22. From Vet to Visionary: How Kari Jo Kelso Built a Brand Rooted in Rural Nostalgia

Kari Jo Kelso

After years of veterinary school and only four years in the field, Kari Jo Kelso walked away from her full-time vet career to chase something unexpected—t-shirts. Now the founder of Kelso & Co., Kari Jo has built a thriving apparel business and renovated a historic downtown space to support other rural entrepreneurs. In this episode of Your Ag Empire, we talk about grief, creativity, small-town pride, and what happens when you decide not to wait for retirement to live your life.

Kari Jo Kelso was living the life she thought she wanted—Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, steady job, clear path. But after losing her mom at 52, everything changed.

In this episode, we talk about:
– How Kelso & Co. started as a side hustle to cover plane tickets
– Pivoting from a traditional career into full-time entrepreneurship
– Why small towns need more creative spaces
– What grief teaches us about how (and when) to live
– The accidental launch of a corn-themed swimsuit line
– How Kari Jo gives back through purpose-driven designs and event spaces
– Diversifying income in rural America
– Balancing multiple roles: vet, designer, auction helper, small-town dreamer

If you’ve ever felt called to something different, this one’s for you.

Shop Kelso & Co.: shopkelsoandco.com
Book The Small Towner event space: smalltownermacomb.com