Life & Work with Jon Modeste

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Modeste.

Hi Jon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After serving several years in the U.S. Air Force, I returned home in 2015. Like many veterans returning to civilian life, I suffered from mental, emotional, and physical pain. Traditional medicine, while available, only served as a bandaid for the many issues I described to my doctor. After I mentioned my symptoms of chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety to a close friend of mine, she introduced me to CBD. I was reluctant, at first, not knowing much about CBD (cannabidiol) the second most prevalent ingredient in cannabis, or its effects. Like many, I thought it worked similar to THC (weed/marijuana). After some research, and several first-hand accounts, I learned that CBD was legal, had no addictive properties, no indications of public health problems, and did not induce any psychological effects.

After years of using CBD products, I decided to invest in myself and develop my own brand catering to an audience that often gets overlooked (Veterans and the Black community) and reduce the stigma, through education, of the use of the hemp leaf, THC, and CBD.

White Sheep Treats, LLC, established 2019, has the purest organic, bioavailable broad and full spectrum CBD products. Our CBD brand undergoes a meticulous process to provide our consumers with the best quality on the market. That is how we earned our USDA Organic certification! We are invested in teaching the community about CBD and delivering several ways of consumption and/or use including: edible treats, topical creams, and clean, smokable hemp.

Today, we ship nationally, our base in Houston, TX, with a growing clientele. Our “sheep family” includes members from the U.S. military, individuals with various levels of education, age, socioeconomic status, and backgrounds.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road, but it has been a rewarding one.

Working toward decriminalizing and dismantling the myths about cannabis, paired with educating the public about CBD, have been some of the biggest obstacles. Additionally, keeping up with the rapidly changing laws, public and government perception of cannabis-derived products has been a journey in itself.

I am also a “serial over-analyzer” and dedicated several years to researching, testing, and perfecting my products to help me stand out as a small business owner- truly challenging in this economy while also battling the pandemic and its effects.

Lastly, similar to many small business owners, having the resources for funding, branding, marketing, and other obstacles that are not anticipated have slowed us down but has not stopped us from making progress.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to call myself jack of all trades! I have a background in technology, teaching, and the vocational field (including trucking and HVAC). In the last 5 years, I have also found a love for baking!

All of these skills and interests have, in my opinion, prepared me for the world of entrepreneurship- being able to adapt, work with different people, communicate my ideas, and learn new skills to perfect my craft. For White Sheep Treats, LLC, specifically, those skills have helped me find creative ways to make my edible treats and develop my brand. I can CREATE and INFUSE ANYTHING catering to the needs of my “sheep family”.

What sets me apart from others is my unique background, tenacity, drive, and competitive spirit. I am also a lifelong learner and natural athlete so I do not give up no matter what obstacle is thrown at me.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The global CBD market is already valued at $5 billion with an anticipated growth trajectory to $19.5 billion by 2025, according to Forbes (2021). Health and wellness markets are largely looking at CBD products due to their benefits in relieving pain, reducing anxiety, and in several cases, treating seizures. With continuous education, laws favoring this industry, and more individuals (including the medical field) understanding the use of CBD and other cannabis-derived products- I can see this field expanding exponentially.

Additionally, I would love to see CBD included in treatment for our Veterans. My dream is that by using CBD along with implementing therapy and general health care practices, our Veterans will have healthier solutions for coping with their pain (mental and physical) and be provided relief that does not result in addiction and/or negative long term effects.

White Sheep Treats, LLC, will be at the forefront of this movement with hopes of being an International brand, as an advocate, educator, and producer of quality CBD products.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theofficialwhitesheep.com
• Instagram: whtsheepcbd | thesheepnetwork
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkmbLu7f6nW_GAFXUuQ-VWg