Four hours from home, a brand-new fair, and a plan that looked simple on paper. Then reality hit: 90-degree heat, a solo tent setup, black flies so thick they sounded like rain, and four nights trying to sleep in the back of a Yukon because the camper wasn’t an option. We’re telling the whole road story from Springfield, Maine, from the small-town moments that restore your faith in people to the kind of setbacks that make you question why you even signed up.

Along the way, we break down how we choose vendor events and fairs using a “checkbox” system, and why there’s an even bigger internal checklist that matters more than sales. When you’re building a small business, chasing an American dream, and trying to provide for your family, discomfort becomes data. The sacrifice, the commitment, the decision to stay open when it’s slow, and the ability to adapt when the weather turns are what prove you’re serious. We also talk about customer service, staying grounded, and why being part of something early, whether it’s a growing fair or a growing brand, creates its own kind of pride.

The weekend starts rough, gets wetter, and nearly turns into a morale breaker. Then the comeback shows up: Saturday and Sunday flip the whole result, beating last year’s numbers, and reminding us why resilience and faith belong in the same sentence. We close with the late-night pack-up, the dangerous exhaustion on the drive home, making it back for my wife’s birthday, and a look ahead to the Maine State Moose Lottery event at the Acton Fairgrounds.

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Rejection emails are one thing. Rejection that makes you question your identity, your message, and your future is something else. We’re coming off a week that started with baptism and ended with two moments of real relief, and we’re telling the full story, messy parts included.

We talk through the “season of new” around Loud Proud American: taking bigger swings for America 250, applying to major concerts and country festivals, and pulling back from familiar local events even when they used to be reliable. Then the doors keep closing. We unpack why big events often say no to small vendors, how exclusivity deals protect official merchandise, and why a patriotic, American-made apparel brand can still get treated like a risk. If you’ve ever tried to grow a business and felt like the gatekeepers never even saw you, you’ll recognize this struggle.

From there, we share a weekend recap at a new off-road venue, the long drives, the slow sales, and the disappointment of learning the busiest event on the property might be off-limits. But the road trip also delivers something unexpected: a bald eagle moment that hits deep, ties back to losing Dad, and turns into a long, honest prayer about grief, purpose, and trust.

Finally, we get real about the financial pressure behind the scenes and why one approval email felt like a lifeline. Then another email lands: acceptance to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York, a million-attendee opportunity that could change the year. We leave you with the lesson we’re learning the hard way: growth is not just on the other side of discomfort, it’s on the other side of obedience.

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Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/
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Thank you for Supporting My American Dream!

We waited a long time for baptism day, and when it finally arrived, it didn’t feel like a single moment. It felt like a whole season coming to a head: grief, healing, late-night doubts, and the decision to stop “faking fine” and start living our faith out loud. This recap is personal, funny in the way real life is funny, and honest about how heavy a joyful day can still feel.

We talk through the people who showed up for us and the kind of church community that’s built on effort, not convenience. Some friends drove an hour. Others rode the city bus, got dropped at the mall, and walked the rest of the way just to be there. We also share how the livestream let family and friends watch from afar, and why that mattered more than we expected.

Then we go behind the scenes on the testimony video: the pressure of telling a big story in a small window, the “interrogation” feeling of being interviewed, and the moment we realized we needed to re-record so the truth felt right in our bodies. We connect it back to the bigger faith journey, including losing Ali’s mom to addiction and suicide, leaning into God when strength was gone, and learning there is no Christian checklist you have to complete before you take a step.

If this story hits home, listen, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find Share the Struggle Podcast. What’s one step you’ve been waiting to take?

If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/
Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/
Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859

Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/
Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loudproudamerican
Loud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/
Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_american
Loud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtw

Thank you for Supporting My American Dream!