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Amanda Freund, along with Bessie the cow, appear on the television show “Shark Tank” to seek an investment for the CowPots made on her family’s farm in East Canaan. She came away successfully.
Photo provided
EAST CANAAN — For Amanda Freund, there is gold in cow poop.
The marketing manager of the East Canaan business that created and produces CowPots snagged a $200,000 investment in the operation from Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” on the ABC television program “Shark Tank” that aired Friday.
Freund’s father, Matthew Freund, ran Freund’s Farm, a multi-generational enterprise, with his brother Benjamin Freund. Seeking ways to diversify to ensure the farm’s survival, Matthew Freund came up with the idea of making biodegradable plant pots from composted cow manure to deal with the abundance of the byproduct in a sustainable way. Cows produce 100 pounds of manure a day.
The pots went on the market in 2006 after years of experimentation and are now sold around the world.
Although the herd was sold off to an independent farmer a few years ago, the cows are still housed at the farm and the manure remains plentiful. The production of the pots takes place in a barn onsite.
Amanda Freund explained that a marketing consultant they work with sent in a submission for her to appear on “Shark Tank.” She had preliminary conversations with representatives of the show last June and had meetings with production teams every week after that.
She finally heard that she would be a contestant and flew out to Los Angeles in September for the taping. A month ago, she heard the segment would be televised.
Accompanying her on the set was Bessie, an inflatable cow, who pranced gaily around the stage as Freund made her pitch. With poise and confidence, Freund presented facts about the business in detail, including profit margins and lifetime sales.
“We turn brown stuff into green stuff,” she said.
She also explained the business was branching out to use the composted manure for purposes beyond horticulture, such as packaging material. She showed the prototype for ones that would hold wine bottles. Candles could also be placed in them for safe transport.
In return for the $200,000, Freund said she was willing to give 10% equity in the business.
Three of the four sharks, while impressed with her plea, said CowPots didn’t fit into their businesses and turned her down.
Originally O’Leary, who also works with packaging, was reluctant to sign on. After some coaxing from the other panelists, he made an offer to invest if he received 25% of the business.
Freund countered with 20% and O’Leary came back with 22.5%. But Freund held firm, saying she couldn’t go above 20% and was about to leave when again, getting pressure from the others, O’Leary agreed to the 20%. The two hugged to settle the deal.
As Freund and Bessie exited the stage, Freund could be seen smiling broadly, hands in the air, obviously pleased she’d had a positive encounter with a shark.
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From left, North Canaan First Selectman Brian Ohler, State Senator Stephen Harding, R-30, and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto stand near an old utility pole on Railroad Street April 4.
Photo by Riley Klein
NORTH CANAAN — In recent years, downtown North Canaan has welcomed new businesses, infrastructure improvements and spruced-up building facades.
In an effort to continue the positive momentum and identify funding options, First Selectman Brian Ohler toured Railroad Street with state officials Friday, April 4.
The group included State Senator Stephen Harding, R-30, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto and Transportation Engineering Administrator Mark Carlino.
Ohler relayed a number of ideas for innovation on Railroad Street regarding pedestrian walkways, power line relocation and railroad track upgrades.
“Canaan is the welcoming committee for Connecticut with Route 7, all the travelers coming down,” Ohler said. “We want to roll out the red carpet, but the carpet really isn’t what it should be aesthetically right now.”
Walkability
Ohler pointed out a crosswalk in front of the deli that abuts a seven-inch curb. “There’s no ADA consideration,” said Ohler.
Eucalitto explained that while the state does not directly fund sidewalk construction, DOT supports municipalities seeking grants for such projects. He noted the Community Connectivity Grant Program and Transportation Rural Improvement Program as two potential avenues for funding.
Eucalitto said grant applications approved by CCGP and TRIP typically fund construction, but municipalities are expected to pay for an engineer to design the project.
Eucalitto said TRIP applications can receive up to $800,000 and CCGP applications can receive up to $1.2 million.
With the help of Northwest Hills Council of Governments and Mark Carlino at DOT, North Canaan can itemize the specific work required to improve the pedestrian infrastructure, enabling the town to apply for grants.
Power lines
The group addressed the dated power lines and utility poles along Railroad Street. Ohler suggested moving powerlines behind the buildings or underground.
Carlino said the cost of relocating powerlines is immense. He suggested the town partner with Eversource to install new utility poles and clean up some haphazard wiring.
Newer utility poles — like the ones nearby on Main Street — are taller, allowing for wires and tranformers to be placed above building facades.
