Meet Dani Alvarez | Farm at Sparrow Hill – Sparrow Hill Beverage Burros

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Alvarez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, what principle do you value most?
My parents instilled in us the value of serving rather than being served. To not wait for someone to come to you, but to take initiative and step up to see needs and get them done. To go first- even if no one else is doing it. To go further- see the need, do it and what else can you do to serve? And then some… go above and beyond to meet that need. It’s the host vs. guest mentality. A host is there to serve, ask questions, make people feel comfortable. The guest is there to be served. I feel like this is of high value to me because not only is it lacking in today’s world, but taking initiative, stepping up, doing something you might not want to do is very impactful to people. If there is something you can do, do it. Don’t be a vicitim, don’t wait until someone asks you do it, it might not be in your job title, but do it anyways and see the needs around you. Be a blessing to people. I feel like this is especially important being in the wedding industry and as a vendor at weddings. Not only are we there to serve the guests but to notice the needs around us and be a host rather than a guest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was a D1 college athlete, I ran cross country and track and field in college in a highly competitive environment. I later became an elementary teacher and taught at a private school, I taught cross-culturally for a few summers in third world countries, and then at a low-income school in Greeley. While athletics and teaching are worlds apart, they both took a lot of discipline, drive, and self-sacrifice. Conditions are not always in your favor no matter what you are doing, but you still must step up to the plate and get the job done no matter how you feel that day. I learned a lot of grit, mental and physical toughness, and to be honest, I am highly competitive, so I strive for a high-level of excellence. Now as a mom, wife, and business owner, I can tame some of those aspects down yet still strive for excellence. I do not have to be the best mom, or business owner, but I can be a good one, and more importantly a balanced one. Juggling a lot of different “hats” as a mom, wife, friend, business owner, can be hard. It has been about not trying to be the very best but to learn to say no, and do it all well and balanced for the health of me and my family. I love being able to pour myself into different things, and my tendency is to go overboard, in any one of them. Many times in my life I have poured everything I am into one thing and while I may be able to be successful at that I have also been unbalanced and unhappy. Now running a business, it has been super fun, and more importantly something my kids and husband can also be involved in. So success is being able to do it to a high-level of excellence with balance in all things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many fun things to do in Fort Collins! I would take them to Horsetooth Reservoir, we would go hiking, paddle boarding, and hang out outside. Tubing down the Poudre is always a hit. I would take them to many of the local breweries and see if we can catch some live music. Some of my favorites are Stodgy’s, New Belgium, Odells, Equinox. I love Downtown Fort Collins, anytime we can walk around there, grab something to eat or an ice cream cone is always a good time. I would take someone to eat at Verns, local food trucks, and Beaujo’s Pizza. I personally visit a lot of parks these days having young kids, but I would take them to Paddlers Pub, a playground with live music, food trucks and drinks! I would also take them to Estes, the rainbow slides at Fun City are the best, and then we would drive over Trail Ridge Road to Granby Colorado. Granby is gorgeous in the summer and has the cutest little rodeo, places to eat, trails, and fishing spots!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ti and Jo Stroup. Ti and Jo are two of our main donkey handlers. They have been instrumental in helping our business grow, customer relations, and training the donkeys. There are so many intangibles with Ti and Jo. They are identical twins who work hard, are gracious, and are some of the best people you will ever meet. They are also small business owners with Ti and Jo Coffee Co and Desert Canary Mobile Bar, so we have been able to partner together and bounce ideas off each other. Everything they do is with a high degree of excellence. Not only are their products and services amazing, but they are equally top-quality people.

Randy Gustafson. Randy has been a mentor to me in all things farm and animal related. I can ask all my dumb questions to him and he sets me straight. I am so appreciative to him and his wife in answering my questions and helping me not over-think everything.

Website: www.farmatsparrowhill.com

Instagram: @sparrowhillbeverageburros @farmatsparrowhill @blacknosedolls

Facebook: Sparrow Hill Beverage Burros

Image Credits
APV FOCO