Resident Highlight: McKennah Strasburger

I grew up with my parents and two sisters in Benton & Newton Counties, attending Sacred Heart Catholic School, South Newton High School and then later graduating from Manchester University. I am very fortunate to have been raised in the same area where generations of both my maternal & paternal family originate, and where many of us still reside.

Even at a young age my mom, my aunt and grandmothers encouraged me and my sisters to be creative and spent lots of time with us, painting, building, sewing & baking. We found things to do to keep us busy and made time to spend together, learning and enjoying these moments of artistic adventure. There was work to be done, too, and we couldn’t escape a chore- even if we tried!

While attending Manchester University, I had amazing professors that helped spark conversations about where I saw myself professionally and personally in my future. I realized I was limiting myself within my comfort zone and wanted to change that. I would often come home, sharing those same conversations with my mother, and we kept evolving the plan for what has become Market No. 48.

My mother, father, sisters & grandparents have always supported me and my ideas. Their enthusiasm for my shop has given me so much hope & belief that this will be a special place within our community, and I am very anxious to share the space with others.

Really, the idea of opening a home goods store here originated from the need to plan trips to the city. We all want to have something to do or have a place to shop for gifts and various things. Market No. 48 came into focus when I started longing for a new way to express myself creatively and became an evolving dream. I found the courage, through many thanks to my mother, to make it a reality and to do something for myself and my community. Small towns like Kentland thrive when individuals build businesses that fill a need within the community and I aim to do just that.

The name, Market No. 48, is a nod to both my maternal & paternal grandparents. They all have played a major role in my life, and all four were born in 1948. I want this store to reflect the hard work & creativity they have instilled in my parents and me.

Kentland is a wonderful town to raise a family, or be a part of a community that’s very focused on growth opportunities, while retaining small-town values. We believe that successful communities help build successful schools and our school corporation believes in supporting our communities as well.

Some of the most important moments in my life have taken place not only in Kentland but also in the county. For instance, I remember our birthday parties. They were planned months in advance and we helped our mom make them come to life through organizing, crafting clever invitations, planning activities, and party favors. It was WORK pulling off these events and we enjoyed every minute of it. My dad’s construction skills made many appearances in backdrops, photo booth sets, and even a stage. The preparation of those birthdays, and other special events, were family time and some of my most favorite memories.

To create more meaningful moments where we live, we need to keep the community viable and relevant. Our investment in our future is the greatest contribution Kentland residents can make to their hometown. It is the promise of tomorrow for our families and businesses.

I want Kentland to be known for its hospitality and integrity. My parents both have several generations of Newton and Benton County family, and Kentland has always served as an important part of their lives. I now do business in the same places I ran errands with my parents and grandparents – Murphy’s grocery store, Emerson Sondgerath, Fowler State Bank – they are committed to small-town values and needs, and I am grateful they are here in our community and doing well.

My hope is that people of all ages will enjoy shopping at Market No. 48, and that it provides a variety of affordable, unique inventory for any occasion. Instead of traveling to a city or shopping online, I want to be a reason to visit Kentland and will encourage those who visit my shop to enjoy all that our little community has to offer.