Alyssa Scholz, the owner and founder of Sweet Briar Creative, has been making a splash in the livestock industry with her renowned videography and design skills. What you may not know is that the idea and start for this business came out of a class assignment here at Iowa State.
Sweet Briar Creative is a firm that offers design and videography to clients in the agriculture industry with an emphasis in livestock production. When Scholz explained why this is the area of focus in her business, she said, “I love the livestock industry and know those are the people and the companies that I not only enjoy but can best serve.” Alyssa graduated from Iowa State University in May of 2021 with a degree in agricultural communications and a double minor in animal science and general business.
While her time in the agricultural communications program fueled her passion, it was her classes and involvement in animal science that kept her grounded. Scholz continued by saying, “My animal science minor saved me in college; it provided me with the science-based learning and knowledge that I didn’t know I needed as a creative person.”
As someone who grew up outside of production agriculture, it was the classes that provided her with the knowledge and hands-on experience, she needed to be successful when calling on and working with her clients. “I feel like it enhances my credibility when I am talking to producers. I understand what they are saying, and I can better articulate my vision and ideas to them in a way I could not have done without that formal education,” said Scholz.
Alyssa said that she can remember her first day walking into Lush Auditorium, looking around and asking herself how she was going to set herself apart from the other talented individuals that surrounded her. So, she decided to play into her strengths. “I knew my passion was in animal science and that I could learn skills like video and design.” Scholz insists that it was never her intention to become a full-time entrepreneur, explaining that it had always been her goal to find a full-time employer. That changed second semester of her senior year when Dave Krog and Kevin Kimle explained to her that turning her portfolio into a business was a real possibility. Scholz is now proud to have served hundreds of clients and producers in 21 states and two countries over her three years of operating the business and is busier than ever.
Since graduating, Scholz has received invitations to speak in front of eight different universities and thoroughly enjoys speaking with students across the country about starting her business and turning it into a full-time career. “When I get to stand in front of a group like that, I see so much of myself in them and their potential, and even thinking about it now gives me goosebumps,” said Scholz. She hopes that her story, career, and passion encourage other students to pursue their ideas, no matter how big or small they may be.
Scholz expressed that while she has relocated to Texas, she is still a proud Cyclone at heart and often calls upon her past professors, including animal science professor Dr. Jodi Sterle, to seek their wisdom and advice. She would also like to encourage students to reach out if her story connects with them or would like to know more about her career path.
When asked if she had any advice for current students, Scholz said, “You don’t have to think about building the Great Wall of China in one day. Instead of picturing that huge, intimidating goal, think about completing one task each day. Lay one brick down as perfectly as you can each day, and in a few months, you can step back and see all the progress you made.”
We encourage you to check out her work @SweetBriarCreative on all platforms.