A business-savvy 13-year-old has launched a clever new venture to honour and “always remember” his beloved dog Chief.
Harley Scott’s heart broke when his two-year-old border collie-kelpie cross was recently killed in an accident after falling from the back of a truck and being hit by a car.
But the tragedy’s silver lining is it motivated the teenager to launch a new business he had been pondering for a while.
“It was horrible,” the Kandanga resident said.
“He was goofy, funny and loyal, and he was always happy to meet new people. He was mostly helpful on our cattle farm.
“l loved him a lot so I have set up my business in memory of him.”
With Harley’s parents owning three cattle farms in Kandanga, Imbil and Amamoor that produce organic, grass-fed beef, turning some of the excess meat into hand-made treats was a no-brainer for the teen.
Recently suffering two broken arms didn’t stop Harley launching Chiefs Treats on e-commerce company Etsy and selling his stock from his parent’s Kandanga Farm Store.
“I broke my left arm falling out of a tree and then a week after I got my cast off I broke my right arm while I was roller-skating,” he said.
“My mum was helping to pack the orders and to cut the meat up to dehydrate, but I have been training myself to do it with my left arm, so I’m pretty much doing it all now.”
“I make all of the treats by hand in small batches with just a bit of salt added for preservation,” he said.
“Our other dogs Esther and Millie absolutely love them. Even our cat was impressed.”
He said his dad also motivated him to launch the business.
“I was driven to do it now, because I wanted to remember him and I wanted to get my dog treats out to everyone,” he said.
“I get to remember him and talk about him all the time, which helps.
“It’s nice that what I am doing now helps to keep his spirit alive and when I’m packing my orders and things, I am always thinking of him.”
While only being open for a week, Harley said the business was taking off with 26 orders placed.
With hopes of growing the business in the future, he said his first goal was to save up and buy a bigger dehydrator to “double his production line”.
He said using smaller dehydrators made it hard for him to keep up with the orders.
By running the business he’s learned marketing and business skills, as well as it helping him to be more independent, responsible and – the best bit – to earn his own income.
“If you have a keen interest in something, you should definitely try and start a business from it, even as a teenager,” he said.
“The only reason you should start a business is if you enjoy doing it, because if you are making something that you don’t enjoy doing then it’s not worth it.”
He explained how his production process had nothing to do with the slaughtering of the cattle.
“We have 5kg bags of diced meat at the shop and I buy that off my parents and take them home. Then I cut them up a bit smaller to dehydrate them,” he said.
“Dehydration takes about six to seven hours.
“I let them sit for an hour or two, then I package them up with a heat sealer. I print all my own labels at the moment and then ship them through Australia Post … it’s quite simple.
“I run the business in between school, early in the mornings before working on the farms, in the afternoons and sometimes at night.”
Find Chiefs Treats at the Kandanga Farm Store or on Etsy.
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