Hemp Voices: Melissa Nelson Baldwin, South Bend Industrial Hemp
Melissa Nelson, co-founder of South Bend Industrial Hemp, Great Bend KS
I am co-owner, alongside my husband and brother in law. SBIH is a family run business who supports farmers from seed to final sale of their industrial hemp for fiber production. My job is to help them from an agronomist standpoint to set them up for success and a consistent product coming into the processing facility. From the processing facility stand point my main responsibility is education, advocacy and moving final product to where it needs to go!
Hemp and hemp building is interesting to me for the diversity it offers. I love the challenge of building a industry.
What was a win for your company in the past year?
Surviving another year. We are proud of our continued message of supporting farmers, providing high-quality products to consumers and education regarding plant potential, specifically within the economic development sector.
What is something about hemp building/construction/processing you didn’t know a year ago?
SBIH team and I continue to learn more specifically about what our customers are requesting to have the highest-quality builds they can. Their feedback makes us better.
What challenges does the hemp building industry face that it must overcome in the next five years?
Besides restating the obvious of government support/public awareness that is mentioned frequently I’d like to continue to focus on the industry not attacking itself. Focus on moving the industry forward as a whole. There is enough room at the table for everyone.
South Bend Industrial Hemp, Great Bend, KS
Contact: Melissa Nelson-Baldwin
(785) 851-0061
