Miranda H. Lewis
Carter County Times
While most high schoolers are focused on getting through classes or planning for college, 17-year-old Ryan Day, a rising senior, is busy growing a business built on passion, purpose, and pure flavor. As the founder of Day’s Seasoning, Day is making waves in his hometown of Olive Hill—proving that age is no barrier when it comes to entrepreneurship.
The idea for Day’s Seasoning was sparked during one of his favorite weekend traditions: grilling and smoking meat with his dad. In the summer of 2023, the pair created a barbecue rub together and used it on a rack of ribs. The results? Mouthwatering. That single moment inspired Day to begin crafting clean, flavorful seasonings; without the additives and chemicals commonly found in big-name brands.
“I just wanted to make something cleaner,” Day says. “What is contained in our products is pure flavor with nothing else added.”
He officially launched Day’s Seasoning in April 2024, using his family’s last name as the brand name, a nod to the personal roots of his venture. With support from his parents, extended family, and best friends, Day began selling his handcrafted seasonings and sauces locally. His blends are free from anti-caking agents, preservatives, and unnecessary fillers; just simple, high-quality ingredients that taste as good as they are clean.
Today, you can find Day’s Seasoning at two Olive Hill retailers: The Olive Branch Market and James’ Do It Best. He also takes direct orders through Facebook and Instagram, and even offered Father’s Day baskets featuring his original, spicy, barbecue, jalapeño rub, and a homemade barbecue sauce—all for just $20.
Day’s flavor development process is community-driven. He listens to customer feedback, explores market trends, and tests all new products with family and friends to perfect each recipe. His recent additions – Jalapeño Barbecue Rub and Barbecue Sauce – are already customer favorites, and he’s planning to release even more unique blends in the coming months.
Despite the demands of school, Day keeps things balanced.
“I put school and certain priorities first, but when I get home, I just fulfill whatever orders need to be completed,” he says.
His proudest achievement? Getting his products into two stores and sharing his passion with his community.
To other young entrepreneurs, Day offers a simple but powerful piece of advice:
“Be committed and have patience.”
He’s also learned just how quickly word-of-mouth can grow a business, and when challenges arise, he stays creative, always looking for new ways to share his products with more people.
While he’s taking things “one day at a time,” Day’s vision for the future is clear: expand into more retailers and continue growing a brand that values quality over shortcuts.
With determination, integrity, and a whole lot of flavor, Ryan Day is proving that great things really can come from humble beginnings—especially when they’re seasoned just right.
Contact the writer at miranda@cartercountytimes.com
