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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m J u n e 2 0 14 • I nsIgh t | 41 Cheese competition. LaClare Farms now produces more than seven types of handcraed cheese. Business risks pay off e hedrichs undertook one of their biggest business risks in 2012, when they began an expansion that included a new milking parlor, loafing barn, cheese plant, store and café. "It was a good risk," Larry says, especially in terms of bringing jobs to the area. steve Jenkins, president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation, agrees. "We have enjoyed working with the hedrich family on this important project," Jenkins says. "is has been a true collaborative effort involving the county, FCEDC, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Calumet County Bank." e FCEDC focuses on business development in the county, and Jenkins adds, "Even their café (now open at their Chilton farm location) focuses on using locally grown products, so the ripple effect touches many others." e hedrichs relied on their savings, some private funds and a bank loan from Calumet County Bank to fund their expansion. ey laid out five-, 10- and 15-year plans, preparing their enterprise for the next generation. Cari L. sabel, agricultural/ commercial lender for Calumet County Bank in Brillion, says the hedrichs' preparedness made them a solid investment risk. "Any time you venture down this kind of road with the size and scale of the operation, and the extreme niche LaClare Farms' goats are part of growing niche in the state's dairy industry A closer look LaClare Farms W2994 County Rd., Pipe, WI 53049 920-670-0051; info@laclarefarms.com www.laclarefarm.com of the market, there is a risk involved," sabel says. "ere are a lot of unknowns, but a lot of these things that the hedrich family did mitigated the risk; they'd been building toward this goal." having expertise in the family – along with a passion for their goals – also impressed the lender. "Where do you see a family that has taken their love to bring it back to one place?" sabel asks. Larry says LaClare Farms is now in a position for further growth. "We have a lot of things to add to the facility," he says. "We've totally changed the scale of what we've done; we have the ability to upscale our business." © 2013 Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants STAND TALL knowing you or your CPA are a member of the premier organization for CPAs in Wisconsin.Visit WICPA.ORG/FINDACPA OR WICPA.ORG/JOIN. 800.772.6939 © 2013 Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants TO FIND A WICPA MEMBER, VISIT WICPA.ORG/FINDACPA QUESTIONS? • MEMBERSHIP@WICPA.ORG • 262.785.0445