Pictured: Pamela Wik Grimm (center) with Institute for Rural Vitality staff members and Earl Thomason, Jr., Vice President of Entrepreneur Development at Empire State Development (right)
Pamela Wik Grimm, owner of Trollbok Farm, has been named a 2024 “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Empire State Development’s (ESD) Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs). Pamela developed her business with assistance from the Institute for Rural Vitality’s Business Development Bootcamp.
The EAC “Entrepreneur of the Year” awards recognize business owners who strongly commit to their communities through innovative business approaches that drive economic growth. Wik Grimm was one of nine (9) winners from across New York State.
Trollbok Farm, based in Otego, NY, is renowned for its Swedish-inspired product line, Flavors of Sweden. Its flagship offering is a traditional Swedish Farmer’s Cheese. This cheese, made from pasteurized cow’s milk, has gained wide popularity for its mild yet flavorful profile, ideal for slicing and melting. It is a bestseller at online specialty cheese retailers, appealing to consumers of all ages.
Trollbok Farm has developed and produced the Swedish Farmer’s Cheese (Hushallsost) at the SUNY Cobleskill Dairy Processing Center through the Institute for Rural Vitality Shared-Use Facility Program. Trollbok’s future plans include producing cheese using microplants, which are small, fully functional facilities placed directly on dairy farms. These microplants provide farmers with the equipment and training necessary to turn raw milk into high-quality cheese. Once produced, the cheese is transported to Trollbok Farm’s central facility in Otego, to be brined, aged, packaged, and shipped. This model reduces industry risks and lowers barriers for small farms to scale their growth.
“Every step of the way, working with partners from my local community, to those representing the state’s food system, to the invaluable assistance I’ve received from the Institute for Rural Vitality, the question has always been: ‘How can we help?,’” said Wik Grimm. “My experience starting a business in New York State shows that we have the resources, the know-how, and the will to help new businesses successfully launch to market. This has been a wonderful journey and I feel very confident that others who are building businesses now will see success through our state’s resources coming together in support of their vision.”
“We are so proud of Pamela and her incredible work growing Trollbok Farm. The innovative approach she’s come up with greatly supports dairy farms and demonstrates that entrepreneur’s like her can make significant impacts in rural communities,” said Scott Ferguson, SUNY Cobleskill’s Chief Economic Development Officer and Executive Director of the Institute for Rural Vitality. “Her recognition as an ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ highlights the value of collaboration in realizing sustainable, regional development.”
In July 2023, the Institute for Rural Vitality was designated as the EAC for the Mohawk Valley. Since then, it has worked to support area entrepreneurs with business creation and growth, sales, access to financing, and job creation. The designation represented the Institute’s expansion beyond its focus on farm and food entrepreneurship to serving regional business owners across all industry sectors.
The Business Development Bootcamp is a free 10-week, 60-hour course open to individuals who are interested in starting or recently started their own business, or entrepreneurs seeking to expand or strengthen their early-stage business, regardless of industry. Businesses that operate in Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, or Schoharie County, are eligible to register for this course. Registration is available here.
About the Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill:
The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill has a clear mission to engage the substantial resources of SUNY Cobleskill in collaboration with regional partners to enhance community and economic vitality in rural New York. Through its three distinct centers, the Institute addresses the region’s most pressing issues to develop and enact sustainable solutions. SUNY Cobleskill students and faculty are at the fore of community partnerships and coalitions, adding their expertise to that of their partners to support economic development initiatives. Contact the IRV here.
About Trollbok Farms:
Our family farm, located in the rolling hills of Otego, New York, is the heart of our business. Right off of Interstate 88, you will find our farm store and bakery, where we specialize in Swedish-inspired delicacies. The unique foods we create are a blend of traditional Swedish flavors and the homegrown products of New York’s vibrant agricultural landscape. Visit www.flavorsofsweden.com.
