INKOM — After graduating from the Western Pennsylvania School of Taxidermy just weeks ago, Chelsey Larkins of Inkom is starting her own business with the launch of her new business, Rapid Creek Taxidermy.

Larkins, a wife and mother and already a successful entrepreneur with her dog training company, Cross-Hat K9, decided to pursue taxidermy after realizing there were few local options for quality wildlife mounts. The idea sparked when her nephew shot a pheasant on their property last year and wanted it mounted.

“There are not very many taxidermists around here,” she said. “So, I thought, maybe I should go to taxidermy school. I decided to go for it.”

Larkins began her journey by shadowing a local taxidermist and watching instructional videos online. Then she and her dog Meatloaf packed

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