (as of 2021) since I took the leap, and I'm happy to say that everything is continuing to go well. I'm thankful to all of my loyal and supportive customers who have helped me to get to where I am, and I look to their continued support to help me grow the business and Red Fern Design name into the future.
My hope is to continue growing the business, but at the same time keeping it a small company, so that I can make sure that everything leaving my shop is made to my highest standards, and putting a smile on your face.
Thanks so much for your business and support!
~Cale
