The Power of Simplicity: How Country Home Creations Built a Brand Around Homemade Roots

Johnny Lyle  • November 24, 2025

Homemade isn’t just a flavor, it’s a feeling.

In the ever-evolving landscape of specialty foods, few brands capture the essence of homemade warmth quite like Country Home Creations. Founded in 1980 by Shirley Kautman-Jones in Goodrich, Michigan, what started as a humble basement operation has since become a beloved name in kitchens across America. The key to their enduring success? Staying true to their roots—literally and figuratively.


The Start

Shirley Kautman-Jones was working at a bank when she heard her co-workers discussing how they had a difficult time creating impressive, easy meals. Shirley, being a natural in the kitchen, would send them home with little bags of spices and easy recipes to follow. Her creations were an instant success and she realized it was time to expand outside her comfort zone. She decided to start taking her savings and driving down to the market in Detroit, MI to pick new, different spices for her creations. Her next idea was to sell her bags of spices at a craft bazaar at the church. She priced the bags for 75 cents each and set up her table with samples of her creations. To her surprise, she sold all 100 bags in a matter of minutes. Shirley knew she was on to something, and that people were craving delicious dishes without a lot of hassle. She took her profits back down to that market in Detroit and the process began.


Crafting a Brand with Purpose

Country Home Creations didn’t set out to be trendy. Instead, they built their business on a foundational promise: to bring the flavors of home to every customer, one dip mix at a time. With over four decades of growth, they’ve remained laser-focused on that mission, creating high-quality, easy-to-make dip, soup, dessert, and bread mixes that taste just like something Grandma used to make—because that’s where it all began. The company’s branding is a masterclass in simplicity and authenticity. From their rustic, farmhouse-inspired packaging to their tagline “homemade is our heritage,” every touchpoint reinforces their connection to wholesome, nostalgic comfort. And in an industry where clean eating and transparency are in high demand, Country Home Creations proudly promotes that their mixes are made small batches with no added MSG, preservatives or chemicals.


Building Trust Through Consistency

One of the brand’s greatest strengths is consistency—not just in product quality, but in messaging. Their visual identity hasn’t strayed far from its original aesthetic. The vintage-inspired graphics and warm, earthy tones echo the homemade charm of their products, and their social media and website maintain that same tone: welcoming, family-oriented, and full of inspiration. This consistent, values-driven branding has helped them build deep trust with both retailers and customers. They’ve become a staple at local markets, farm stores, and gift shops, with retail partners appreciating the product's shelf-ready design and proven sales performance.


Growing While Staying Grounded

Despite their growth, Country Home Creations maintains a handcrafted approach. Every product is still blended and packaged by hand in Michigan, ensuring that each item meets the same standard of quality that launched the company more than 40 years ago. This commitment to craft is a key part of the brand's identity—and a major reason why their mixes are as popular now as ever. What’s more, their success story is an inspiring reminder to other agritourism and specialty food businesses: you don’t need to be flashy to be memorable. You just need to be real. By knowing your audience, staying authentic, and delivering a product that speaks for itself, you can create a brand that lasts.


Lessons from Country Home Creations

For agritourism operators, the journey of Country Home Creations offers a valuable blueprint:

  • Lead with authenticity. Consumers can tell when your story is genuine. Root your brand in your own values and experiences.
  • Design with intention. Thoughtful, consistent branding helps build recognition and trust—two essentials for growth.
  • Never lose sight of quality. Staying hands-on and detail-focused ensures your product lives up to the promise your brand makes.
  • Connect emotionally. Products that tap into nostalgia, comfort, or tradition often have a powerful hold on customers.


In a world filled with fast fads and fleeting trends, Country Home Creations shows us that sometimes, the best way to grow is to stay grounded. Homemade isn’t just a flavor—it’s a feeling. And when your brand delivers that feeling in every jar, pouch, and box, you’re not just selling products. You’re creating lasting connections.

RECENT ARTICLES

Scarcity and Authenticity

By angie • November 24, 2025
Guest author this week - Johnny Lyle from Cap.co . They are based out of the UK and now doing work in the US and Canada. Read more into his insights about scarcity and authenticity.

