Vian was always a place my kids loved to visit, and it was a place that was so special to my husband — it was home. We purchased a building downtown to open our newest location and get started here.

This week on the podcast we’re in Vian, Oklahoma talking with Lyndsey Sullivan, who recently opened a lifestyle gym called The Field House. She’s sharing how she brought what had been a dream in her heart for over five years to life by restoring a vacant building on main street.

Operating a floral business in a rural town is no simple feat. Doing the aforementioned while working a full-time job 40 miles away is just another layer of the proverbial onion. However, we had a plan!

Having worked at community and economic development for many, many years, I’m well aware of the countless individuals who’ve given so much time to their communities and to the entire region! And I’ve learned how so much more can be achieved through collaborations and partnerships than can ever be accomplished individually, making so many things possible that would not be otherwise. As our communities strengthen and our region prospers, you can see the work of committed individuals everywhere.

Our original goal of starting a business was to bring more people to our area, keep more money local and hope to share priceless time together as mother and daughter. What ended up happening was something unexpected and much more significant. We have met the most amazing people who live locally, are at the lake, or are traveling through — and have built relationships and friendships with those people that we would have otherwise never known. Meeting these people and learning their stories has made it all so worth it!

Let us introduce you to Vian, Oklahoma — a town rich in tradition, diversity, pride, and dreams. Having suffered two downtown fires, a new generation of entrepreneurs had visions of repurposing hundred-year-old buildings that have sat vacant for years. So with limited funds but unlimited passion, the revitalization process has begun! Nine new businesses have opened in the past five years!