Kilty is the epitome of the small business entrepreneur

TORRINGTON – For a ranch kid, Julie Kilty, owner of Farm Girls Boutique, has become very successful as an entrepreneur whose interests are mainly located in-town.
“I’ve been incredibly blessed to have had many amazing business partners in my life and a family who has supported my business journeys,” said Kilty, who has started several businesses from scratch and grew them into successful endeavors. However, her first major journey was the one that brought her from her family’s ranch near Broadus, Mont. to
Goshen County.
After she graduated from high school, Kilty attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she met her future husband, Kerry Kilty.
“I grew up on a cattle and sheep ranch,” Kilty shared, an upbringing that prepared her well for her new life on the Kilty Ranch near LaGrange. “I moved to the ranch in 1984 with Kerry and our son Brennan. We continue to ranch in the LaGrange area. My son Kyle manages the operation, now.”
Though she considers her greatest accomplishment to be a mom, having raised two sons, Brennan and Kyle, two step-daughters Liz and Julia (Kerry unexpectedly passed away in 2004 and she married David Bartlett,) and is a grandmother of three. She has also been very successful as a businesswoman.
“I started my first business, Graphics Inc. with Lex and Shawn Madden,” she said. “It was around 1988 and I started the Broker Real Estate Guide.

“A few years later I sold my interest in the business but kept the real estate guide.”
Eventually, she opened Country at Heart that was located where Edward Jones is now on Main Street. She also had business interests in Chugwater that opened the door for her most recent business, Farm Girls Boutique.
“I started Farm Girls Boutique by having events and inviting artists and artisans to join and show their merchandise,” said Kilty. “Then when Goshen County Economic Development Corporation decided to remodel 21st and Main, I decided to join in.
“I sold the Buffalo Bar and Grill in Chugwater and got a space at 21st and Main. It has been a really good decision.”
Kilty does all the buying for the boutique, which carries affordable, stylish clothing for women and indoor decor that has a country-antique patina.
Besides her entrepreneurial spirit, Kilty is also driven by a spirit of volunteerism. She is a member of the Torrington Rotary, GCEDC, the Goshen Chamber of Commerce, the LaGrange Bear Creek Library, PEO, Goshen Cattlewomen and the First Presbyterian Church. Kilty also currently serves on the Wyrlec board of directors and previously served on the board of trustees for Eastern Wyoming College.
“I first started volunteering in high school when the Rainbow Girls organized a fund raising event for the Children’s Hospital,” she said. “It was so fulfilling it has become a mission of mine to help wherever I can. Being a founding member of the LaGrange Bear Creek Library has been an important part of my life in giving back to others.”
It is a wonder that with so many irons in the fire, Kilty would have the time to run a successful main street business, but she enjoys that as much as she enjoys anything, especially the location.
“I like to see the happiness on customers faces when they can buy something they like at an affordable price. And I like the venue because you can hear people laughing while they are visiting friends,” a reference to the open layout at 21st and Main.
She describes her “average” customer as between 25 years old and 55 years old, she quickly points out that “we also get seven year olds and 85 year olds in here.”
“Our goal is to be as affordable as possible and have different consigners in the store like Marvie Tippsword and Dawn Conk, who repurposes old pieces and also produces fine art.”
The shop is open six days a week, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And though, Kilty enjoys working with her customers, employees and consignors, she doesn’t necessarily think Farm Girls Boutique will be the last stop on her entrepreneurial voyage.
“I’ll continue to enjoy the excitement of diving headfirst into the next chapter in my life. I enjoy the journey”.