Life in Ashby, Minnesota, is shaped by connection. It’s a town where helping hands are never far away, where familiar faces fill the aisles, and where community traditions run deep. At the center of it all is Ashby Market & Meats, where Patricia and Travis Dickey balance raising their three kids on the family farm with running the town’s only grocery store—a gathering place that keeps Ashby thriving.
“I grew up here in Ashby,” said Patricia. “My parents owned a restaurant, my dad was a cop and the mayor, and we were always involved in the community. It’s always been a special place to me.”
A Life Grounded in Family & Community
Ashby is the place where Patricia and Travis’s story unfolds. While Patricia pursued degrees from Alexandria Technical & Community College and spent years working in restaurants and accounting, Travis stayed close to the land, working on the farm where he grew up near Evansville.
Before they were married, Travis took over his family’s dairy farm, which they ran together for fifteen years before transitioning to beef cattle and grain farming. Today, they’re raising their three children—ages 13, 10, and 5—while managing both the farm and the market.
“It’s a lot to juggle,” Patricia laughed. “But it’s worth it. This is where we want to be, and this is the life we’ve chosen for our family.”
From JC’s Grocery to Ashby Market & Meats
Four years ago, Patricia began working at JC’s Grocery, the long-standing neighborhood store where locals picked up everything from fresh meat to last-minute ingredients for family dinners. When the opportunity came up to purchase the store, she and Travis saw a chance to invest in their community and their future.
Through our loan program, they secured the support they needed to make ownership possible. “It took a while to make the decision,” said Patricia, “but ultimately, we knew this was the right move for us and for Ashby.”
Since taking over and rebranding it as Ashby Market & Meats, Patricia and Travis have worked hard to keep the store a cornerstone of the community. They take pride in cutting all their own meat, grinding burgers fresh daily, and offering the personal touch customers expect from a small-town market. None of it, they say, would be possible without their dedicated employees, whose hard work and commitment help keep the store running smoothly every day.
Serving the Heart of Ashby
Community life in Ashby often circles back to Ashby Market & Meats. Beyond stocking shelves, the store helps fuel local traditions, providing food for church gatherings, Lions Club cookouts, and the Ashby Legacy Fund’s summer celebration.
“We’re the only grocery store in town, so we try to be there for everyone,” said Patricia. “We work with the American Legion and school fundraisers—whether it’s spaghetti feeds or community events.”
Patricia also serves on a committee for the Ashby Legacy Fund, helping raise money for projects that strengthen the community. “Our whole family is involved in something,” she said. “Being part of Ashby has always been who we are.”
Dreaming Big for the Future
While they’re proud of what they’ve built so far, the Dickeys have even bigger plans for the future. They hope to expand the store to offer more products and create a larger meat-processing area. One of their dreams is adding a small deli section—a place where locals can grab sandwiches, salads, or ready-made meals to take home.
“There aren’t any restaurants in town right now,” Patricia explained. “We’d love to offer something quick and fresh, like a tater tot hotdish you can bake at home. It’s about making life easier for our neighbors.”
The Power of Community Support
This is a story of commitment and community spirit. With Ashby Market & Meats, Patricia and Travis have built a place where neighbors come together, families are cared for, and the traditions that make Ashby special are kept alive.
“This community is the best I’ve ever been part of,” said Patricia. “They’re so supportive— it’s amazing. I feel lucky to give back to the place that gave me so much.”
With Ashby Market & Meats, the Dickeys are preserving a beloved tradition while shaping a new chapter for Ashby. Their journey is proof that when families invest in their community, the whole town grows stronger together.
