User:Shyn77

John Mikell began in the food industry in 1970. He worked in the meat department at a small grocery store and fed the local folks fresh sausage sandwiches for breakfast. From there John built a homemade smokehouse from a galvanized tin washtub with sawdust in it, from that was born the first unofficial Gilchrist smoked sausage. After selling many in the grocery store, John and his wife Jewel decided to venture off in their own business, naming the company after the county where they were both raised.

Located in its original location on Jacksonville Road in Ocala, FL, Gilchrist Sausage is surrounded by 100-year old oak trees, and a country setting that is fit for a Thomas Kincaid scene.

John hand rolled each sausage to perfection. Even though the business has grown exponentially and a few production changes have come about, one thing that hasn’t changed since John started is the Special Secret Family Recipe.

John’s first child, Jonnie Mae was named after her father, and would soon follow in his footsteps by taking over the business after the late John Mikell’s passing. Jonnie Mae has been going strong in building the Gilchrist Sausage Brand name. With Stores such as Publix, Winn- Dixie, Wal-mart, Sweet-Bay, and many other grocers, Floridians and snow birds alike just can’t seem to get enough. Local restaurants such as Tommy’s Country Bar-B-Q, Uptown Grill, and others proudly serve Gilchrist Sausage. Jonnie Mae, her son Tim and only a handful of employees distribute Gilchrist Sausage through out the state of Florida, and surrounding states. Now shipping product Nationwide from Alaska to California, Maine to the Carolina's and everything in between.