Neal Ely grew up near Grafton, Nebraska lovin' the taste of his mom's pickled asparagus. So when he needed to find an FFA project in Jr. High, he knew just what to do. Take that recipe and build a business and that's exactly what this young entrepreneur did.

When he started bottling jars of pickled asparagus 8 years ago, Neal had no idea what he was getting into, "When I originally began I didn't think too much about that or have those types of expectations but as it grew and as the feedback came back and stores started calling me asking for my product I started to realize the potential there."

That potential led to a move from a small garage to a brand-new production building and with the help of his parents, his brother Reid and many area part-time employees, Neal will distribute more than 10,000 jars of pickled asparagus to grocery stores across the midwest this year. And the woman that passed on the magic recipe says it's amazing what hard work and encouragement from your parents can do, Neil's mom Tami says, "I still think when you're behind your kids and you're there no matter what they're doing if you're part of their lives they'll live up to your standards." Neal and his 21 year old brother have definitely done that.

Neal's dad Mike has a lot of pride in what his son's have accomplished, "It makes you proud of them and it's pretty humbling to think of how many people try a business, try to start it and it doesn't work so it kind of amazes you when you see something and you see all the different things that they have done. I'm proud of 'em, sure I am."

When the 24-year-old entrepreneur graduated from UNL he headed back to Grafton, to build his business and work full-time at a bank in Sutton, "I love small towns, I love small communities. I always kind of knew that I wanted a reason to move back home and to eventually raise a family in the same way that I was raised in a small town." And not only did Neal head home after college, his younger brother is also headed home after he recieves his degree from UNL next year to help run the business.

Ely Farms products can be found at most grocery stores in Nebraska.