PORT ORCHARD — Silver Creek Angus, LLC of Kingston is one of five finalists in the third annual edg3 FUND Small Business Competition.

The other finalists are Brett Marlo Design Build, Gig Harbor; BridgeCare Finance, Mount Vernon; JikoPower Inc., Auburn; and Sequim Bee Farm, Port Angeles.

The finalists, chosen in part by a public vote, move on to compete in the final phase of the competition — edg3 FUND Live — at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Kitsap Conference Center at Harborside in Bremerton. The finalists will present their pitches before a live audience and an independent panel of judges; the winner will receive $20,000.

“We were very impressed with the caliber of businesses represented in our semifinalist grouping, and their commitment to bettering their communities is truly inspirational,” Kitsap Bank President/COO Tony George said in an announcement of the finalists.

“The five finalists selected represent diverse industries ranging from agriculture to alternative energy, finance and tiny home building. Tickets to the Nov. 17 event are available at edg3fund2016.brownpapertickets.com.

Silver Creek Angus is owned by Glen, Colleen and Peter Crabtree. “Like many family farming operations that raised beef through the latter half of the 20th century, we raised a variety of mixed beef breeds with mostly a Hereford influence,” the company website states. “Our family raised beef on a relatively large scale for our county, usually running about 20-30 brood cows and feeding 15-20 steers each year for beef. Some of our customers are even third- or fourth-generation to buy beef from our family.”

​In 2014, the Crabtrees created Silver Creek Angus, LLC “to preserve the [70-year] farming heritage of our family and work towards expanding our outreach in the community to encourage our vision of sustainable agriculture. Today we have a herd of 22 Registered Angus cows. The bulk of our beef is enjoyed in the form of burgers and steaks in our restaurant (ChocMo). The remainder of the beef is sold in our retail store (High Spirits), and a couple of other small restaurants here in Kitsap. We love raising cattle and enjoy the way of life that comes with it.”

About the judges
The judges of edg3 FUND Small Business Competition:

— David Giuliani, co-founder of the Washington Business Alliance; co-founder, CEO and chief inventor of the Sonicare Company, sold to Philips; and co-founder/CEO of Clarisonic Company, sold to L’Oreal in 2011.

— John Eisenhauer, founder/CEO and CTO, Kombi Corporation; and founder/president of Mercury Online Solutions, Inc., acquired by 3M Corporation in 2005.

— Jill Bamburg, former president and co-founder of Pinchot University; worked in adult education (Antioch University/Seattle), high-tech marketing (Aldus Corporation), and community and environmental journalism (High Country News, Jackson Hole News and Guide).

George said of the judges, “Each of these professionals is an esteemed member of the Greater Puget Sound business community, and are each entrepreneurs and professionals in their own right. These individuals will make the all-important determination of who will be awarded the $20,000 grand prize.”

Kitsap Bank has established an additional $5,000 cash prize, the Community edg3 Award, this year. The $5,000 prize will be awarded to one business selected from the semi-finalist pool that, in the judges’ opinions, best embodies the spirit of community, based upon their submitted application and video.