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By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH
In today's world where nearly anything can be accomplished remotely, Chris Duttton knows he doesn't have to be in the Ohio Valley 24/7 in order to make a real impact here.
At 39 years old, he already has made a mark locally in a number of ways despite the fact that he makes his home today in Columbus after spending his youth here in Belmont County. His official job is in Brand Strategy for Dutton Land & Cattle, and for eight years has been responsible for branding, marketing and sales strategies for Dutton Land & Cattle: Dutton Cattle Co. and The Pike 40 restaurant owned by his family. He also co-created and operates the Blame My Roots Festival. But that's not all he does.
"I've also been a licensed Realtor since 2008, working as a sales agent, investing, and managing my family's real estate investments," he said.
Dutton and his wife, Caitlin, have two daughters, 5-year-old Clara and 1-year-old Sofia. The family lives in the Olde Towne East neighborhood of downtown Columbus.
In his role with his family's businesses, Dutton is constantly creating new marketing strategies, promotional opportunities and partnerships. He also manages existing projects with the team.
"For Dutton Cattle, we're developing markets from beef sales to live cattle sales, our largest revenue stream, and building up our own embryo inventory," he said. "Our goal with live sales is to build upon the demand of the Akaushi (Wagyu) breed in our current markets in the South, Southeast, and Great Lakes area. We're also working with potential buyers in New England and Jamaica.
"Our goal with the beef product is to create or provide for the increasing demand of families looking for premium local beef."
He has some of those same duties when it comes to the restaurant business. For The Pike 40, he and his team are constantly creating content to stay relevant or in front of diners, which he said is "hugely vital" for a restaurant/bar in a small community. That work includes planning and creating content, creating events and partnering on promotional opportunities.
"Blame My Roots is an entirely different beast," he said of the multi-day music festival that is on hiatus for 2023 but plans to return to Valleyview Campgrounds near Morristown in 2024. "I'm either working with our team on content creation, promotions, marketing and ads, or I'm on the phone with my booking agent in Nashville, or my production company in Morgantown. I also spend a lot of time researching other shows for new ideas to bring to the show."
It seems that Dutton believes having a lot on his plate is a good thing. He said his motto is "Everything is training for something" -- a phrase that reminds him to keep learning, keep trying and keep moving forward regardless of short-lived wins or losses.
And while Dutton makes his home in the state capital, he has never really left the Ohio Valley.
"Even after leaving for college or moving to Columbus, I have always been involved in some sort of family project, whether farming or at our festival campground (Valleyview Campgrounds) for Jamboree In The Hills," he said. "Then in 2012, I started working with a nonprofit called iBELIEVE, founded by a friend with Marietta roots, that focused on building leadership skills in Appalachian high school students.
"Through iBELIEVE, we prioritized networking outside of Appalachia, building 'soft skills,' and encouraging 'giving back.' The latter compounded my commitment to working in the Ohio Valley, as perhaps, my way to reverse the 'brain drain.'"
It was 2015 when he decided he had a deep ("maybe innate") interest in family projects and developments.
"I felt I could make a big impact so I started working on valley projects more, and Columbus real estate projects less."
His work in the local area has led him to see local residents as one of the region's biggest assets.
"There are creative, driven people here that realize the rich history, and subsequent, revitalization potential of the Valley. You see this from Wheeling to Barnesville, and it's inspiring."
He said he enjoys working with them, partnering with them and -- sometimes - competing with them, all with the collective goal of creating the best version of anything right here in the Ohio Valley.
"I think the tides are changing on the 'Walmart effect,' and we're approaching a time where we all want to commit to local and rely on local, rather than the global brands and their supply chains. I see a generation of folks here locally committed to this."
His advice for even younger people is simple: be patient; Get a job, commit to it, and learn everything you can in that time and space.
"I got out of college at a time when no one was hiring, with a degree that no employer cared about. So, I worked second shift at a cabinet shop and stocked shelves at The Gap. I learned a lot about cabinetry, a little about retail, and a little about myself, too," he said.
Those weren't the only lessons he learned while finishing his college education. He said his dad once told him, "You'll be the only college kid that knows how to hang a gate," referencing a simple farm task. For Dutton there were a few lessons in that statement:
First, "hanging a gate sounds like a simple task on the farm. But, it's counterintuitive, it takes teamwork, and it takes communication. So, it's important to think inside and outside the box. It's important to work together and it's important to communicate clearly when working together."
Second, "be confident in all the things that you've learned. You may not be an expert in any singular field (I'm not), but have confidence in what you've learned along the way (on the farm, in the campgrounds, etc.)
"And lastly, be proud of your farming background. It's unique."
He also pointed out that "nowadays, you can make a living doing almost absolutely anything. Your career doesn't have to start at 18, or 22. Your career doesn't have to be one arc. It can ebb and flow, as your passions, efforts and interests do."
Dutton was heavily involved with the iBELIEVE Foundation and is proud to have helped provide summer camps and opportunities for more than 2,000 young people in the region.
In looking to the future, Dutton referenced a phrase attributed to President John F. Kennedy: "A rising tide lifts all boats." For him, this means that a commitment to improving his family's "products" -- from the restaurant experience, to Wagyu beef, and to live music -- contributes to and improves the social fabric of the community.
"If everyone shares this belief (and there are many that do), then our community benefits as a whole," he said. "If what we do inspires more restaurants, more beef producers, and more live music spots, then we'll (re)create this demand for all these local products and experiences again."
He pointed to the area's past as a window to its future potential:
"Old Route 40 was loaded with locally owned restaurants and bars. Wheeling was a huge live music scene. And at one time we all knew where our food came from. I think we're on our way back to there."