Mitchell Hardeman, a junior entrepreneurship major, is the founder of Hardeman River Angling, a fly-fishing lodge and guide service based in Vermont. Focused on wild brown trout fishing throughout New England, the business offers guests a personalized lodge experience that combines guided fishing excursions with opportunities to explore local culture and cuisine.
What is the story of your business? How did it start?
I always wanted to provide a fly-fishing service based around community. While I have been guiding for the last three years in Vermont, I realized that it was an incredibly special area that most people will never visit unless prompted to. By creating Hardeman River Angling I want to invite others into the fly-fishing sphere of New England allow them to see many different sections of water and experience local cuisine and culture.
What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?
Getting the clients. I am still in the early stages of this but did a fair amount of networking this summer and have a lot of leads and interests.
What is the goal behind your entrepreneurial pursuits? What do you envision for your business?
This is my short-term goal to prompt my future career. I want to be in the fishing and hospitality industry and with that I need a lot of experience. I spent a season guiding at a luxury lodge in Alaska and learned a lot about lodge management and how to run smoothly and eventually I want to own a high-end lodge of my own somewhere in the states. My dream is to also have a stale operation that is remote and exotic outside of the country that allows me to guide and live elsewhere for a few months every year.
Does your business have a social mission or purpose? If so, explain how your business is redemptive in a Christlike manner?
Yes, I want my eventual goal in my business to not shy away from the Gospel. I would love to use my community as a great platform to show the love that God has for everyone. I also want to give back to local communities. I could very easily hire a chef and cook all three meals, but I want the local restaurants and people to benefit especially in a small place like Vermont.
How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and/or Birmingham communities?
Maybe not the Samford community but like I said before it’s a great way to support other local small businesses close to where I am operating.
Learn more about Hardeman River Angling :
