Rooted in Community with Kirsten Gjesdal, Downtown Brookings and The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co.

2025-05-21

In this episode of the Main Street Business Insights podcast, host Matt Wagner speaks with Kirsten Gjesdal, a small business owner and community leader in Brookings, South Dakota. Kirsten shares her journey from opening her own business, the Carrot Seed Kitchen Company, to becoming Executive Director of Downtown Brookings. She discusses the importance of community engagement, the challenges of running a small business, and her transition into a role focused on downtown revitalization. The conversation also touches on the impact of tariffs ...

In this episode of the Main Street Business Insights podcast, host Matt Wagner speaks with Kirsten Gjesdal, a small business owner and community leader in Brookings, South Dakota.

Kirsten shares her journey from opening her own business, the Carrot Seed Kitchen Company, to becoming Executive Director of Downtown Brookings. She discusses the importance of community engagement, the challenges of running a small business, and her transition into a role focused on downtown revitalization. The conversation also touches on the impact of tariffs on small businesses and the significance of creating a sense of community through local enterprises.

Episode Links:

- Downtown Brookings

- The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co.

- 1 Million Cups (1MC)

- Insights from the 2024 Trends Survey

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