Our diverse group of jerky enthusiasts comes to life when you meat our team. Every employee at It’s Jerky has something to share and together they help write our story.
It’s Jerky started as a hobby for Jim Gurney at his home back in 1994, he had always loved cooking and experimented at his home with a smoker that he made himself out of an old refrigerator. After several tries he came up with a unique recipe for making great quality all natural beef jerky that tasted like no other. Before he knew it, Jim had turned his passion into a reality, it was now his full-time job. Sales began with just regular flavored jerky and with many trial and errors three more flavors were created, pepper, teriyaki, and honey pepper. In 1996, Jim officially opened It’s Jerky as a USDA certified plant located in Redding, California. He sold the jerky at local shows and convenience stores and the business continually grew over the next ten years. Then in 2006, Jim relocated the shop to its current location on Airport Road, where he had a better storefront location. In 2012 Jim’s son, Dustin, expressed interest in the business and took over the reins of the family business in January 2013. Dustin was excited about the opportunity to carry on the business that his father had started into the next generation.
As the oldest of Jim's four boys, Dustin Gurney, has always been a natural leader and had a passion to be successful in whatever avenue of business he has been involved in. He was 11 years old when his dad started testing his jerky ideas and Dustin instantly took an interest in it and was always helping his dad cut, rack, and rotate the meat. As the business grew, he stayed involved while in school by helping cook and bag the jerky and sell it at shows and stores. After graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Chico, he worked in the corporate world helping businesses grow their products and services. Now he is very excited to bring his educational and work experience to help grow It's Jerky. His hobbies include working out, playing sports, and hanging out with his family. He lives in Anderson with his wife Jamie and their three children.
Dustin hopes to create a successful business that will make his father, family, and community proud!