Ohler agreed that would be an efficient option, but said he still plans to research the cost to relocate power lines to the municipal parking lot behind the buildings.
Railroad track
The group considered upgrades to the railroad and how to achieve varying levels of improvement.
Ohler noted ongoing efforts to extend passenger rail from Danbury to New Milford, as well as a desire on the Massachusetts side of the border to connect passengers from Danbury to Pittsfield.
Eucalitto said the existing railroad track that runs through North Canaan is graded for freight trains and would require considerable upgrades to permit passenger trains. He said there is a third rail option: “holiday trains,” such as the scenic and historic train rides between Thomaston and Torrington on the Naugatuck Railroad.
While a passenger railroad requires full-length electrification for signaling and equipment, a holiday train “is much easier to accomplish by investing in a freight railroad,” said Eucalitto.
Ohler and Harding envisioned a “foliage train” for the autumn season.
“Then you kind of get the tourist feel to it,” said Harding, who compared it to another holiday train in Essex, Connecticut. “They bring in hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of people per season.”
“We have funds that can help a freight railroad upgrade their tracks,” said Eucalitto, adding the money can be used to build a passenger platform where people can onboard.
The group identified a potential landing spot for a platform north of the auto dealer on Railroad Street. Utilizing Union Deport for onboarding was also considered.
To be awarded funding, Housatonic Railroad Company would need to apply to DOT and the federal government for track upgrades.
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Allyn H. Hurlburt III
Apr 04, 2025
CORNWALL — It is with great sadness that I share that I lost my husband, Buddy, my best friend and soulmate in a matter of minutes with no warning, at home on March 31, 2025. Our wonderful children are a testament to who he was and what we are as a family.
Buddy was born Allyn H. Hurlburt III, but went by Buddy because his father and grandfather were both Allyns too.
During school, he excelled in public speaking and was the FFA President in 1972-1973, which earned him a sharp blue jacket with gold letters that he recently wore with the buttons proudly closed up! He grew up with his siblings working on the farm and ended up being the one who purchased the farm from his parents. Anyone who has ever worked a farm knows that the work is constant, hard and sometimes not profitable, though always rewarding, and a great way to raise children.
In 1997, life changed for both of us and we were lucky enough to “save each other” as we liked to refer to it, and we combined forces and families and made a go! What an adventure we had, more kids, more cows, more chickens and more fun. We even made time for a couple of big trips to Florida so Buddy could visit some of the country. With the help of our kids, we milked cows, planted corn, sold eggs and eventually even diversified into pasteurizing and selling our own cheese and milk in glass bottles. Delivered fresh weekly to 27 different stores all over Connecticut.
Alas, economics won out and we struggled until we decided that our quality of life would improve with two full time jobs and part time farming. Buddy worked for the Town of Cornwall until he retired. These last few years have been busy for him despite “retiring”, he had odd jobs mostly at home, helped anyone that asked, kept tabs on the kids and what they needed, fed the animals we still have and of course tended to his beloved bird family outside, which we will continue faithfully.
He mostly enjoyed his family, his children meant the most to him, gave him so much pride and joy and love. He would sing their praises ad nauseum to anyone who would listen or look at high school basketball footage or listen to stories of their accomplishments. He loved going to a field hockey game for Brooke and then watching Mason swim at the lake.
Buddy loved people, meeting people, talking to people, helping people, learning from people, everywhere he went. He was funny, kind, generous to a fault, and deeply loved me and our family. He was in a happy place in his life, with so many things that he was planning and looking forward to which makes his passing even more heartbreaking to us.
Buddy is survived by his loving wife Irene of 28 years, daughters, Ciara (John) Orchard, Caroline (Matthew) Murray, sons, Brian (Chloe) Fossati, Carl Fossati, Jonathan (Regina) Hurlburt, grandsons Mason Hurlburt; granddaughter Charlotte Hurlburt, daughter-in-law Erin Reilly (Jason) and granddaughters Rita Dziedzic and Brooke Hurlburt, daughter Brittany (Benjamin) Palinkas and granddaughters Hadley and Kasey, son Christopher Hurlburt and grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother, Anita Hurlburt, siblings, Patricia (Ross) Huntington, (John in Heaven), Richard Hurlburt, William (Becky) Hurlburt, David (Valerie) Hurlburt, James Hurlburt, Nancy (Rob) Hohlfelder and Jennifer (Joseph) Markow. Also many nieces, nephews, (Timmy in Heaven), grand nieces and grand nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 1p.m., at the United Church of Christ, Congregational, in Cornwall Village, CT. Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, PO BOX 180, West Cornwall, CT 06796.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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