Launch + Leap

Michael R. Bargo II is the proud owner and operator of Bargo’s Guns & Ammo, a locally owned firearms and sporting goods store in Manchester, Kentucky. He opened the store just over a year ago with a clear mission to provide honest service, fair prices, and a welcoming atmosphere for hunters, sport shooters, and families alike. Support from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, helping transform what began as an idea into an established reality and a local employer.

With no prior business experience and only a handful of firearms and a few boxes of ammunition at the start, Michael grew the business by focusing on expertise, integrity, and small-town customer care rather than trying to replicate a big-box store experience. That approach has helped build a strong and loyal customer base, with many early customers remaining steadfast supporters who have become close friends and like family.

Today, Bargo’s is more than a retail store. It has become a gathering place for the local outdoor community. Michael’s commitment to reinvesting in the business and supporting seasonal hunting events reflects a long-term vision centered on steady growth, meaningful relationships, and a legacy his family and community can be proud of.

Maggie Bowling runs Old Homeplace Farm with her family in Clay County, KY. Maggie has been raising and selling vegetables, meat, and cut flowers since 2014. Old Homeplace Farm sells farm products directly to consumers, primarily through a CSA subscription program and online store with deliveries to five Eastern Kentucky counties. Old Homeplace Farm also sells produce to area restaurants and to aggregated food programs. In addition, Old Homeplace Farm offers on farm events for the public such as dinners in the field and educational workshops. Maggie is a graduate of class XI of the Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program (KALP) and served for several years as a mentor farmer for the Grow Appalachia Beginning Farmer Program. Maggie enjoys sharing her farming experience with others and was given the 2023 Outstanding Farmer Peer award at the Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference.

Nestled in Clay County, Acres of Grace Farm is owned and operated by Amy and Lisa Bourque. The farm is rooted in community and grown with equality.

Acres of Grace Farm proudly grows the majority of the fruits and vegetables used in its dishes and baked goods, which are offered at local markets, catered events, and farm to table dinners. The farm’s dairy goats and chickens also play an important role, providing fresh ingredients that make each offering truly farm crafted from start to finish.

As the farm continues to grow, Amy and Lisa are expanding their vision by opening an on farm event space. This new gathering place will host farm to table ticketed dinners, Appalachian cooking classes, and homesteading workshops, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and celebration.

At Acres of Grace Farm, Amy and Lisa believe food connects people to the land, to one another, and to something greater. They look forward to welcoming guests to the farm and sharing the experience of food grown with care and purpose.

Brittany Jackson is the owner-operator of Muttin Fancy Pet Grooming and Designs LLC. She is honored to have the opportunity to learn because, in her words, her business could use the help. This is her first time operating a business, and it can be scary sometimes.

Muttin Fancy has been open since January 2025 and is thriving. Brittany started in this profession by working as a bather for someone else, where she spent about three years learning from someone she considers the best. That mentor taught her everything she knows, and Brittany ultimately decided to go out on her own.

Muttin Fancy offers full-service grooms and baths for pets of all types. Brittany recently purchased a bus to start picking up the pups for a fun day out. She hopes to be able to get the dogs from their homes, take them to property she has bought, let them play and have the best time, and then return them home to their humans worn down after they have played their hearts out. She also hopes to teach them socialization skills and other fundamentals.