Building Better Food Systems: Backyard Chickens & Durable Design with Timothy Shenk | Ep 18

In Episode 18 of the Killer Growth Podcast, Samuel sits down with Timothy Shenk, General Manager of Egg Cart'n, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, regenerative agriculture, and designing products that actually last.

Timothy shares his unconventional path—from teaching and earning a music degree to helping run a family manufacturing business focused on high-quality chicken tractors built for backyard families and small homesteads. He walks through how Egg Cart'n began, what went wrong early, and how the business has evolved through trial, burnout, and hard-earned clarity around roles, ownership, and leadership.

The conversation dives deep into what makes Egg Cart'n different: predator-proof construction, durable materials, ease of movement, and why most people quit raising chickens—not because they don’t care, but because their systems fail. Timothy explains how better design leads to healthier animals, better nutrition, improved soil, and a more realistic way for families to reconnect with where their food comes from.

They also discuss pricing psychology, shipping large products nationwide, marketing to first-time buyers, and why not everyone needs to be a hardcore homesteader to make a meaningful impact on food quality and sustainability.

This episode is a thoughtful look at building a mission-driven product, balancing family dynamics in business, and creating systems that help people follow through on good intentions.

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