Salute and Serve
Presented in partnership with BUY MO.
These three Missouri veterans traded in their uniforms for entrepreneurship, first serving their country and now serving their communities with products and services. From bold spice blends to woodworking, their work is fueled by passion and purpose. As America marks its 250th birthday, meet the veteran-owned businesses making Missouri—and the nation—stronger.
SPICE SPECIALIST
As both a retired marine and the founder of JB’s Gourmet Spice Blends in Sparta, Joshua Brack knows a thing or two about keeping his cool in the heat of the moment. Even before he founded his spice and sauce business, the strength of his taste buds were tested during his time in the field.
Subscribe
Get a Missouri Life Magazine Subscription & Save Up to 69% Off Newsstand Prices!
Subscribe Today
“Every time we would deploy or do a field op,” Joshua says, “my master sergeant would bring the hottest of hot sauces with him to the field, and you would use a dropper to count the drops.” This turned into a battle to see who could handle the most drops of hot sauce on their MREs (meals ready to eat).
So Joshua knew adding a hot sauce collection as a tribute to his master sergeant was the perfect way to expand his business. This inspired the creation of the MRE (meals ready to explode) hot sauce line.
Joshua also makes his signature spice blends in-house. If you’re in the market for a new rib seasoning, Joshua suggests the award-winning Red Dirt Road barbecue blend. “It’s by far our best seller,” he says.
There are seven different spice blends available on JB’s website and in stores across Missouri, and the company is already brainstorming its eighth seasoning profile to add to the mix.
Since founding the business in 2017, Joshua has realized that being in the service and running JB’s Gourmet Spice Blends have required some of the same skill sets to be successful, including the ability to adapt and to overcome any obstacle thrown his way.
BRILLIANT BULLETS
When you’re out at sea and something breaks, you have to fix it. That’s something Doug Wickham, co-owner of Bristle Ridge Precision, learned during his six years in the navy.
Doug started Bristle Ridge five years ago at Warrensburg. The company specializes in manufacturing ammunition and long-range ballistic testing for the military and rebuilding industrial equipment. It also produces up to millions of rounds of ammunition a month.
What sets the company apart from others is the employees’ technical abilities. Doug says that for him, “the confidence and the skill level of working on precision machines was really honed in the military.”
Doug’s leadership partners include his two sons Dylan Wickham, production manager, and Caleb Wickham, sales manager, and Adam Bell, ballistic testing engineer.
WOODWORKING WIZARD
The name BearKat combines Brian Noel and his wife Catherine’s nicknames: Bear and Kitty.
Brian Noel, co-owner of BearKat Wood at Salem, is dedicated to creating heirloom furniture and tools. He can also craft custom saws that fit the intended need or design rocking chairs that match a specific person’s contours.
“It’s always the one we’re working on,” Brian says. “But, that’s the truth of it. I always try to get excited about what I’m working on.”
Woodworking was a skill Brian developed over time. After he married his wife, Catherine, who goes by Kitty, they started a construction company, and from there, his love of woodworking blossomed.
• BearKat Wood
Kitty, co-owner of BearKat Wood, helps with the designs and carvings that are done in the shop.
A Message from the Lieutenant Governor
As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the strength of our nation has always been rooted in freedom, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of hard work. Through the Buy Missouri initiative, we proudly support the businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs who power Missouri’s economy and keep our communities strong. It is especially meaningful to recognize Missouri’s veteran-owned businesses. The men and women featured in these pages answered the call to serve and defend our nation, and today they continue serving by creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and investing in their communities. The values forged through military service discipline, resilience, leadership, and integrity—have made our veterans exceptional business leaders. When Missourians choose to support veteran-owned businesses, they are doing more than shopping local; they are honoring a legacy of sacrifice and service to our country. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, let us proudly support the veterans who helped preserve the freedoms that make our nation exceptional. May God bless our veterans, and may God bless the great state of Missouri.
—Lieutenant Governor of Missouri David Wasinger
This article was orginally printed in the July/August 2026 issue of Missouri Life.
