From Museum Exhibits to Regenerative Farming: Betty Brennan's Entrepreneurial Journey

 

From Museum Exhibits to Regenerative Farming: Betty Brennan's Entrepreneurial Journey

POTOMAC :

Betty Brennan, co-founder and former president of Taylor Studios, has made a significant career shift from designing museum exhibits to practicing regenerative farming on her 250-acre Bluestem Springs Farm in Potomac.

 Although she grew up on a farm in Streator, Brennan admits that adapting to regenerative farming has been a challenging yet fulfilling transition.

A New Chapter in Farming:

Brennan’s farm, which currently operates under a conventional farming contract, aims to integrate regenerative practices such as cover crops, reduced chemical use, and crop rotation. 

Her first steps include raising pasture-raised, rotationally grazed, and grass-fed sheep, with plans to introduce more livestock in the future. 

In addition to animal husbandry, Brennan is dedicated to building prairies, managing forests, removing invasive species, and planting native flora.

Recognition and Surprise:

Despite her shift away from public life, Brennan was pleasantly surprised to be named the 2024 recipient of the V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Parkland College Foundation.

 This award honors individuals who exhibit exemplary entrepreneurial traits, including leadership, self-starting abilities, risk-taking, perseverance, discipline, confidence, a strong work ethic, and passion.

From Taylor Studios to Regenerative Farming: 

Brennan’s journey from running a successful museum exhibit business to managing a regenerative farm may seem unconventional, but she describes it as a “natural transition.” Her experience with Taylor Studios, which specialized in natural history exhibits and worked closely with nature centers, laid the foundation for her current endeavors.

Entrepreneurial Spirit:

Brennan’s entrepreneurial drive, rooted in her early experiences on a farm, led her to co-found Taylor Studios with her now ex-husband, Joe Taylor. 

Their journey began in Murphysboro, where Taylor’s work in taxidermy opened their eyes to the museum-exhibit industry. Combining Brennan’s MBA and Taylor’s hands-on experience, they established Taylor Studios in 1991, which grew to serve clients across 45 states and four countries, including prestigious projects like a 2,500-square-foot poppy field at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., and a life-size woolly mammoth for the University of Illinois Natural History Building.

Legacy and Impact: 

Brennan’s commitment to quality and customer service left a lasting impression on her colleagues.

 Jason Cox, vice president of operations at Taylor Studios, praised Brennan’s mentorship and unwavering dedication to doing the right thing, even when faced with financial challenges. Her leadership helped the company achieve significant milestones, including making the Inc. 500 list in 2000 and being recognized twice on the Inc. 5,000 list.

A New Beginning: 

After selling Taylor Studios to Innovative Companies Inc. in late 2021, Brennan briefly stayed on as president before stepping down in 2022. 

Taking a year to reflect on her next steps, she realized her true passion lay in caring for animals and nature. Now, Brennan is fully dedicated to making a positive impact through her regenerative farming efforts.

Celebration and Future Goals:

Betty Brennan’s achievements will be celebrated at Parkland’s Entrepreneur of the Year banquet, held at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center in Champaign.

 As she continues to make strides in regenerative farming, Brennan remains focused on her goal of contributing positively to the world, just as she did with Taylor Studios.