Mike and Connie Casey spent months traveling the country study-ing olives. The couple was about to embark on a new agricultural adventure: olive production.

For years Virginia “Ginger” Hill was a workaholic. Putting in 18-hour days as an academic at the University of California, she gave it all up to return to her roots in Lake City.Now, she has channeled her passion for teaching and learning into yoga, traveling the world to learn the healing art, then bringing it home to share it with the people of Columbia County.

United Way of Suwannee Valley celebrates 50 years of serving the people of North-Central Florida.

Kelsey Harrison unites the community with her Celebration of Abilities campaign.

Baking is all about trial and error. Testing recipes, making tweeks and trying to find the right combination of ingredients to make the fluffiest cupcake or smoothest buttercream is all part of the job. Holly Garner, the owner of Sugar Cakery in Lake City, spends countless hours researching and experimenting to get her recipes just right.

Danette Lewis wanted to make a difference. After going through serious back surgery and getting massage therapy treatments from her husband, Brian Lewis, Danette wanted to help others feel the same relief that she felt. She wanted to create a place where people could come and have the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders. Thus, The Spa on Marion was born. What started out as an idea scribbled down on a piece of paper has turned into Lake City’s only five-star day spa. The Spa on Marion is where relaxation reigns, and Danette is the queen.

Laura Fowler Goss was feeling sick of her office job at a transportation company, so her boss told her to take a vacation. She took his advice, and went on a year-long vacation to pursue her passion for cooking and entertaining. “He said, ‘Go somewhere you’ve always wanted to go.’ Well, I’ve always wanted to go to culinary school,” Laura said. “So I took a vacation and went to culinary school.”

When Leela and Michael Robinson bought the land for their farm three years ago, they didn’t just want to grow crops. They wanted to create a peaceful place, somewhere where people from the community could come and enjoy the land too. From fishing to yoga classes to learning about agriculture, the options of activities are endless at Deep Spring Farm.

For most couples, their idea of spending time together consists of going to the movies or out to dinner. Kyle Lammers and Megan Contini aren’t like most couples. On the weekends you can usually find them racing through mud or going on 30-mile bike rides. Fitness is the foundation of their relationship, and together they inspire others to get up and get moving.

Tucked away on a quiet street in historic High Springs sits the holy grail of coffee shops. From the outside, The Talented Cookie Company looks like an everyday small-town bakery/coffeeshop combo, complete with rustic charm and a homey feel. However, after taking one look at the menu and the endless array of sweets lining the counter, visitors will realize that this is no ordinary eatery, but a destination for caffeine and sweets fanatics.

Starting your own business is no easy task, especially when you’re already working a full time job and raising a family. However, this did not stop Lake City resident Angie DePratter from starting her own side hustle. With a desire to do something creative combined with a deep love for coffee, Angie created SimplyJLynn, an online store where she sells her customized creations.

Billy Aldrich got his first motorcycle when he was 20 years old while stationed in Japan and serving in the United States Air Force. To others, it was just a three-year-old used motorcycle, a 1958 Honda Dream. But to him, it was everything.

Walking up to the counter at Chasteen’s Downtown, you could always expect to find Robert Chasteen faithfully stationed at the cash register while his wife, Emmie, worked behind the counter taking phone orders and packing up to-go boxes. The line to order, which usually reached the back of the restaurant, was filled with familiar faces. Old friends, acquaintances and family members all milled together, saying hello and trying to decide if they should try a slice of one of Emmie’s delicious cakes or whether they should order squash casserole or macaroni and cheese. A Lake City staple, Chasteen’s served customers and friends for 18 years. On July 14, they closed their doors for the last time, marking the end of a food dynasty in the community.

For years, Lake City natives Danielle Mathis and Jesse Stokes had a secret. While attending the University of Central Florida, they kept their extracurricular activities under wraps, only revealing them to people they could trust. Maintaining their anonymity was crucial. These two weren’t just any college students; they were mascots.

From cliff jumping in New Zealand to chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland, Kate Herndon has lived a life full of adventure. At just 26 years old, she has seen parts of the world that most people have only dreamed about. Her desire to explore the unknown and create lasting memories has prompted this Lake City girl to spread her wings and travel the globe.

While walking through the fields of strawberries at Rogers Farm, the air is filled with their sweetness. Rows and rows of berries line the ground, as pickers bend over each plant, searching for the reddest, most perfect strawberry. At Rogers, there’s no need for grocery carts or roaming the store isles; all you need is a bucket.

Although their songs are vintage, the way they play them is anything but. With a youthful energy and undeniable chemistry, Lake City's own Vintage Band performs some of the biggest rock hits from the past with an unprecedented amount of talent.

Being surrounded by hundreds of alligators and crocodiles might seem scary, but at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, it has never been more fun.

About this time last year, A’lyce Vaughn was helping coordinate a routine for the Crossfire Cowgirls rodeo drill team with her mother, Lynne Crawford. She suggested the team do the drill to “Fight Song,” an anthem for those battling cancer, and the perfect choice for their routine set to honor those who have suffered from the disease. A former drill team member herself, Vaughn served as a mentor for young group of cowgirls, and helped them create what has become one of their most memorable routines. At this year’s Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo, the Crossfire Cowgirls will once again do their “Fight Song” routine, but this time to honor the memory of Vaughn, who passed away on July 5, 2016 at age 25.

Rob Summerall was always interested in business, but it wasn’t until he looked at what was missing in Lake City that he knew what business he wanted to be in: the T-shirt business.