A growing family business emerged victorious from a crowded field of contestants to win the 2023 Starke Tank Countywide Small Business Pitch Competition presented by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the City of Knox. Lewis and Joellen Matzat own Lewellen Blooms, LLC, in North Judson. Their cut flower farm offers fresh flowers directly to customers as well as to florists. They also provide wedding and event arrangements and a flower subscription service.
The Matzats plan to add a business website, build a greenhouse, add more perennials, irrigation, land, and staff to operate their larger farm. The greenhouse would extend their growing season by about nine weeks, which in turn would increase their profit.
They say the irrigation system would add nearly an acre of tillable ground to their farm, which could be used for agritourism opportunities like photography in a large sunflower area, while a website will create more sales opportunities for the business.
Lewellen Blooms received a $10,000 prize and a one-year Starke County Chamber of Commerce membership.
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