Home-based Small Business of the Year

Home is Where the Heart and Business Is

The owners of Stony Hill Cattle Company, Kim Coulter, William Coulter, Nina Luchka, and Joshua Coulter, raise beef cattle, hogs, turkey, broiler chickens and layer hens. They are fully licensed and insured to sell their beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs, as well as their value added products such as bacon, sausage, and frankfurters to the public through their farm stand and farmers markets. While Stony Hill’s present offerings are impressive their story began in 1955, when Kim Coulter and Nina Luchka’s grandparents, Benjamin and Emily Luchka, purchased a dairy farm. Benjamin, Emily, and their two sons worked the farm until 1960 when they sold the dairy herd and purchased beef cattle. By 1985, the Luchka’s began selling their meat products to friends and family members. Before long, word of mouth spread about the quality products available at the Luchka farm. Without intending the Luchka’s found a new avenue of revenue, and with it a way of aiding in keeping the farm
operational. In 1996, Kim and Nina lost their father, Kenneth. Though distraught the sisters were thrust into their father’s day-to- day responsibilities. They quickly began focusing on growing the herd of cattle as well as the number of hogs they raised while also purchasing layer hens to expand their public offerings to include farm fresh eggs.

In 2007, Kim and Nina bought their uncle’s share of the farm, believing strongly in keeping Stony Hill farm in one piece. It was during this time that Kim and her husband William began working with six other farm families to start the Rhode Island Raised Livestock Association. Together, the group worked with the Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Agriculture Division, to bring about updated guidelines so that farmers could sell directly to the public, restaurants and public institutions. This act has directly led to farms in Rhode Island tripling in number while helping to usher in restaurants featuring local, farm-raised meats, fruits, and vegetables. Like many farms, revenue can have drastic fluctuations year-to- year. To ensure Stony Hill could withstand any unforeseen mishap they applied for a SBA Business Line of Credit for $25,000. The credit gives a safeguard against any herd loss or potential crippling economic disaster.
While Stony Hill is in business to make money, their values and priorities are that of the land, “We are farmers and we are landowners,” said William Coulter, “but most important, we are stewards of the land.  It is our job to protect our natural resources,” he added. For their demonstrated success and growth potential, the U.S. Small Business Administration is pleased to honor Kim M. Coulter, William A. Coulter, Nina L. Luchka, Joshua A. Coulter, Owners of The Stony Hill Cattle Company, as the 2018 Rhode Island Home-Based Small Business of the Year.

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