"I truly believe that agriculture is the absolute basis for the changes we all want to see, which are more community, better food and healthier lifestyles,” says Cassie Krebill, owner of Grass Roots Market and a Lee County Farm Bureau member. 

“I hope Grass Roots can at least scratch the surface of helping our small community make those ties and connections, but I know that this opportunity exists for communities and states and societies much bigger than our little town of Donnellson.”

From the start, Grass Roots was designed as a gathering spot — a coffee shop where people can slow down, connect and learn more about where their food comes from. 

The building itself has long been a community touchpoint, once a gas station and later a café. When Krebill purchased it, she envisioned something that pulled all those threads together.

“Throughout my experiences and travels, the places I enjoyed the most were the places that brought me joy, light-heartedness and effortless happiness,” she shares. “So I wanted to bring a little piece of sunshine and warmth to the space.”

Step inside and you’ll see that vision come to life. The colors are bright and cheerful, and the staff is trained to greet customers with a “We're glad you're here” vibe. 

That welcoming atmosphere is intentional. For Krebill, connection is both a business philosophy and a solution to a larger cultural concern.

“I think the hope for our future, as a society, is to get off of our phones and once again establish connections between real individuals, and I would love to be a part of that solution,” she says.

“I also want the space to evoke conversations about agriculture, and my hope is for consumers to ask basic questions about agriculture and how food is produced and why food is produced the way that it is," Krebill says.

PICTURED ABOVE: At the heart of Grass Roots Market coffee shop in Donnellson is owner Cassie Krebill’s unwavering belief in agriculture — what she sees as the backbone of rural communities. PHOTOS / CONRAD SCHMIDT.


Quality foods with heart 

Her menu reflects the same mindset. With a small but thoughtful selection of fresh pastries, coffee and frozen custard, Krebill focuses on quality over quantity.

“My goal is to show our community that rather than eating a large amount of lower quality food just to get full, try experimenting with food while feeding your creativity and nourishing your body and, when possible, utilizing local products,” she says.

Grass Roots also sells local goods like honey, floral arrangements and small crafts. But Krebill’s long-term goal is far more ambitious: to transform the business into a full-fledged market that provides sustainable, local nutrition. 

She’s already working toward adding a freezer filled with locally produced beef, pork, chicken and lamb, plus artisan dairy items and USDA-inspected eggs.


Growing her dairy farm 

That emphasis on local food stems directly from her agricultural roots. 

Krebill grew up in dairy, and today she still finds balance in heading back to her family farm to tend to her Jersey dairy cows.

“And then when I’m tired of the cows, I can come to the shop and communicate with people,” she says. “(My farm) is a really nice conversation starter because we are such an agriculturally centered community, so it's a nice talking point that creates a lot of fun conversations around farming.”

Her background also fuels her respect for the land and animals behind every product and, ultimately, the pride she takes in Grass Roots’ offerings.

“It drives my motivation for quality so much higher than maybe the average person in hospitality and service,” she says. “I know how much work it takes to milk cows, and so of course I train my baristas to make the lattes perfectly because I know what it takes to manage the animals, cleanly and safely bottle the milk, and correctly and safely transport each gallon of milk to our little shop to then serve a customer their latte with perfectly steamed milk. 

“When we stop and think about all of the steps that food has to take before it gets to our bodies as an average consumer, there's just so much to be appreciative of, and I want to exemplify that at Grass Roots.”

PICTURED ABOVE: Customers inside Grass Roots Market coffee shop. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT.


Planning for the future 

Looking ahead, Krebill hopes to expand the market side of the business even further, including fresh meal prep options like grab-and-go lunches or premade dinners families can warm up after the yoga class she hosts on Monday nights. She’d also love to open the space for even more community-building events.

“I want to be able to create experiences and lasting information that makes a difference in people's lives,” Krebill says.

Indeed, she’s already doing just that.


Giardino is a freelance writer from Polk City.