Iowa 4-H Alumni & Friends

Floyd County 4-H alum Ann Staudt never sought to be a small business owner. Back in 2003, while pursuing her chemical engineering degree, a community education class focused on DIY herbal bath + body products caught her eye. “The art and science, the alchemy and aromatherapy … it was truly a whole new world of possibilities. Needless to say, I was hooked,” says Staudt. “While some of the early seeds were planted in my farm girl formative years (you’re looking at a 4-H Grand Champion herb gardener!), this new concept of using herbs and essential oils in handcrafted body care products filled me with such intrigue.” From there, she set up a mini lab with a hot plate in her dorm room and took over her mom’s kitchen during summer break. After researching, formulating, and crafting, Siberian Soap Co. officially launched in 2010. As a 4-H’er, Staudt was involved in communications, horticulture, photography, visual arts, food and nutrition and everything in between. She was a member of t...