In the News

Billings Gazette: Small business workshop to focus on women

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is focusing on women in business during his eighth Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Billings on Friday. Four female business leaders, three of them from Billings, will discuss how they launched and built their business: Becky Reno, who heads up City Brew; Kris Carpenter, who owns Sanctuary Salon and Spas and other local businesses; Jolene Rieck, principal landscape architect at Peaks to Plains Design; and Sarah Calhoun of White Sulphur Springs, who founded Red Ant Pants for women.

Billings Gazette: Tips to start a business offered at conference

The chemistry Friday among four successful Montana business owners kept nearly 90 mostly female business leaders at Sen. Jon Tester’s Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Billings learning and laughing. Sarah Calhoun, founder of Red Ants Pants of White Sulphur Springs, recalled wanting to design pants that fit women’s curvy bodies, but not knowing where to start. In 2004, she was in Bozeman reading “How to Start a Small Business for Dummies” when a guy noticed the title and struck up a conversation. He happened to have 20 years experience in production and design for Patagonia and became her mentor. Red Ants Pants has yet to make a profit, but Calhoun started a foundation to launch the first Red Ants Pants Music Festival. Next weekend in White Sulphur, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker and Guy Clark will play and the proceeds will go to help women in businesses and farmers and ranchers.

The White House Blog: Montana Entrepreneur Says President Obama’s Plan Will Help Her Create New Jobs

Sarah Calhoun’s Red Ants Pants is growing fast — and if Congress passes the American Jobs Act, she says she’ll be able to hire people sooner than she planned

Montana Associated Technology Roundtables: Tester, Baucus congratulate Montana businesswoman Red Ants Pants owner Sarah Calhoun as national ‘Champion of the Year’

Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus today congratulate Montana’s Sarah Calhoun, owner of Red Ants Pants in White Sulphur Springs, on being named the Women in Business Champion of The Year by the Small Business Administration.

Missoulian: Guest Opinion: Rural Postal Service matters: Tester taking common sense steps to protect needs of seniors, small-business owners in Montana

As a small-business owner in White Sulfur Springs, I rely on the Postal Service to mail my goods around the world.

New York Electrician: Red Ants Pants Earns National Recognition

KTVQ: Red Ants Pants Earns National Recognition

Montana Department of Labor & Industry: Montana District Office of Small Business Association Honors Local Winners

Sarah Calhoun of Red Ants Pants in White Sulphur Springs was declared this year’s Women in Business Champion.

The White House Blog: Women Entrepreneurs Are Creating Jobs: An Interactive Timeline

American companies have added more than 4.3 million jobs over the past 27 months. Behind that number are countless small businesses – entrepreneurs with bold ideas and a willingness to dream big — meet some of them using this interactive tool. April 2010 – Sarah Calhoun’s Montana clothing company, Red Ants Pants, marks their 100th Tour de Pants event. Calhoun started the traveling roadshow out of a 1964 Airstream trailer to introduce her American-made work pants for women to new customers.