My journey with Magnolia Root & Render started at Louisiana Tech University, where I discovered my love for animal science and livestock production. What began as an interest in understanding animals and agriculture eventually led me into the meat processing industry, where I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand just how much goes into caring for an animal and making the most of what it provides.

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Working in meat processing also changed the way I thought about the whole animal. I began asking myself how we could use more of what we already have, waste less, and find purpose for parts of the animal that are often under-appreciated. At the same time, I’ve always had a love for specialty soaps and the craft that goes into creating something simple and useful by hand.

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Magnolia Root & Render grew out of the crossover between those two passions.

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By using locally sourced beef tallow from the meat processing industry, I’m able to turn something that might otherwise go unused into handcrafted soap and body care. What started as an idea about using more of the animal has grown into a business rooted in craftsmanship, resourcefulness, and community.

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For me, Magnolia Root & Render is about more than making soap. It’s about using more of what we have, wasting less, and bringing something tried-and-true back into everyday life. It’s also about finding ways for a small business to give back and be part of the community that helped inspire it in the first place.

 

— Shay Fitzpatrick
Owner, Magnolia Root & Render