How Trevor Farnes, co-founder of MTN OPS, uses every sale to fight world hunger

How Trevor Farnes, co-founder of MTN OPS, uses every sale to fight world hunger

Trevor Farnes, co-founder of MTN OPS, is a highly successful nutritional supplement entrepreneur and is regularly praised and nominated for awards for his achievements in the business world. But it's important to note that these successes were the result of a series of failed ventures, which at one point led Farnes to question how he was even going to put food on the table for his own family.

Now that the money is in the bank and an exciting brand is going from strength to strength, Farnes is paying off in a big way.M&FWe sat down with the changemaker to find out why he personally cares about ending hunger and how he's making a meaningful difference not just in his local community, but around the world.

“I wish I had had the sense to build slowly and create a foundation from which I could then continue to grow,” reflects Farnes as he talks about the financial difficulties he faced due to a failed pharmaceutical company and a later illness. "But I did it and wanted to make it big quickly. I was short-sighted about the importance of working capital, cash flow, bandwidth, etc. Simple things that if I had been mentored a little more I would have saved myself a lot of money and heartache."

Desperate and motivated to succeed, Farnes finally found success when he developed a nitric oxide product specifically for his ailing father to alleviate his neuropathy and circulatory problems. This project went so well that Farnes, along with his brothers, were able to raise the capital to mass produce the product, and sales skyrocketed from there. Then, in 2014, the entrepreneur teamed up with a group of like-minded marketers to offer nutritional supplements to the hunter-athlete movement, and MTN OPS was born.

“It was created to inspire a passion for the outdoors and for those who train indoors to conquer outdoors,” he says. “‘MTN’ or ‘Mountains’ represents all the mountains we climb and ultimately conquer in life, and ‘OPS’ represents the outdoor performance supplements we offer to those who face, climb and conquer those mountains of life!”

Inspiration comes from overcoming personal obstacles

MTN OPS inspires people by reducing hunger. Statistics from Feedingamerica.org indicate that 34 million people are food insecure in the United States alone. It is a problem that occurs in every state in North America and occurs all over the world. And it's a topic close to Farnes' heart, as he understands what it's like to worry about where your next meal might come from. “During our difficult times, we were constantly thinking about our grocery bill,” he says. “Our children had to eat, and they did

what concerned me as a young father. We began to dip into the food supply we had built up in case of a natural disaster, but it was now being used for our own personal disaster. Cracking your own wheat to make things last longer was a great skill to learn, but hard on the stomach.” While the now successful businessman is now able to put food on the table, he is all too aware of the cost of living crisis gripping the world. “Over time, we have seen foods such as eggs, bacon, pork, milk, fruit and other staples become very expensive and it has become incredibly difficult for families to go beyond basic needs,” he notes.

With this in mind, Farnes and MTN OPS give back to those who need help. “For every order we receive at MTN OPS, we donate a meal to a child in need,” he says. “It is a wonderful system where those who purchase our products receive the health benefits of the product, but their order and their hard-earned money are then put into action.” In turn, people receive nutrition through the meals we donate. It’s a win-win system that benefits everyone involved.”

At regular events, including the annual Western Hunt Expo, MTN OPS runs its Operation Conquer Hunger program, packing and distributing an incredible 60,000 meals to children and families in need.

“They receive foods such as ravioli, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, fruit packets, crackers, granola bars and fruit juice and can eat these foods when they do not have access to school breakfast and lunch or when they are home on the weekend,” Farnes says. "Also, inside each of these packages is a note from MTN OPS telling each of these children that they are made to conquer. Yes, we are filling a belly, but really we are removing the distraction of hunger and instilling in these children some hope and confidence and hopefully the ability that they can focus on their pursuit of more in life in school and in relationships."

MTN OPS promotes success through nutrition education

“Our diet is the cause of so much heartache, headaches and stomachaches,” says Farnes. "We are distracted by competition, in a race for success, but we are slow to think about our greatest asset; our human body and its ability to make our greatest contributions and our greatest opportunities in life. If we could just slow down for a moment, we would realize that without our health we become nothing." Farnes doesn't just sell or give away MTN OPS products as he is also a big consumer. He emphasizes that he enjoys the energy boost he gets from best-selling product Ignite, and when he bikes, hikes or skis, he uses MTN OPS hydration and electrolyte products.

Farnes tells M&F that Operation Conquer Hunger donates a small portion of proceeds to children and families in Malawi, Africa, while also distributing funds to U.S. hunger relief organization Feeding America. Reflecting on his early struggles, Farnes believes another way to fight hunger is to educate young people about financial issues. “I could have benefited significantly from general financial literacy and management courses in high school,” he says. “There are a lot of ambitious people who want to hit the ground running after they graduate, and while I really value the education I got on the road, it would have been great to have a little more understanding, like learning how to manage money beforehand.” It manages you and you learn to live within a budget and not spend more than you bring in, creating an attitude of self-discipline when it comes to money. One of the most important lessons you can teach someone is understanding needs and wants and practicing patience and the ability to sacrifice now for what you want in the future. We live in such a competitive world where people seek instant gratification, but if we learn to delay gratification and let time do the hard work, so many positive results can be achieved.”

While the education system may be slow to teach children about credit and mortgages, Farnes and MTN OPS continue to reach people through their events and free advice. “Our future looks incredibly bright with Operation Conquer Hunger,” he says. "And although it is only a small part of what we do at MTN OPS, it is the biggest symbol of who we are. In June 2023, we will reach 5 million free meals. I believe we will reach the 6 million mark by the end of this year. And by the end of 2025, we will reach the goal of 10 million meals.