Festival Pro Tips: Make Your Farm Festival Unforgettable

By angie • November 18, 2025
Every farm festival has hayrides, food, and animals to pet. But the events that families remember—and return to year after year—always offer something unique. One of the simplest ways to add that unforgettable “WOW” factor is with the Giant Bubble Festival Experience from South Beach Bubbles. Pro Tip #1: Create a Signature Photo Moment Families love to capture and share their experiences. With the WOWmazing® Tri-String Wand, the same two-handle design used in every Guinness World Record bubble for the last 30 years, you can create bubbles taller than kids and wider than tractors. Paired with the WOWmazing® Giant Bubble Powder Jug, you will have enough solution to keep bubbles flying for hours, ensuring your festival is shared all over social media. Pro Tip #2: Draw and Hold Crowds Giant bubbles are natural magnets. A single WOWmazing® Powder Jug makes up to 148 gallons of bubble solution, enough to fuel a full day of non stop excitement and steady foot traffic. Pro Tip #3: Build Memories that Bring Them Back When kids go home talking about bubbles bigger than themselves, parents take note. By delivering that magical moment, your farm festival stands out—and becomes a tradition families look forward to every year. Order your Giant Bubble Festival Experience essentials today in the South Beach Bubbles Catalog .

Rooted in Nebraska: Connection, Creativity, and Courage at the 2025 Agritourism & Adventure Travel Workshop

By angie • November 10, 2025
When you gather a room full of farmers, dreamers, and doers, something special happens. Ideas flow like craft beer, laughter fills the air, and you can feel the heartbeat of rural America getting just a little stronger. That’s exactly what unfolded October 27–29 in North Platte, Nebraska, at the 2025 Agritourism & Adventure Travel Workshop (A&ATW) — three days of inspiration, collaboration, and authentic Nebraska hospitality, proudly supported by NAFDMA Agritourism Association . A Warm Welcome and a Toast to Local Flavor The workshop kicked off at Pals Brewing Company , where wood-fired pizza met locally crafted brews and genuine conversation. Attendees were welcomed by community leaders, including Lisa Burke from Visit North Platte and David Fudge of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, before diving into Fudge’s keynote on “Creating a Festival in Celebration of Nebraska.” It set the tone for what this gathering is all about — turning local pride into experiences that invite the world into the farm. With sponsors like NAFDMA , Nebraska Land Bank, and Prairie Friends & Flowers, it was a true team effort in showcasing how agritourism thrives when collaboration takes center stage. Stories That Spark Ideas Tuesday brought a lineup of sessions that blended passion with practicality. From Travis Byers’ “Turning Your Passion into Profit” to Stephanie Anderson’s story behind Our Lavender Co. , every speaker shared a simple truth: success in agritourism grows from a mix of creativity, grit, and heart. Breakout sessions like “Pedaling Potters Pasture” and the Gravel Biking Nebraska Panel showed how adventure travel and outdoor recreation can complement traditional farm experiences. Attendees didn’t just listen — they swapped stories, shared lessons learned, and left with notebooks full of fresh ideas. Field to Field Learning Site visits took participants across the heart of western Nebraska — from Buffalo Bill Ranch to Dusty Trails LLC , Homestead Pumpkin Patch , and Feather River Vineyards — where they explored the art of creating memorable experiences, from family-friendly pumpkin patches to wine tastings under the stars. Dinner among the vines, followed by an astronomy program reminded everyone that agritourism isn’t just about what visitors see — it’s about what they feel. Bloom Where You’re Planted The final day’s stops at Dahlia Valley Ranch Flower Farm and The Milk House wrapped things up with color, creativity, and community. Between the scent of fresh flowers and the taste of Nebraska-made cheese paired with local wine, participants were reminded that agritourism is as much about connection as it is about commerce. Why It Matters Workshops like this one strengthen more than business plans — they strengthen bonds. Whether you’re brainstorming new attractions, navigating challenges, or celebrating wins, being surrounded by people who “get it” can make all the difference. As one attendee put it while boarding the bus home, “It’s not just about learning new things — it’s about remembering why we started.” NAFDMA was proud to sponsor this year’s Agritourism & Adventure Travel Workshop , joining in the mission to inspire growth, collaboration, and community across farms and rural destinations everywhere. Learn more about upcoming NAFDMA events and educational opportunities at NAFDMA.com — where farms, friendships, and fresh ideas grow together.