Beech Tree News Network

With the Corona Virus-Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc across the globe, it seems no one is immune from making major changes in their lives both personally and professionally. Beech Tree News is grateful for other businesses in our community that, when facing challenges related to Covid-19, have risen to be a bright spot during a difficult time. Recently, BTN asked many local businesses how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted them. Below is the third installment in a series of articles featuring those businesses that have chimed in. This article features a business owner who is effected in two ways.  Angela Emmick is a sole-proprietor cosmetologist as well as co-owner of Struttin’ Rooster Farm.

“As the owner of two small businesses, I have seen a wide array of impact.  Being a sole-proprietor Beautician I have seen my entire personal income taken away through the Governor’s orders closing all Salons state wide.  This sudden move has left myself and all other cosmetologists across the state without income.  As sole-proprietors, we do not have the typical unemployment insurance that is afforded to individuals who work at a typical job.  Therefore, it has been a significant hurdle to try to get signed up for unemployment.  While we will be able to draw unemployment, it is significantly lower than what we would typically bring in during our normal work schedule.  President Trump’s CARE increase to the state unemployment payments have not gotten to the state of Kentucky therefore we do not have access to the $600 bump afforded by this legislation.  Nobody knows when it will become available to the state and it is leaving many questions for those truly needing it.” Emmick says.

She continues, “On the business side of it, I miss my clientele, many of which I got to see weekly.  Many of them had appointments cancelled suddenly and we truly have no idea when the industry will open back up for normal business.  I love my customers and miss them and can’t wait to get back to work and see them.” And she wisely warns her faithful clientele, “DON’T CUT OR COLOR YOUR OWN HAIR!”

Emmick says of her other business, Struttin’ Rooster Farm, “we are currently working on several different avenues for our customers to be able to still enjoy our products while keeping them safe.” Struttin’ Rooster Farm is Produce Best Practice Certified-understanding proper food and vegetable handling techniques. Struttin Rooster Farm also offers CSA Baskets, which are baskets of vegetables which our customers subscribe to for weekly delivery. Emmick notes that during this uncertain time, this is a great option because they deliver these baskets, which limits customers’ need for interaction in public.  The family business also has an online ordering page accessible through the Struttin' Rooster Facebook page. There, customers can order online and have their vegetables ready for pickup on the farm or at an in-town pickup location. 

Emmick adds, “we are also currently building our Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market to allow our customers to come directly to the farm to make vegetable purchases.  We will utilize best practices for social distancing and product handling to ensure our customers get the best and safest possible experience when visiting is on the farm.”

Emmick points out that shopping local means “you are guaranteed that your vegetables haven’t been handled by a multitude of people.  When you buy local you know where it comes from, who raised it, how it was handled, and that is as safe as it can be!”

In closing Emmick urges the community to buy local-a sentiment shared by many of the small businesses in the BTN community.

 “If there is anything I could ask of the public it is this, BUY LOCAL!  We have so many small businesses that need your support!  The big box stores will survive just fine but our local, homegrown businesses need as much help as possible.  We have been rocked by this pandemic and it’s causing many sleepless nights as we try to figure out how to pay bills, deal with banks, and keep our doors open.  Please reach out to your local businesses, buy what you can right here at home, and help your friends and neighbors out as much as you can.  It is going to take all of us to get through this and it will take even more to build back up after this is over.  Your local businesses need you more than ever!!”

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If your business has not been contacted but would like to be a part of this series, contact us at [email protected].