Meet the Heart Behind Mannon Approved

At first glance, the handcrafted beef jerky and granola at the Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers Market might look like just another delicious snack. But behind every package of Mannon Approved is a story of resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in community.

At 47 years old, the owner of Mannon Approved has taken a path few could have imagined. Raised in South Milwaukee, her original dream was to become a police officer. Life, however, had other plans.

After welcoming her son, Nathan, at the age of 20, she began a career in corrections in 2002. Five years later, her world changed dramatically when serious health issues led to two brain surgeries. Unfortunately, those procedures were only the beginning. Over the next seven years, she underwent four additional surgeries on the back of her head. The repeated operations caused extensive nerve damage, leaving her permanently disabled with occipital neuralgia.

Rather than allowing her diagnosis to define her, she found a new purpose.

In 2018, she decided to pursue another passion, food. Starting as a dishwasher in a Cudahy restaurant, she worked her way up through the kitchen, learning from every chef willing to share their knowledge. Over the years, she gained experience in several respected restaurants, eventually serving as Executive Sous Chef at Café Manna in Brookfield, where she spent three years refining her skills.

Last June, she purchased a home in Fond du Lac, hoping for a fresh start. While working part-time in local kitchens, she realized the physical demands of restaurant life were once again aggravating her nerve condition. Instead of giving up, she decided to create something of her own.

That decision became Mannon Approved.

By combining years of culinary experience with her own recipes, she built a business that allows her to work at a pace that fits her health while continuing to do what she loves, creating flavorful, high quality snacks made from scratch.

But Mannon Approved is about more than great food.

This week, a generous donation helped cover the cost of groceries needed to make her products. In return, every dollar earned at the market will go directly toward making more beef jerky and granola for the Menasha community.

"I'm a big believer in community and neighbors being neighbors," she says.

That spirit of generosity is evident in everything she does. Her snacks aren't just made with premium ingredients, they're made with care, pride, and gratitude.

"My snacks are full of flavor, quality, and love," she says. "I never skip any of those ingredients, and you'll be able to tell right away."

For shoppers at the Downtown Fond du Lac Farmers Market, supporting Mannon Approved means more than taking home a delicious snack. It means supporting a local entrepreneur who turned incredible adversity into an opportunity to serve others one batch of beef jerky and granola at a time.