With spring right around the corner, many Iowans are an­­xiously awaiting the opportunity to get outside so they can prep their gardens for another growing season.

Cassandra Kubik is definitely one of these people. However, the sowing of new seeds comes with an added level of importance for this recent Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Grow Your Future Award finalist. She and her husband, Jacob, own Pine Hill Farm (www.pinehillfarmflorals.com) north of Cedar Rapids in rural Walker.

They purchased the farm in 2014 but couldn't decide what to grow. Cassandra’s first job in high school was working as a florist. She then went to college for horticulture and landscape design, which led to a number of jobs working with flowers at greenhouses and garden centers. With this floral-focused background, Cassandra’s husband suggested growing flowers on their property and using them for special events.

“We began our flower farm in 2017, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” says...