Calvin's Column: An interview with Rabble and Rise co-owner Jia Miller
I recently had the opportunity to interview Jianna Miller of Rabble and Rise Co. Rabble and Rise has been around for quite a while. They started their business as the Grow and Go Girls, Using the money they made from selling their baked goods to fund trips. Now, years later, the Girl Scouts have parted ways after aging out of their program but the business still stays strong with many devoted customers. Rabble and Rise has a booth at the Lexington Farmers Market located in the historic train depot.
{Contributed Photo: Jia Miller with mother and co-owner Kivi Leroux Miller}
CC: What would you say to someone who wants to start a small business like you did with Rabble and Rise? What would you say to them?
JM: I would say that baking is going to have a higher capital cost. You would need an agricultural certified kitchen by the county and state ag department. It can be a home kitchen but that requires no pets. You can find certified kitchens, like we worked out of our church kitchen for several years. So baking will have a higher entry cost. But crafts just like a vegetable garden if you do it for long enough it will become worthwhile and you will only have to pay a couple of entry fees a year so it’s a pretty good idea if you have a space and a product. If you have a talent and a space there’s definitely a startup cost but I feel like it would be worthwhile in the long run especially if it’s something you love and something that you like to do.
CC: Would you recommend the farmers market to any of your friends that are looking to shop local?
JM: Yes of course! I think it’s the number one place I recommend. There's High Rock Nursery’s farm stand and places like that but you're going to find the most centralized amount of vegetables and baked goods and local crafters at an organized farmers market like the Saturday market or the winter market and the pop up markets. It’s going to be the best place in Lexington to find the most local produce.
CC: What is it like working at the farmers market? Would you say it’s a positive experience?
JM: Of course I mean it’s very positive. I started out with the girls in my Girl Scout troop even though our business was not affiliated with the Girl Scouts we started out making crafts mostly and then we pivoted to baking. We started baking in my church’s kitchen. We eventually created the kitchen out of my old grandfather's electrical shop he passed so we converted his old shop to a kitchen. The farmers market has been a great experience I’ve gone there pretty much my whole life with my dad and my mom and I’ve seen it grow from the way it was in 2014 and 2015 to actually starting to work their in about 2017.
In my opinion, I believe the farmers market is a great space for people of all ages to interact and form great bonds with your fellow Lexingtonian’s. I think that every age can have a great time at the market and find something that they will love. Make sure to check out Rabble and Rise because they have the best goodies! My favorite is the magic lemonade, which fades into a purple iridescent ombré . Kivi, if you're reading this I love the peach syrup so please bring it back! Thank you for reading and make sure to stop by the market this Saturday. You might even see me there.
