Photo Caption - Mark and Becky Wisner, along with their children, Dane (left) and Jayde (front) are the owners/operators of a home-based family business that specializes in functional hand-thrown stoneware, hand-poured candles, and rustic-styled wooden signs, Smokehouse candles, pottery, and signs are produced in rural Chillicothe for wholesale distribution in 25 states with a base of 130 customers.

Photo by Megan Neis, C-T.

The winding road of Missouri Highway 190 between Jamesport and Chillicothe is pure Americana with endless acres of rolling green pastures and farmers working the land. The natural beauty seems to bring out the artist in the people who live here, as is evident from the larger-than-life murals in Chilicothe to the scores of shops of Amish handcrafts in Jamesport.

So, it's not surprising to find Smokehouse Pottery and Wax, a home-based family business that specializes in functional hand-thrown stoneware, hand-poured candles, and rustic-styled wooden signs. What might be a surprise is the scope of this business. The Morton storage building that sits behind the family's two-story farmhouse is where the candles, pottery, and signs are produced for wholesale distribution in 25 states with a base of 130 customers and for showrooms in Overland Park, Kansas, and Columbus, Ohio. Locally, some of the products are sold at Country Corner Craft and Antiques, Vintage Antiques, Pap's Primitives in Chillicothe, and Farm House Collections in Jamesport.

You would think a slew of employees show up each morning to get the job done, but it's all handmade by the Wisner family - Mark, Becky, Dane, and Jayde - with only one part-time employee. Dane, 19, works long days as the primary potter. He also helps with the candles and signs. He awakens each day at 6:30 a.m. and works an hour before breakfast. Then, he takes a half-hour lunch and tries to be finished by 7 p.m. At night, he attends business classes at a local community college. "I enjoy it all. I like the freedom you get from having your own business."

Quality is the reason this small company is able to compete with large corporations. "The key is you have to put out a high-quality product," Mark Wisner says. Although corporations may be able to sell them cheaper, they can't compete with the personalized attention the Wisners give their work.

Smokehouse Pottery signs are all made from solid wood and take a full two days to turn them into one-of-a-kind treasures. The family only uses high-quality scents and three kinds of wax in their candles. They blend the wax together to make what they want.

How this family of four has turned an idea into a successful business is truly a story of the American dream. It began six years ago with two pottery coffee cups that were purchased at a home show in Kansas City. "We were going to work on the house," Mark laughs. Instead, the family took six weeks of pottery lessons at KC Metro Ceramics, leading to the purchase of their own pottery wheel and then, six months later, to selling their wares at Chautauqua in the Park, an annual festival in Chillicothe. "It was a whim," Mark says. "I just thought we could do this."

Becky greets visitors to the Smokehouse Pottery booth at the C-T Holiday Bazaar on November 19, 2005. Dane, Mark, and Jayde appear in the background. (Click photo for a closer view.) C-T Photo Laura Schuler

The family's first products were made in an old smokehouse on their property, hence the name, Smokehouse Pottery. "We had the wheel and a chair and a little electric heater," Mark says. "All of us would sit in there and try to throw some pots. We might make five pieces all day, and that was a good day." How things have changed. Dane's current record is 300 pieces a day. That's in addition to the 50 signs a day and endless numbers of candles they make.

"It's super gratifying to think that six years ago, we didn't know anything about this," Mark muses. "I wouldn't have dreamed in a million years this would happen."

Smokehouse Pottery today.

More information from the people at Smokehouse Pottery...

Mark and Becky Wisner, along with our son, Dane, and daughter, Jayde, began our family-owned and family-run business, Sunnybrook Farms LLC, in a small smokehouse in Amish country near Jamesport, Missouri, in 1999. With the growth of our business over the years, we have built a bigger, more spacious shop which we're very excited about! Take everything you love about us and triple it! Our pride is in our handmade, unique products. We take great pride in everything from shipping out quality products to our fast and friendly service. We continue to grow, yet maintain our "hometown" attitude. When you buy from us, you are treated like family!

HISTORY

Beginning with our love to create, we learned all we could about pouring candles, creating scents, and marketing our products. Our son, Dane, became involved when he showed a talent for making pottery. Since then, our business has grown in leaps and bounds. Sunnybrook Farms LLC was born, doing business as Smokehouse Pottery and Wax. In 2004, Smokehouse Sign Company began, and in 2005, watch our site for Smokehouse Farm Furniture!

Becky sets wicks (above) in our hand-made votive candles. Mark is shown at left pouring the wax. Special instructions are taped to the wall above his head as accumulated over the years.

The pottery Mark is pouring the wax in is all made right in the smokehouse by our son, Dane. Dane is shown at his potter's wheel in the photo at right.

Our products are sold both retail and wholesale. For a list of retail locations, please email us.

If your store would like to feature our unique, hand-made products, please email Becky.

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Home | The People | The Signs | The Smells | The Wax | The Pots | The Facts | The Body | The Shelves

Specializing in functional handthrown stoneware and 
unique hand poured candle/bath & body products.
The Wisner Family
(Mark, Becky, Dane & Jayde)
1856 Hwy 190
Chillicothe, MO 64601
Phone: (660) 772-3351
E-mail: pottery @greenhills.net

Updated 01/31/2007.