Growing Together 50 Years of Imel’s Greenhouse

Growing Together

50 Years of Imel’s Greenhouse

Janna Imel

For The Ashland Beacon

When I think about my childhood at Imel’s Greenhouse, what I remember most is family. I grew up working alongside my brother, Justin, and my sister, Jennifer, as well as our parents and grandparents. I would jokingly call it “bonding time” when we would have a larger project to complete together, like planting 17,000 mums by hand and placing drippers in each one afterward. Some of my favorite memories are sitting together transplanting plants and listening to the older generations tell stories while we worked.

Our family story begins many decades before my generation. In 1976, Dad started Imel’s Greenhouse as an FFA project at only 14 years old. As we reflect on the history of Imel’s Greenhouse, we also remember others who have helped the business thrive throughout the years. Granny Annie, Dad’s grandmother, worked with our customers for years and allowed him to place one of his first greenhouses in her front yard. Another staple in the history of Imel’s Greenhouse is Kenny’s mother, who many of you know as “Miss Wanda.” For decades, she helped run the day-to-day operations and became a familiar face at our checkout counter. A lot has changed over the past 50 years, and while some of our family is no longer here, they live on in the work we do each day.

While Imel’s Greenhouse has always been a family effort, much of its growth over the past 50 years can be traced back to that same 14-year-old’s willingness to take an idea and see just how far it could grow. Dad has an incredible ability to envision something the rest of us cannot yet see. There are times when we have absolutely no idea where he is going with an idea, but he has a vision and somehow makes it happen. It can feel a little like building an airplane while already in the air, with the rest of us waiting to see how it turns out. He is creative, willing to try new things, and incredibly hardworking. Mom (Pam) is quieter, but just as determined. She is the person who makes things happen and can plant and water circles around the rest of us.

Together, they are a solid team and the hardest-working people I have ever known. Imel’s Greenhouse would not exist without Kenny and Pam.

Of course, 50 years in any business does not come without storms (both literal and figurative). I have watched my parents weather these storms and continue moving forward, sometimes not knowing if another season would come. Their faith and willingness to try again, adapt, and truly be courageous in the face of uncertainty have served as a reminder to persevere in my own life regardless of circumstance. I vividly remember the 2009 ice storm and waking up to see 11 of our greenhouses buried in ice and wet snow. At the time, we didn’t know if the greenhouse would survive or if there would be enough money to rebuild. My parents took it as an opportunity to start with a new layout incorporating more than 30 years of knowledge. The greenhouse layout many of you know today came as the result of this storm and their willingness to rebuild in the face of uncertainty.

While Kenny and Pam are not planning to retire anytime soon, the next generation is already preparing to carry the family business forward. My brother, Justin, dedicates much of his time outside of his career as a teacher to work alongside our parents at the greenhouse, with plans to take on a larger role in the future. Justin and his wife, Katie, are also raising another generation of “greenhouse kids.” My nieces are experiencing the same transplanting and greenhouse work I did with my siblings, though I think they are already surpassing us.

Two-year-old Mallory is already identifying plants like Celosia, and seven-year-old Lydia has started her own cut-flower business, Lydia’s Blooms. We continue to all work together in the greenhouse with the hope that our family business will continue growing into the future.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of reaching 50 years is realizing that the story of Imel’s Greenhouse isn’t just our family’s story. We enjoy hearing stories from our customers who remember coming to the greenhouse when they were kids, sometimes on school field trips, and now they are bringing their own children. Every fall, we watch families return to take pictures, pick out pumpkins, and make memories of their own. It has been a privilege to be a part of our customers’ lives and family traditions over the past 50 years and grow with each of you.

Dedication and hard work are important for business, but neither matters without the support of our customers. Fifty years of Imel’s Greenhouse would not be possible without the people who continue choosing to support our family business season after season. That is why September 12th is not just a celebration of Imel’s Greenhouse being in business for 50 years. It is a celebration of everyone who has helped us get here, including the dedicated employees who have worked alongside our family over the years, the customers who have returned year after year, and the community that has continued to support us.

We invite you to join us for the Imel’s Greenhouse 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 12, 2026, starting at 5:00 p.m. We will have free brats and hotdogs, homemade ice cream (from the GOTEM Tractor Club), and free popcorn with an outdoor movie, followed by fireworks. Everyone can also enjoy the playground, visit with the goats, and spend an evening together at the greenhouse.

After 50 years, we know nothing grows entirely on its own. It takes care, patience, and people who are willing to keep showing up. Thank you so much for showing up for our family and growing with us for the past 50 years. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate where we’ve been and everything that is still to come!