Shelby Creek Farm may be only a few months old, but its story reaches back nearly a century. In a quiet stretch of Clinton County, owner Shania Frederick is building something new on top of a long family legacy. “I am what you would technically consider a fourth generation farmer in Clinton County,” she said. Her great grandfather started the family’s first farm in 1938, followed by her grandfather in the late 1960s. From childhood, Frederick was immersed in the work. “Once my sisters and I were born, then we were out there, whether it be in the field or riding in the tractor with my dad or grandpa.”

Horses were her first passion, leading her through years of 4H, livestock shows and eventually her own horse breeding business. Today, her children are becoming the fifth generation to grow up in the rhythms of rural farm life. “My oldest son is about to start his first year in 4H,” she said. “He is going to be showing hogs and a calf that we have bred and raised here on our farm.”

Shelby Creek Farm officially launched in January after what Frederick describes as a long period of prayer and hesitation. “I put a big focus on my faith in my life,” she said. “After long arguments with God about whether I wanted to do this and if I could really handle it, I finally bit the bullet and started.” The name is a tribute to her childhood. Her first show horse was named Shelby, and she grew up on Second Creek Road. “I kind of just put those two together,” she said.

The farm stand is the heart of the operation for now. It is small, but it is already known for its baked goods, all made from scratch with ingredients Frederick carefully selects. “I am very picky about what myself and my family put into our bodies,” she said. “I even make my own brown sugar because they add things to brown sugar that I do not like.” She uses unbleached organic flour and avoids long ingredient lists. “I am super proud of the baked goods that we put out.”

Frederick handles nearly every part of the business herself. “I do everything,” she said. “If it is a post on social media, all the baking, the shopping, the planning, the buying animals, the selling of animals. Everything else is me.” Her husband and children help with the heavy lifting, but the mental load is constant. She homeschools four children, including a ten month old, while managing the farm’s daily needs. Even with the challenges, the rewards are clear. “I am getting to share this life that I had growing up with my kids,” she said. “Showing them how to put in the work and then get the rewards out of that with some patience and hard work is probably the best part of it.”

Sustainability is woven into the daily routine. Frederick relies on natural systems that support one another. Chickens help control pests. Hogs turn soil without damaging the microbiome. Manure becomes compost for the garden. “It is like a circle of life type of situation,” she said.

Shelby Creek Farm has only been open for four months, but Frederick is already forming new relationships in her corner of New Vienna. “This has been a really good way to build community ties and have a village,” she said. She has met neighbors, made new friends and begun building a customer base that values local food and personal connection. Feedback has been positive, with occasional recipe suggestions from neighbors. “For the most part, we have had a really good interaction with everyone who has come through,” she said.

Frederick has ambitious plans for the future. “I would really love for the farm stand to become more of a market,” she said. She imagines a space where local producers can sell meat, honey, handmade goods and sustainable products. A place where the community can shop, gather and support one another. “I am really trusting that God will provide those opportunities when we are ready for them,” she said.

Her message to others thinking about starting a small business in a rural community is simple. “Trust where God is leading you and not let fear stop you from starting,” she said. “In a rural community, people value authenticity. So just start small, stay faithful and grow as you go.”

Shelby Creek Farm may be young, but its foundation is strong. Built on faith, family and a commitment to quality, it is already becoming a small but meaningful part of southern Ohio’s local economy and community life.