HUDSON – The local business community is mourning the loss of South Ridge Ranch Bacon co-owner Jacob Wagner, who died July 1 after a motorcycle vs. truck crash in Hudson. He was 47.

Wagner, of River Falls, died at Regions Hospital in St. Paul after his motorcycle collided with a truck driven by a teenager at 1:30 p.m. July 1 at Hanley and Carmichael roads in Hudson. The teen driver of the truck was not injured.

According to the Hudson Police Department, emergency responders initiated life-saving measures on Wagner, who was wearing a helmet. He leaves behind his wife Stacey, and children Abby and Gavin.

Wagner and his wife founded South Ridge Ranch, a small-batch bacon producer that “sources meat from Midwest farmers before putting it through a dry curing and smoking process” in 2023 after a successful career at 3M. He eventually left a data contract job to focus on the bacon business full time.

Sheri Marnell, executive director of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center in River Falls, shared a tribute on Facebook to the man many knew as “the bacon guy” or “Smokemaster Jake.” South Ridge Ranch has been a fixture at many local farmer’s markets, including Hudson, New Richmond, Cottage Grove and others, along with local festivals such as Bacon Bash and Earth Fest.

“I had the privilege of meeting Jake almost exactly three years ago, on July 5, 2023. He came to the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center for what we call a ‘Tour & Talk,’ walking through the doors with the brightest smile, endless enthusiasm, and a dream of starting a bacon business. I distinctly remember smiling and saying, ‘Well, who doesn't love bacon?!?!’

“Like so many corporate professionals who dream of becoming entrepreneurs, Jake had his hesitations. But with the unwavering support of his incredible family, he took the leap. He officially joined our entrepreneurial ecosystem on October 1, 2023, and never looked back.

In just three short years, I watched him transform a side hustle into a thriving full-time business. He outgrew one space, then another, and most recently expanded again with additional production space, automation, and a walk-in cooler and freezer. There were challenges along the way—as there always are in entrepreneurship—but Jake never lost his optimism. He always spoke with gratitude about his greatest team: his ‘unpaid interns’—his family.”

The Hudson Farmers Market posted that it would share ways the community can support Stacey and the kids as they navigate this loss.

“Jake was more than a vendor—he was a friend. His kind heart, infectious smile, quick wit, and genuine love for people made him someone our community looked forward to seeing each Saturday. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

According to his obituary, Wagner had a gift for making people feel like his best friend: “Whether it was a smile across the farmers market, a wave from the driveway, or a long conversation that started with ‘hello; and turned into something much bigger, Jake made time for people. He checked in. He showed up. He listened. He encouraged. His presence made every room lighter, every moment warmer, and every person feel seen.”

Wagner taught elementary kids at his church and was the voice behind many high school games and the Fighting Fish at First National Bank of River Falls Field, where he served as the Wednesday night PA announcer.

“Fish fans might not have known Jake but they knew his voice,” a post on their Facebook page reads. “Jake was our Wednesday night PA announcer and he was the BEST. Jake came to us highly recommended for his days announcing youth hockey, and he brought both great energy and great humility to our PA booth. Jake never asked for anything - not recognition, not special treatment, hardly could get him to take a shirt or a hot dog. What we think is that he just loved providing people around him with a great vibe and good time. That sounds like the Jake we have been reading about in all the posts this week.

“We always appreciated you Jake and thank you so much for what you brought to our group. You will not be forgotten and we will keep doing our best to always be more like Jake.”

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Ezekiel Lutheran Church (202 S. Second St., River Falls). Visitation will take place 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 17 at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (805 E. Division St., River Falls) and at the church noon to 2 p.m. July 18.