EX-10.1




 Exhibit 10.1 

Independent Contractor Agreement 
 This
Independent Contractor Agreement (Agreement) is entered into this 17th day of May, 2022, by and between Laird Superfood, Inc. (“Corporation”), and Valerie K. Ells (“Contractor”), in consideration of the mutual promises made
herein, as follows: 
 Term of Agreement 
 The term of
this Agreement will be from the 30th day of June, 2022 and will continue in effect until August 31st, 2022.

 Services to be Rendered by Contractor 
 Contractor
agrees she is transitioning as of the first day of the term hereof from “Employee” to “Contractor” and agrees to provide the Corporation its typical Employee offboarding documentation in connection therewith. 

Contractor agrees to provide consulting services to the Corporation as needed and as directed by the CEO (the “Services”). It is understood and
agreed the Services are administrative and strategic and shall not include binding of the Corporation in any matter. 
 Method of Performing Services

 Contractor will determine the method, details, and means of performing the above-described services, including the determination of the need for and
hiring of assistants at the Contractor’s own expense. The Corporation may not control, direct, or otherwise supervise Contractor’s assistants or employees in the performance of those services. 

Compensation 
 In consideration for the services to be
performed by Contractor for up to 16 hours per month, Corporation agrees that this Agreement and the services hereunder constitute a “continuation of Service” under the Corporation’s equity incentive plans. In consideration for any
services to be performed by Contractor above 16 hours per month, Corporation agrees to pay Contractor two hundred dollars ($200) per hour, in monthly payments upon receipt of an invoice detailing hours worked and on the Corporation’s standard
payment process for outside contractors. 
 Tools and Instruments 

Contractor will supply all tools, equipment, and supplies required to perform the services under this Agreement. 











 Workers Compensation 

Contractor agrees to provide workers’ compensation insurance for Contractor’s employees and agents and agrees to hold harmless and indemnify
Corporation for any and all claims arising out of any injury, disability, or death of any of Contractor’s employees or agents. 
 Obligations of
Corporation 
 Corporation agrees to meet the terms of all reasonable requests of Contractor necessary to the performance of Contractor’s duties
under this Agreement. 
 Assignment 
 Neither this
Agreement nor any duties or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by Corporation or Contractor without the prior written consent of Contractor and Corporation. 

NONDISCLOSURE; NONSOLICITATION 
 All confidentiality,
intellectual property, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure terms of Contractor’s prior employment agreement with the Corporation, effective September 10, 2020
(the “Employment Agreement”), shall apply to the work hereunder, and shall extend for the term of this Agreement. 
 MATERIAL NON PUBLIC
INFORMATION 
 Contractor agrees that in order to provide consulting services under this Agreement, Contractor will need access to “material non
public information” within the meaning of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. Therefore, Contractor agrees she will be subject to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy during the term of the Agreement and for such time afterwards as
required for Restricted Persons under the Insider Trading Policy. 
 Return of Information and Other Property. 

On the Corporation’s request, and, in any event, on the termination of Contractor’s employment relationship with the Corporation, Contractor shall
promptly return to the Corporation all materials furnished by the Corporation containing Confidential Information (as defined in the Employment Agreement), all copies and summaries of any Confidential Information in the possession or under the
control of Contractor, and any other Corporation property that is in Contractor’s possession or control. 
 No Transfer. 

This Agreement does not transfer any ownership rights to any Confidential Information. 

Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 - Notice. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Contractor has or may have the following protections and immunity under the Defend Trade Secrets Act of
2016 from liability for confidential disclosure of a trade secret to the Government or in a court filing: (1) Immunity. An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure
of a trade secret that: (A) is made: (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, 











 
either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other
document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. (2) Use of Trade Secret Information in Anti-Retaliation Lawsuit. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected
violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual: (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does
not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. 
 Enforceability. 

The parties intend that each Restrictive Covenant set forth in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law. If a Restrictive Covenant is determined to be unenforceable to any extent, the Restrictive Covenant will automatically be amended to the extent necessary to make it enforceable. 

MISAPPROPRIATION PROHIBITED 
 Contractor understands and
acknowledges that the Corporation strictly prohibits misappropriation or wrongful use of any proprietary information, confidential information, trade secrets, personal property or intellectual property of any third-party (collectively,
“Third-Party Property”), including, without limitation any trade secrets of Contractor’s previous employers. Contractor represents, warrants and agrees that Contractor has not (and will not): (i) misappropriated or wrongfully used any
Third-Party Property; (ii) misappropriated or wrongfully used any Third-Party Property in performing any of Contractor’s work for the Corporation; (iii) wrongfully brought any Third-Party Property onto the Corporation’s premises;
(iv) wrongfully disclosed any Third-Party Property to any of the Corporation’s Representatives or independent contractors; or (v) uploaded, downloaded, transmitted or otherwise placed any Third-Party Property onto, through or using
any Corporation computer, network or system. 
 Termination of Agreement: 

Either Contractor or Corporation may terminate this Agreement at any time by giving fifteen (15) days written notice to the Corporation, or upon five
(5) days notice in the event Contractor breaches any written policy of Corporation, or breaches any other agreement among Contractor and Corporation and does not cure such breach promptly. 

General Provisions 
 Notices: 

Any notices to be given hereunder by either party to the other may be made either by personal delivery or by mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid
with return receipt requested. Mailed notices shall be addressed to the parties at the following addresses: 











 Corporation: 

Laird Superfood 
 ATTN: [omitted] 

Contractor: 
 Valerie Ells 

[omitted] 
 Each party may change the above address by written
notice in accordance with this paragraph. Notices delivered personally shall be deemed communicated as of the date of actual receipt; mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of three (3) days after the date of mailing. 

Entire Agreement: 
 This Agreement supersedes any and all
other agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the performance of services by Contractor for Corporation for the period and services specifically addressed by this Agreement. Any modification of this
Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing signed by the party to be charged. 
 Partial Invalidity: 

If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall
nevertheless continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way. 
 Governing Law: 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. 

Corporation, 
  

			
	by	 	 /s/ Jason D. Vieth

	Name	 	 Jason D. Vieth on behalf of Laird Superfood, Inc.

	Date	 	 May 17, 2022


 Contractor, 
  

			
	by	 	 /s/ Valerie K. Ells

	Name	 	 Valerie K. Ells

	Date	 	 May 17, 2022