Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Kiefer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It started in both of my grandma’s kitchens, the smell of coffee; every day, their coffee pot would be brewing. I’d make sure to pour myself a cup of coffee. When I spent the day with my dad at work, coffee was always made. Seems our family, coffee is what brought us together, and the taste was always better than the smell. I became addicted at a young age; never did it stunt my growth like every noncoffee drinker had told me. I grew up just fine, with an expensive addiction as coffee shops popped up all over. My other addiction was animals of all kinds, especially horses, cats, and dogs. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was growing up. But that came with a lot of schooling, and I wasn’t that committed. After high school, I went to The Ohio State University Agriculture Technical Institute, OSU/ATI in Wooster, where I studied my favorite animal, the horse. After growing up owning and showing quarter horses. It was something I thought I wanted to pursue a career in, but I found the complete opposite; I wanted to enjoy them instead of working with them. I finished my schooling and graduated for OSU/ATI anyways. After that, I found a program at Colombus State Community College for Veterinary Technology, where I studied to be a veterinary nurse. Once I graduated, I was doing what I was meant to do, and loved it!
About 15 years into vet med, my body had other plans. I was diagnosed with MS, Multiple Sclerosis, a neurologic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. I was perfectly healthy until I wasn’t. I was very familiar with this disease; my father struggled and passed away from it. That life change took a toll on my body; it took my strength away in my legs and so many other symptoms that I had to learn to live with, and being in a physical career, it took away my livelihood for some time. Knowing what could be with the disease with my dad and the unknown. My life got flipped upside down. I struggled for years to get my strength back, I had pain that was not fun do deal with daily. My life as I knew it, my active lifestyle, became one that was very unfamiliar with me, and I became depressed and struggled with anxiety for years.
My last MS flare-up after my mom passed away in 2022 left me with new symptoms that caused me to lose feelings in my hands. Without my hands in veterinary medicine, I felt worthless, not being able to feel veins for blood draw or intravenous catheters. I realized I had to do something different my body depended on it. The stress and burnout of veterinary medicine took a toll on my body that I couldn’t change unless I did a whole life change. After 25 years of veterinary medicine, I did just that!
I began bringing my dream of opening a coffee shop to reality, I studied at Texas Coffee School, and learned everything I needed to know to open a brick and mortar. But with some good talks from family and listening to my body, the reality was to go mobile! The Bucking Barista was born, April 2023, when I bought my trailer and retired from Vet Med. I began the road to owning my own business, being a woman, and having a disability as well. After 4 long months of prep work, making a menu, finding products, equipment, and buying all the insides of the trailer. The build-out was on its way. It was very exciting and stressful, all worth it once I passed the Health Department inspection. I couldn’t believe I finally did it! With a lot of support from my family and friends, I couldn’t be prouder of myself and show dreamers you can do it! You just have to be ready to let go of the life you had and be ready for a life you dreamed of! If you have a dream, chase it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Bucking Barista?
The Bucking Barista offers coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Handmade craft espresso drinks, such as lattes, frappes, and homemade cold brew. A huge variety of loose-leaf teas, matcha, and chai, caffeine-free options as well. Energy drinks such as Lotus are an all-natural option. Also have an abundance of sugar free syrup options as well, I wanted to offer these for people who need it to focus on their healthy lifestyles.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
The horse head/cup logo on the front of my trailer was designed with the facial markings of my first and favorite horse, Sassy. This trailer is a real representation of my life, a true horse and coffee lover. Dedicated to my mom and dad; because of them, I wouldn’t have experienced any of it. Every time I go to work, they are with me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thebuckingbarista
- Facebook: facebook.com/buckingbarista
