09/05/2026
I’ve started to write this post several times and stopped, because asking for help has never been particularly easy for me, but I think it's time.
First, I want to say thank you.
This past year, since losing my husband, has been the hardest year of my life. Black Powder Farm was something we built together over the last 20 years, and suddenly trying to keep a farm, a family and a business moving forward without him has been overwhelming at times.
But I certainly haven’t done it alone.
My sister-in-law Nikki has been an enormous part of keeping things going, and the wonderful group of young people who work for me have also stepped up in more ways than I can count. My two teenage boys have also shouldered far more responsibility on this farm than I ever expected them to have to at their ages. I am incredibly grateful for all of them.
And through it all, Black Powder Farm has kept going. Puppies are still being born, families are still taking home dogs they love, and there have been a lot of joyful moments mixed into a very difficult year.
I also think our future looks bright. My daughter is newly married and finishing college, and she and her husband are very interested in stepping in to help run Black Powder Farm when they graduate next year. I would love to see this business that my husband and I built continue into the next generation.
But to do that well, I realize there are some things I need help with—and that’s why I’m reaching out to all of you.
I need help getting the word out about our puppies and improving the way we market Black Powder Farm.
We have wonderful, healthy puppies, years of experience, and an amazing community of families all over the country who love their Black Powder Farm dogs. What I don’t have is expertise in websites, Google, social media, digital advertising and all of the other things that have become such a big part of running a business.
So I’m hoping someone in our extended Black Powder Farm family can point me in the right direction.
Do you know someone you genuinely trust who could help with:
• Redesigning and improving our websites�• Digital marketing and advertising�• Google visibility and SEO�• Facebook and Instagram marketing�• Videos, reels and other content�• Developing an overall marketing strategy�• Helping me figure out where my advertising dollars will actually do some good
I would especially love to find someone who understands small, family-owned businesses—someone who will take the time to understand who we are and what we do rather than simply sell me another marketing package.
And there is another very simple way you can help us right now:
Help us tell people about our dogs.
If you have a Black Powder Farm dog, I would LOVE for you to post a picture in the comments and tell us a little about him or her. Tell us how old they are, who their parents were if you remember, or just what they have meant to your family. I know so many of you have done this in the past and continue to do so and it means so much!
Also, please share one of our puppy posts. Tag a friend who has been thinking about getting a puppy. Recommend us when someone asks where your dog came from. Those seemingly small things truly help.
So many of you have been part of the Black Powder Farm family for years. Some have even come back for a second or third puppy. And this past year, so many of you have prayed for us, checked on us, sent encouraging messages and continued to support our family and our business.
I don’t think you will ever know how much that has meant to me during an often dark and discouraging year.
We’re still finding our way forward, but I believe Black Powder Farm has a wonderful future. I’m excited about the possibility of my daughter becoming part of that future, and I’m incredibly thankful for Nikki, my boys, our wonderful employees, and all of you who have helped us get this far.
Now I could use a little help figuring out the next chapter.
If you have a recommendation, an idea or a connection—or just a Black Powder Farm dog you’d like to show off in the comments—I would love to hear from you. And if you’d share this post, I would be incredibly grateful.
Thank you for loving our dogs, supporting our family, and helping me continue something my husband and I built together.
I leave you with this family photo. I don’t tend to post many photos of myself, but you’ve seen all three of my children grow up in puppy videos. This is a photo from my daughter‘s wedding in May and she married a wonderful young man that has been so helpful around our farm since my husband passed.
Lynn�Black Powder Farm
www.blackpowderfarm.com
316-250-8036
