GROWING BUSINESS. Amber Georgakopoulos and her son, Leo, at the Farmers' Store in downtown Menomonie.

When Dan and Julie Fedderly – owners of the Raw Deal who raise yaks on Candy Drawer Farm near Boyceville – approached UW-Stout grad Amber Georgakopoulos about the idea of starting a business, she was on board right away.

The Farmers’ Store, 603 Broadway St. in Menomonie, offers classic farm store basics, sourced within 45 miles: meat, butter, milk, and veggies, as well as raw honey, pure beeswax candles, jams and jellies, maple syrup, herbal salves, handmade cutting boards, and vintage treasures – all from local farmers and small producers. Since they’re in the former location of Gallery 610, they showcase small original paintings, handmade cutting boards, and local photography as well – and they plan to feature more.

One of their most unique goods is their yak meat, which is one of Georgakopoulos’ favorite parts of the new venture. Yak meat, according to Georgakopoulos, is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, making it a heart-healthy alternative to other meats. It has twice the protein and half the fat of a skinless chicken breast. It’s also a more sustainable substitute for beef in almost any recipe.

“Besides eating my weight in yak jerky?” Georgakopoulos replied when asked what she was most looking forward to in the new venture.

“I love making connections,” she added. “When the whole world seems a bit at odds, I just want to make people feel a little more connected to their home and their food and their neighbors.”

The Farmers’ Store • 603 Broadway St. South, Menomonie • Find it on Facebook