When Cody Witt (’11) enrolled in the ҹɫÊÓƵ’s MBA program with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, he didn’t realize his coursework would lay the foundation for transforming a family side business into one of Nevada’s leading sustainability enterprises.
“During my MBA, I used my courses to hone the growth strategy for Full Circle Compost,” Witt said. “The program gave me the structure to think critically about expansion, operations, and the market potential for composting in Nevada.”
That academic foundation soon blended with hands-on experience through the , headquartered in the College of Business. There, Witt worked with advisors to refine business plans, explore growth opportunities and navigate potential mergers and acquisitions.
The Nevada SBDC’s statewide marketing cooperative, , also provided valuable networking and marketing support, connecting Full Circle Compost with new customers and community partners.
“When I first took over the company in 2015, the Nevada SBDC was very helpful with planning for growth and next steps,” Witt said, “Being part of Made in Nevada events for networking and contacts has been great as well. The University in general was helpful with my MBA, as I used my courses to grow Full Circle Compost.”
Founded in 1997 in Minden, grew out of the Witt family’s Milky Way Dairy Farm, established in 1910. What began as a small effort to reduce waste has become one of Nevada’s largest composting and organic recycling operations, processing more than 50 million pounds of organic material and supplying products to over 30 locations across Northern Nevada.
Turning a family farm side project into a statewide sustainability enterprise hasn’t been without challenges. “Nevada doesn’t have recycling mandates for organic or non-organic materials, just recommendations,” Witt said. “Without the need to keep materials out of landfills and with low landfill costs, it’s often cheaper for the community to throw things away than to compost.”
Still, Witt says attitudes are shifting. As more Nevadans embrace sustainability and home gardening, demand for quality compost continues to grow, especially in Nevada’s dry climate, where compost helps retain water and restore soil health.
“Compost is not a heavily used product in Nevada, and creating a market for it has been a challenge,” Witt says. “Trying to make compost ‘cool’ and for people to see the benefits takes time. However, it’s finally coming full circle in Nevada.”
Since 2014, Full Circle Compost has supplied the organic material that keeps the University’s iconic Quad lush and green year-round.
In 2024 alone, the company kept more than 24,999 tons of organic material out of landfills, which is equal to filling Nevada's football field 62 feet high with waste. What once might have been discarded is now nurturing the same campus where Witt first developed his vision for sustainable business.
Looking ahead, Witt and his team plan to expand distribution across Nevada and Northern California and to increase organic waste diversion in the Reno/Sparks region.
With support from the University and the Nevada SBDC, Full Circle Compost has grown into a sustainable business making an impact in Nevada.
