Forging Forward with a New Business…In Spite of a Pandemic
Newlyweds Sabrina and James Orr never expected the first year of married life would include a worldwide pandemic that almost brought everything to a complete halt or that they would be starting a new business. But COVID didn’t slow down these go-getters. They started farm to B•ORR•D, a custom charcuterie board catering company!
What is a charcuterie board? Charcuterie (pronounced shahr-ku-tuh-ree) is the art of preparing and assembling an assortment of meats, cheeses, artisan breads, olives, fruit and nuts, all artfully arranged on a serving board. That being said, Sabrina has branched out to create custom boards for special events (i.e. s’mores, movie night and brunch).
Sabrina is a proactive entrepreneur. In addition to teaching elementary school full-time, she is a consultant for Rodan+Fields, a dermatologist-inspired skin products company, plus being the creative force behind the catering business. She knew she wanted to have a business that would allow her to work from home when she and James decided to start a family. These businesses will allow her to achieve that goal.
When the idea of creating charcuterie boards became a reality, the business came together very quickly. After seeing a Facebook posting about a charcuterie board business, she contacted the creator with a list of questions. There wasn’t any conflict because the mentor was located away from Sabrina’s target area. Next, a dear friend, Chloe Krause, who owns Purely Peach Designs, created a logo. They created a website and Facebook presence right away. In only seven days farm to B•ORR•D was a reality!
According to her website, Sabrina says, “A charcuterie board represents more than just food – it’s about the people that have gathered together to partake in the yummy goodness! The conversations that will flow, the memories that will be made. I take pride in each board I create.”
farm to B•ORR•D has assisted clients throughout Johnson County and has even traveled to the Texas coast to help make a couple’s wedding celebration extra special.
Although the business was Sabrina’s brainchild, James is an active participant in addition to being a full-time REALTOR. During the pandemic, Sabrina contracted COVID and still has not regained her sense of smell and taste. James is now her official taste tester!
What advice would the Orrs give others considering starting a new side business?
“Get started! If you wait until you have the whole thing figured out, you may never get off the ground. You learn as you go – we still are! Yes, we had a plan. We did our research and contacted those in the business to ask a host of questions, but we didn’t have this whole thing figured out when we started in October. We are still making adjustments and thinking about the future of the business. Make sure the business aligns with your passion and you’ll never regret it. And, learn to say no.”
The Orrs live on a farm in Joshua, Texas along with their three dogs – Piper, Juicy & Marlowe. For information about farm to B•ORR•D, visit www.farmtoborrd.com.
Sabrina and James Orr were married January 3, 2020 atop a snow-covered Colorado mountain. Originally from Stephenville, Texas, Sabrina received her bachelor of arts degree in agriculture from West Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Texas Tech University.
James attended The University of Texas at Austin and received his bachelor’s degree in business management from The University of Texas at Arlington. Sabrina currently teaches elementary school in the Crowley ISD. James is a REALTOR with the family firm of Orr Real Estate Group, a REMAX affiliate, based in Burleson, Texas. The Orrs reside in Joshua, Texas.
