Camp Verde AZ (August 25, 2013) – Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Predator Zip Line have pledged to back the new Verde Brewing Company (VBC) Kickstarter campaign, “Harvest Crops, Plant Hops.” Their contribution will support young entrepreneurs of the Verde Valley in their quest to combine freshly farmed goods to the artistry of crafting great brews. The VBC team hopes to produce great tasting beer and add value to the already outstanding agriculture created in this Valley.
Since the opening of Out of Africa, the park has been an influential economic force in a growing community. The Park constantly looks for ways to grow and support the future of the Verde Valley. It has recently hosted the area’s first zip line company, Predator Zip, and plans to expand the park in the coming year. Now, the Out of Africa team has contributed to the VBCs Kickstarter campaign. Upon the successful completion of the campaign, Out of Africa will receive a painting entitled “Out of Africa” by renowned local artists Deborah Gallagher and Vada Lovato. The reward will be presented this fall at an artist reception at White Hills Gallery.
The Verde Brewing Company was founded by Alex Goetting through a Kickstarter campaign raising over $15,000. Goetting is 24 years old, a recent graduate of the University of Arizona, and a self-proclaimed cultural entrepreneur. His vision for the VBC is to build off of the Verde Valley’s existing strengths in both art and agriculture. Goetting hopes that with the surge of local wineries in the Verde Valley, an interest in farm-to-mug craft brews will follow the same path.
The original Kickstarter campaign was organized by the Verde Portal, a business incubator that brings an entrepreneurial spirit to the Valley. To create the Kickstarter campaigns, the Verde Portal brought together a group of local businesses, run by young entrepreneurs. The Kickstarter video was created by Renée Bartlett-Webber of Cinée Productions. Bartlett-Webber is a recent graduate of Beloit College, WI and has worked on the Board of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. The branding of the VBC was created by Stephanie Peters, of Speters Designs. Peters, a local artist and University of Arizona graduate, also contributed her art as one of the Kickstarter rewards. Community advocates, Ashley Marshall and Katie Beauregard, promoted the Kickstarter campaign and helped market VBC. The impetus behind VBC is created by a multitude of Millennial Entrepreneurs who look to bring a home-grown dynamic to the Verde Valley that is original and innovative.
Out of Africa’s and Predator Zip Line’s contribution to the “Harvest Crops, Plant Hops” campaign, not only supports a new business, but also encourages a new wave of entrepreneurs. These Millennial Entrepreneurs are working with the innate strengths of the Verde Valley, such as art and agriculture, to lead the Verde Valley to a prosperous future.
William Jump, a Principal for Out of Africa, is a board member of The Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO). This fall VVREO will be sponsoring the Annual Speaker Series, BoomtownUSA’s Millennials: Supercharged Entrepreneurs. The event will take place on October 9th with presentations by Jack Schultz and Craig Lindvahl.
The Verde Brewing kickstarter campaign, “Harvest Crops, Plant Hops” ends on September 5th. For more information about the Verde Brewing Company and their latest kickstarter project, see their website at www.verdebrewingcompany.com.
