A Dreamer’s Journey to the Square
The story of chasing big dreams, finding balance, and planting roots in Oxford.
Back in 2010, life was shifting for me. I had just closed my preschool after six years and was in that in-between space of wondering what might be next. Every morning, I’d drive through Oxford, Indiana on my way to take the kids to Benton Central School, and as I passed the buildings on the square, I couldn’t help but imagine what it might be like to open a little bakery and coffee shop right there in the heart of town.
There was even a building on the north side of the square that was for sale. I inquired about it, and for a little while, it felt like maybe this dream could become real. My mom and I even talked about opening the café together. But someone else bought the building, and just like that, the dream was tucked away.
The truth is — I’ve always been a dreamer. I tend to make decisions with my heart more than with numbers on paper. If something feels right, I’m willing to take the leap. Thankfully, I married someone who thinks differently. Troy is practical and steady — the one who thinks through the realities while I’m sketching out the dream. It’s a balance that works, and I’m so grateful for the way he grounds me while still cheering me on.
Fast forward almost a decade. In 2019, our family started Midwest Prime Farms, raising pasture-raised beef and sharing it with families nationwide through our website. That step opened up a whole new world for us, connecting with families across the country who wanted the same thing we did — quality food raised with care.
By 2023, another dream began stirring. This time, it was a farm store with a commercial kitchen. The idea was to create a place where we could not only sell our pasture-raised meats but also prepare meals with them — meals we could ship nationwide right alongside our beef and pork.
At first, we thought that farm store would be right on our farm. We even drew up plans, but we weren’t fully settled on it. Something about it didn’t feel quite right.
Then one summer evening, Troy and I were sitting on the Oxford square at the BBQ Cook-off, and it hit me. Why not bring the farm store here? A place that’s easy for the community to get to, right in the heart of town. I remembered seeing a post from Discover Oxford on Facebook about several buildings being available on the square, so I reached out to inquire.
The Market is Born
Not long after, we found a building on the square that felt like the right place to start. It needed a lot of work, but we were up for the challenge. The storefront side wasn’t too bad — a little paint and elbow grease went a long way. We brought in antique shelves and tables to hold our products, giving the space a cozy, old-town feel.
The side room, though, was another story. It was a complete redo from top to bottom. That space eventually became our dining area — a cozy spot for people to sit, enjoy a meal, or sip coffee together.
In October of 2023, we opened the doors to The Market by Midwest Prime — a farm-to-table market in Indiana. From day one, the shelves were stocked with our pasture-raised meats, along with staples like milk, eggs, freezer meals, and baked goods. Pretty quickly, The Market grew into something bigger than we imagined. We added honey, local dairy, handmade goods, and eventually a little coffee shop, Sips on the Square.
What started as a simple farm store became something more — a place where people lingered, visited, and connected.
Planting Roots
But even as The Market grew, there was always a reminder in the back of our minds: we were renting. Renting had given us the chance to begin, but after a year and a half, we knew — we wanted to stay. We were ready to put down roots.
On paper, Oxford isn’t the “ideal” location for a storefront. It’s a small town with a small population, tucked away from the busier highways and bigger cities. But in our hearts, we knew it was exactly where The Market belonged. The people, the history, the square itself — it was the right place for us.
So when the opportunity came, we took the leap. Several months ago, we purchased a historic building right here on the square — a permanent home for The Market.
For us, this isn’t only about securing our own future. We believe that by committing to Oxford in such a big way, it sends a message: small-town dreams are possible here. Our hope is that when others see The Market — a dream that started with a simple “what if” — they’ll be encouraged to chase their own dreams too. We’d love nothing more than for our step forward to spark even more life, energy, and opportunity on the square.
The Building
Right now, the building is about as bare as it gets — four walls and not much else. It doesn’t even have a front door. The plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical all need to be completely redone. In many ways, it’s a blank slate, and while that might seem overwhelming, to us it’s full of possibility. We believe this renovation is part of a bigger story of small-town revitalization in Indiana.
Our vision is to bring it back to life piece by piece. The front of the building will become a storefront and café space, overlooking the brick streets and green space of the square — the perfect spot to grab a coffee or bite to eat. The middle section will house a walk-in freezer for our meats along with a packing and shipping area for our online business. And in the back, we’ll build the commercial kitchen we’ve been dreaming of since the beginning.
The upstairs is also a complete redo. Once the downstairs is finished and The Market is moved in, we’ll begin work on transforming the second floor into an apartment.
What excites us most are the natural features of the building — the soaring ceilings, the (soon to be) exposed brick walls, and the view of the town square. It’s the kind of place that feels historic yet alive with potential. We can already picture the laughter, conversations, and clinking of coffee cups that will someday fill the space.
Looking Ahead
This building is more than a project — it’s a promise. A promise that The Market is here to stay, that we’re investing in Oxford, and that we believe in the power of small towns and main streets.
We know it won’t happen overnight. Renovations take time, and there will be plenty of dust and long days ahead. But every step will bring us closer to the vision we’ve carried for so long — a permanent home for The Market where good food, community, and small-town charm come together under one roof.
We couldn’t do this without you. The support and encouragement from our community over the past two years has been the reason we’ve been able to dream bigger and take this leap. Thank you for shopping small, cheering us on, and believing in what The Market can be.
We’ll be sharing the renovation journey along the way, and we’d love for you to follow along. And if you have stories or memories about our building, please share them with us — we want this next chapter to honor the ones that came before.
Here’s to new beginnings, deep roots, and a revitalized Oxford Square. We can’t wait to welcome you in.
