Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Ellie Bowman, Prickly Pear, Elkhart
At a glance: After successfully reopening a farm and home store in Kinsley, Ellie Bowman was asked to do the same in Elkhart. She did so with a grand re-opening in April 2026 with more than 400 people attending. She said the community has welcomed her with open arms.
More information: Ron Wilson, rwilson@ksu.edu, 785-532-7690
Photos: Ron Wilson | Prickly Pear Ribbon Cutting (Elkhart)
Website: Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
Sept. 9, 2026
By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University
Transition can be one of the most challenging factors for rural businesses as generations and markets change.
Today we will meet a young rural-preneur who is helping another rural business to adapt, change and succeed.
Ellie Bowman is the manager of Prickly Pear Farm, Home and Lumber in Elkhart, Kansas. Bowman grew up in Lewis and earned a degree in agribusiness from Kansas State University. With support from her parents, she purchased the lumberyard in Kinsley and rebranded it as Prickly Pear Farm and Home.
Pictured (l to r): Prickly Pear employees Jared Corbin, Maverick Elam, Xavier Corbin, Ellie Bowman, Shana Bitner, Taylor McFarlen, Sydney Brillhart. | Download this photo
With a fresh look, expanded offerings, and emphasis on customer service, she was able to double the Kinsley store’s business in the first year. Her work to build the business led to her being recognized by the Kansas Department of Commerce as the 2024 To The Stars award winner as the Under 30 Entrepreneur of the Year.
That award caught the attention of Morton County economic development director Alexis O’Hair, who mentioned it to the owners of the local lumberyard in the county seat of Elkhart. The lumberyard had been family-owned for nearly 40 years, but one of the key owners had died and the following generation had moved away.
The owner’s daughter, Sheena, reached out to Bowman. “I was asked to come look at the store and see what could be done,” Bowman said. She first came and visited the store in February, 2025.
“I walked into that store for the first time and said to myself, ‘I would build this place in my dreams,’” Bowman said. In August, she stepped into the role of manager with support to enhance the store.
Bowman found that several steps were needed. “We needed to find a new supplier, we needed to reset the store, and we needed to serve the community more effectively,” she said.
She jumped in and went to work. By October they had a new computer system in place and by November they had reset the store with the new supplier. In the spring, they reopened the greenhouse next door, which had closed four years previously.
In April 2026, the store had a grand reopening and was rebranded as Prickly Pear Farm, Home and Lumber, similar to Bowman’s store in Kinsley. The building next door became the Prickly Pear Potting Shed and Greenhouse. “We’ll have mums in the greenhouse this fall,” Bowman said.
“More than 400 people came to the grand reopening,” she added. “It was really exciting. We had food trucks and a big celebration.”
“The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. I absolutely love it. This community has welcomed me with open arms.”
For Bowman, the priorities are customer, community and people: “It all comes back to customer service. There can be great results if you’re willing to give your all to help customers succeed.”
She greatly appreciates the community of Elkhart. “Elkhart does it really well,” Bowman said. “There’s an active chamber and economic development office. There are people in the community who care.”
Are there young people willing to find opportunities in small town Kansas? Bowman is an example.
“I guess this proves I’m rural by choice,” said Bowman, using the term coined by rural advocate Marci Penner to describe young people who are opting for a rural lifestyle and positively impacting their communities. Bowman has chosen to live in the community of Elkhart, population 1,888 people. Now, that’s rural.
For more information, look for Prickly Pear Farm, Home & Lumber on Facebook.
Business transitions can be one of the most challenging stages in the life of a small business. We commend Ellie Bowman for making a difference with entrepreneurship in a retail business in a rural community. She is applying the good business principles from her first store to another and helping both to succeed. Those are positive transitions.
And there’s more. When Bowman arranged for a different hardware supplier, she signed on with an independent supply company that also happens to be based in Kansas. We’ll learn about that next week.
Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at www.huckboydinstitute.org/kansas-profiles. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit www.huckboydinstitute.org.
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