Jennifer Cassaday:
From Trees to Pies
When faced with the hardships of the pandemic, Jennifer Cassaday embraced change, showcasing how a business can thrive by focusing on community and creativity.
Bio
Jennifer Cassaday is a fifth-generation entrepreneur dedicated to continuing her family’s legacy in pecans and homemade delights. Inspired by her grandfather Vernon Byrd’s passion for Missouri Native pecans, Jennifer grew up immersed in the entrepreneurial spirit. As a child, she spent her time between the family’s pecan groves and her paternal grandparents’ restaurant, gaining invaluable experience in both farming and culinary arts.
Today, Jennifer is the owner of Byrd’s Pecan Delights, a bakery and café in Adrian, Missouri, where she crafts scratch-made dishes and desserts inspired by her family’s recipes. Known for her innovative creations like the pecan pie milkshake, she elevates her customers’ experience with homemade flavors that highlight her culinary training, including a 2022 degree in pastry arts.
Jennifer also helps manage Byrd’s Pecans, her family’s farm and retail business, which spans over 600 acres and features 12,000 pecan trees. The farm produces high-quality pecans for sale in-store and online. A passionate advocate for rural entrepreneurship, Jennifer testified before a congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C., representing small businesses across America.
Through her work at Byrd’s Pecan Delights and Byrd’s Pecans, Jennifer honors her grandfather’s vision, offering exceptional products while keeping the family’s entrepreneurial spirit alive for future generations.
Topics
- How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped small-town businesses.
- Finding opportunities during economic hardships.
- Balancing personal values with public perception in business decisions.
- Building community support for small businesses.
- The unique struggles of rural entrepreneurs.
- Managing workforce changes during periods of uncertainty.
- The emotional toll of leadership during challenging times.
- Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Navigating public scrutiny in the age of social media.
- Advocating for rural businesses on a national stage.
Guiding Questions
- How did the pandemic initially impact your business and community?
- What was the hardest decision you had to make during that time?
- Can you describe the moment you realized opportunity amidst adversity?
- How did your workforce adapt to the changes during the pandemic?
- What inspired you to post the sign about kindness on your door?
- How did you handle the fear of public criticism during controversial decisions?
- What role did community support play in your business’s survival?
- Can you share how you came to testify before Congress?
- What lessons have you learned about resilience and adaptability?
- What advice would you give other rural business owners facing tough times?