Hey there! You might have noticed that we're back from our little blog hiatus, and it's time I introduce myself properly. I'm Cole Casper, and I'm thrilled to be the Marketing Specialist of the fantastic team at Fernson Brewing Company! I've been on board for a couple months, and I can't wait to give you a sneak peek of the incredible crew, one story at a time.

Before I landed here at Fernson, I spent over five years in the world of Banking and Finance. I've had my fair share of formal education in marketing, but it's only recently that I made the leap into this exciting field professionally. What drew me to Fernson, you ask? Well, their unwavering commitment to inclusion and sharing spoke to me from the jump. These are values that I hold close to my heart, and I was eager to join a team that shares that same vision. During the challenging job search process, I found that embracing vulnerability and authenticity became not only my guiding principle but also the key to navigating this unpredictable journey successfully. Fernson believed in me and has allowed me to learn and grow in this role; I'm here to share my journey and how I found my way to this remarkable place.

The above quote from Oscar Wilde encapsulates my life for as long as I can remember. I've always been the odd one out, whether it's in my family or in my small hometown of Lake Preston, South Dakota. But you know what's funny? In a way, being the odd one out has given me a superpower: the ability to fit in anywhere. It's kind of like a paradox, right? To fit in everywhere, you've got to go through a whole lot of not fitting in.

My parents were both educators and coaches. And then my older brother – you can probably guess what he's doing, right? Teaching and coaching, just like they did. More specifically, they all majored in Physical Education to add another layer of similarity. I know for a fact there is a video buried away on an old VHS tape somewhere of my brother when he was about four years old, and when asked what he wanted to be, he proudly shouted "Coach!" without a second thought. But me? I'm on the complete opposite end of that spectrum. I used to dread every single career day or career matching test I ever had to take. Come on, how can anyone expect a middle schooler to pick one thing and know it's the right thing for them?

In college, I was the person who went with the "general studies" major until I absolutely had to make a choice. I've always had a thing for numbers and creative problem solving, so I thought, "Why not finance?" It seemed like the smart, responsible option that I could use in all sorts of ways. Fast forward five years, and I was right on track for a long and stable career at a bank. But then, after a hard life audit, I realized that this path just wasn't working for me. I mean, how many of us have said "my life is a movie" on social media? Well, if my life were a movie, this is the part where you'd hear some upbeat music playing in the background as I had a moment of courage. I decided to go back to square one, follow my passion, and make a real change.

An insatiable craving to create had been bubbling under the surface of my personal life, and I finally decided to take the plunge into a full-time marketing gig. It just felt right for me, aligning perfectly with the creative and analytical parts of my brain. When I took that massive first step, I had no clue where it would lead me, and that's totally okay. After all, you only need to take one step at a time to get the ball rolling. I knew one thing, though – I wanted to be creative and do something that brought people together. It's almost poetic that I ended up at Fernson, where we're all about creating "Beer for Sharing." You see, it's perfectly fine not to have all the answers and to be a little scared of the journey. Going back to the quote, what's scarier: not knowing what life has in store for you or being stuck where you know exactly what's going to happen?

There may come a point in life when you're hit with a passion or an idea that you just can't shake. It's a level of conviction you've never felt before. If I could share one piece of advice with anyone, it's this: if you've got that fire, that idea that won't leave you alone, that's your body telling you to go for it. You can try to swim against the current, but trust me, that path leads to dissatisfaction and burnout. I count myself fortunate because I'm not one of those folks with a super-detailed five-year plan or a meticulously planned life all the way to retirement. What I do have, though, is a deep sense of self, the ability to adapt to any situation, and the courage to try.

Life has a way of taking unexpected turns and blowing up any plans or ideas you have. Things can change in an instant. This happened to me when I was in high school. I was ripped out of school, and my mom had to break the news that my brother had been diagnosed with cancer. The entire story that unfolded from that point fills up pages, and I'm not even sure I remember enough to tell it properly. What I do recall is excruciatingly long days at the hospital mixed with trying to keep up with school and basketball. To put it mildly, it was a tough four years for my family and especially for me personally. The normal demands of high school and college are tough on their own; I went through each with the added emotional distress of my older brother going through a very arduous cancer treatment. I wholeheartedly embrace this as part of my story and am comfortable sharing it with you to foster a deeper understanding of my perspective.

Through that whole experience, I've come to realize that the kindest people have been through the hardest things that life has to offer. It's made me approach every situation with kindness and understanding, because everyone has a story, right? And, you know, looking back, this spring, I had this full-circle moment. On the anniversary of my brother being in remission, I went to Fernson Downtown to have a beer in peace. Back then, I wasn't even employed by Fernson, but to me, Fernson has always been about comfort and safety – a place to occupy whatever space you need.

As a company, we're all about being humble, approachable, and sincere. My hope is to extend those values to you, the incredible people who make Fernson possible. I've only been part of the team for a little while, but my appreciation for everyone here is immeasurable. Fernson is something truly special, and I want everyone to experience that same feeling when they enjoy a Fernson product. So, I humbly ask you to join us on this journey to discover all the amazing stories hidden within the people at Fernson. Cheers to sharing in the experience and raising a glass together!

Words By: Cole Casper