Learning to Repurpose
NIXA, MO. – It takes a special kind of vision to view an older used item that most would consider fit only for the junk pile and see a new use, a new life for that same article. Kyle Estes has that amazing way of looking at things.
Kyle is the sixth generation of the Estes family to live on 270 acres of his great great great great grandparents, P.G. and Sarah Estes’, original 400 acres, beginning in 1872 with their arrival from Kentucky.
Relaxing on the central patio of what is now the Estes Farm at Cassidy Station outside Nixa, Mo., Kyle explained a bit about his remarkable vision that has resulted in an extraordinary farm, venue and several small separate businesses.
“Like a lot of kids, I loved coming to stay at my grandparents’ farm each summer when I was growing up. My grandpa, Gene Evans and I were pretty good buddies,” he added with a smile that spoke of sweet memories. “Even as a kid, I began to think about ways I could preserve this farm. That’s a part of what I’m trying to bring to light with this project, a way for people to remember their trips to their grandparents’ farm. We don’t have that as a part of our lives anymore like we once did.”
Kyle describes himself as a commercial realtor who builds shopping centers and warehouses. His wife, Hollie is an insurance agent. The Cassidy Flower Company, a coffee company, a mercantile gift shop, and a restaurant also call Estes Farm, home. They provide vendor spaces for events and host farm to table dinners, concerts, and seasonal marketing festivals.
“We have four big markets each year that provide vendor spaces for 50 vendors. Our fall market festival supports 80 to 90 vendors. At Christmas, we have lots of lights, a 24 foot Christmas tree, ice skating, a drone light show and we even sell Christmas trees here. Throughout the year, we host graduation parties, weddings, and parties.”
Kyle continued. “We also have a Galloway location in southeast Springfield that has a coffee shop and gift store and between the two places, we have 24 employees.”
When he’s not converting the family farm into a new enterprise, Kyle is also continuing the family tradition of raising Angus-Hereford cross cattle, currently caring for 75 head. Kyle also keeps 75 Katahdin sheep and has raised border collies in past years. Beef cuts from their farm are available in the mercantile shop.
He continued. “We’ve also added a few of what I call decorative animals, like a couple of Clydesdales, some belted Galloway cows and miniature donkeys to the mix.”
He pointed out a few of the buildings surrounding the large patio. “The coffee house was once the milk barn. And you see that peak of the stable there behind us, that was from the original smokehouse built in the 1870s. And I live in my great great great great grandparents’ original house from the 1870s just across the road.”
Kyle refers to the renovation of the various buildings and many pieces from his great grandparents’ farm as a project.
“We have several girls in their 20s working in the shops and they keep us up with what’s happening with the younger set. For instance, we got involved in canning our own individual cans of coffee. We put it on TikTok and it really took off. We couldn’t believe how many of those were suddenly ordered. You just never know what’s going to be the next big hit.”
The Estes farm began 154 years ago in 1872 and when the railroad came through in 1883, they established Cassidy Station near-by. The town of Cassidy sprang up soon afterward and included a post office, a bank and a general store.
“The town died in the 1930s but I still vote in Cassidy Township. My great-great grandpa once ran the store at Cassidy.”
Kyle has re-purposed many items that have been found around the farm from a vintage workbench with an old vice still attached and an antique corn shucker to old doors, vintage barn wood, multiple antique milk cans and even a piece of the original Cassidy railroad track rail.
“I guess other people just see these things as old junk but I like to re-purpose as much as I can. I literally lay awake at night sometimes, thinking of new things to add. I hope to keep expanding. Next thing, we are planning is a full-service restaurant – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and a bar on the side for the weekends. My original goal was to fund the saving of the family farm and it’s taken off in ways I never could have imagined.”
Kyle has a brother and he and Hollie have two nephews and a niece so he is hopeful that someone in the family will take over his passion when the time comes. “They may not want to chase cows on the side, like I do but as long as they keep the rest of this running, that’ll be good.” In the meantime, it is obvious Kyle Estes is enjoying life on the farm, just like he did when he was a kid.
