Amanda Freund: Shark Tank, manure management and diversifying revenue streams

Connecticut dairy producer Amanda Freund recently took the national stage to promote her product Cow Pots (and in turn, the dairy industry) during a televised episode of Shark Tank. Host Kimmi Devaney sat down with her to learn about this experience and how this product has changed manure management on their farm over the past 20-plus years, how diversifying their farm has been a game changer and so much more. This is a high-energy episode you won’t want to miss. Contact Freund at cowpots.com, @cowpotsgirl on Instagram or [email protected]. Here’s a breakdown of the episode: [~1:25] Freund’s inspiration for building her dairy career[~3:30] Cow Pots: 1990s to now[~7:30] Manure management cooperatives[~9:50] Manure management and their anaerobic digester[~13:45] Marketing and target audience for Cow Pots[~18:30] The greatest lessons she has learned over the last two decades building and expanding this business.[~20:40] Freund shares about her recent experience on Shark Tank[~26:15] A new product line for Cow Pots[~35:00] The value of media training in preparing for big opportunities like Shark Tank and everyday conversations.[~39:15] Where Freund learned to negotiate as well as she did on the Shark Tank episode.[~42:05] Freund’s advice for others interested in promoting dairy locally or on a national stage.[~44:45] Key takeaways from her Shark Tank experience.[~47:05] What drives her family when it comes to sustainability and why it is important to them.[~48:55] About their farm market.[~52:40] The benefits of diversifying their farm to create multiple revenue streams.[~54:45] Freund’s advice for other dairy producers looking for innovative ways to create new revenue streams on their operations[~58:20] Rapid-fire questions