Ep. 176 | Sarah Calhoun on Building Red Ants Pants From the Ground up in Rural Montana

In this episode of Leaders of the West, Sarah Calhoun, founder of Red Ants Pants, shares how she built a nationally recognized women’s workwear company from the ground up in rural Montana.

After years of struggling to find durable work pants that fit women properly, Sarah decided to create them herself. She launched Red Ants Pants in 2004 without a background in apparel, manufacturing, marketing, or business. By asking questions, learning as she went, and remaining committed to her vision, Sarah turned a practical solution into a brand with a much larger mission.

Throughout the conversation, Sarah shares insight into:

• Recognizing a need and having the courage to build the solution yourself
• Starting a business without formal experience in the industry
• Building a national brand from White Sulphur Springs, Montana
• Creating durable women’s workwear designed for physical labor
• Starting small and learning each stage of business along the way
• The opportunities and challenges of rural entrepreneurship
• Building products, and a company, designed to last
• Growing Red Ants Pants beyond workwear through a music festival, foundation, leadership programs, and hands-on skills courses
• Supporting women, agriculture, and rural communities through business

Whether you are developing a product, growing a rural business, or pursuing an idea that feels bigger than your experience, Sarah’s story is a reminder that you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.

Be sure to subscribe or follow Leaders of the West so you never miss an episode!

Connect with Red Ants Pants:

• Check out the website
• Follow on Instagram @redantspants

Resources & Links:

• This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
• Small Business for Dummies by Eric Tyson and Jim Schell
• Episode 35. Understanding Yourself and the Enneagram with Terryn Drieling
• Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description 
• Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship
• Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)
• Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make
• Subscribe to Of The West’s ⁠Newsletters
• List your jobs on ⁠Of The West

Connect with Jessie:

• Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv
• Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest
• Check out the Of The West website

More About Jessie

Jessie was born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Southern Idaho, which at an early age, instilled in her the importance of a strong work ethic, and a deep appreciation for the American West.

In addition to her lifelong involvement raising cattle, Jessie has had over a decade’s worth of experience in print and digital media, both writing for and producing various agriculture and western fashion publications, as well as freelancing in ag and western communications.

As someone who has been on all sides of the spectrum—as a job seeker, a business owner, someone looking for various service providers, and as a freelancer—Jessie deeply understands the obstacles one must navigate when job hunting or looking to hire for employment or project purposes in the west.

Jessie’s proudest accomplishment(s) in life is that of her family—her husband Justin, her son, Jhett, and baby girl, Jaxyn.

More About Leaders Of The West

Leaders Of The West is a podcast for innovators and change-makers in the ag and western industries. Hosted by Jessie Jarvis, the Founder of Of The West, our mission with Leaders Of The West is to foster a community of pioneers, innovators, and leaders who want to be at the forefront of what’s next. 

Whether it’s a guest episode where we’re digging into the blueprints behind our favorite industry businesses, discussing the innovation and strategies that have allowed family farming and ranching operations to continue on for another generation, to episodes with honest conversations from entrepreneurs who have risked it all on their dreams, or leaders detailing how to create a company culture so strong that you couldn’t pay your employees to leave. 

These conversations are meant to encourage the leaders of today and inspire the next generation of trailblazers. 

In addition to bringing in guests, you’ll also find some solo episodes, where Jessie shares the lessons she’s learned throughout her journey as a rancher, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. 

Whether you’re a farmer, a rancher, an equine lover, someone headed up the leadership ladder, an ag business owner, a western sports athlete, an entrepreneur, or someone who just loves the western way of life—this is the place for you.

You’ll find new episodes every week. Don’t forget to subscribe, so you never miss a show!