For me, everything starts on the farm. I grew up on my family’s small farm, surrounded by cows, pigs, horses, chickens, crops, and vegetables. From a young age, I loved animals and always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. My grandparents, Dwight and Mildred Krebill, milked Jersey cows for years, and while my dad chose a different path, my passion for dairy cows brought them back to our farm.

When I was old enough to care for animals on my own and show them at the county fair, my grandpa started my lifelong love of dairy cows. Eventually, he refurbished an old milking system to expand the herd- not for profit, but simply out of passion. While some people thought I was a little crazy for milking just a few cows in high school, these cows sparked a journey that led me to Iowa State University, where I studied dairy science and entrepreneurship.

Through my studies, I traveled the country visiting dairy farms and even explored agriculture practices abroad, learning firsthand how farming connects us all. Along the way, I realized that small farms needed creative solutions to survive. So, I brought dairy cows back to our family farm and began developing a niche market for high-quality, farm-fresh dairy products.

While earning my master’s degree in preventive animal medicine, I interned at a farm in Tennessee that milked cows, made their own ice cream, and sold it in their own store. That experience inspired my dream: to create high-quality products from start to finish, right here at home.

After graduation, I came back to southeast Iowa to help save the family farm and started milking cows full time. To make ends meet, I took a job as a barista at a family-fun coffee shop, where I learned the value of exceptional coffee and community gathering spaces. I kept dreaming of what our small town needed – a place that combined great coffee and delicious ice cream with local, nutritious food options.

When the opportunity came to purchase an old gas station I'd driven by countless times, I knew it was time to bring that vision to life. That dream became Grass Roots – a community gathering place offering great coffee, custard, a fresh limited kitchen menu, and locally sourced meats, produce, and perishables.

My goal for Grass Roots is simple: to bring people together, empower young people, and show that with hard work, good food, and compassion, small communities can thrive.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me!

-Cassie