Two For The Money; Three To Go Show

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178 – January/February, 2024

By Minae Kroeze

Exhibitors may explore a side hustle when their main hobby or source of income is centered around a four-legged partner. This is done for a multitide of reasons. Whether the side hustle provides a secondary source of income or the opportunity to explore another passion, it also provides a unique opportunity to utilize skills and connections made within the industry.

For Katy Jo and Tim Zuidema of Ocala, Florida, discussion regarding a secondary source of income had been a popular talking point between the couple for nearly eight years before being presented with a fortunate opportunity to keep a very successful business in the family. Katy Jo and Tim operate Zuidema Pleasure Horses, home of many Congress and World Champions.

“My dad, Wayne Davis, is the owner of Wayne Davis Quality Bedding. He was also a full-time horse trainer before he started selling shavings on the side to make some extra income around 1990,” Katy Jo says. She shares that Tim and she had been discussing what they wanted their future to look like, knowing that some day they would like to retire from training horses full-time, acknowledging it was a profession their bodies would not allow them to do forever.

“We were seriously considering opening a truck wash in Ocala. We went as far as finding a location and started talking to the county about the needed permits when my dad came to us about his desire to open a mill in Florida to expand his shavings business based in Michigan,” Katy Jo says. After much discussion, Tim and Wayne went into business together to sell Wayne Davis Quality Bedding. Wayne Davis Quality Bedding can be found where it is milled in Michigan at the original location and trucked to feed stores and venues throughout the Southeast.

Click here to read the complete article
178 – January/February, 2024