Amber Deery
Amy Roberts: Finding Renewal Through a Leap of Faith
Daniel Boone is noted in history books as a legend, an American frontiersman who helped cut a trail through the Cumberland Gap, a seam in the Appalachian Mountains near the connection of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. He traversed thousands of miles exploring relatively uncharted territories and searching for opportunities for his family. His quest for discovery and gift of vision were passed through his children into the many generations that followed him.
Now his essence flows through Amy Roberts, an Overland Park, Kansas, business owner and mother of three. This seventh-generation great-granddaughter of Boone carried his spirit of adventure and vision when she established the Serendipity Farm & Vine.
“With this business, there are always challenges and I have family or friends to motivate me. They tell me this is what you’re meant to do,” Amy shared. “Yes, in a way, it’s just like Daniel Boone because he certainly had his challenges, too, being a pioneer. But when I found this farm, I was at a point that I needed change. This piece of property has been a very great blessing for me because it’s made me discover who I really am and who I’m supposed to be.”
New Steps
And just like her many-times-great-grandfather, Amy realized the potential that a new endeavor could bring, even looking past the harsh realities that stood before her. She was searching for property for her parents to move to the Kansas City area and be closer to the grandchildren. At the same time, Amy was struggling to find her true passion in life. She had been in the financial industry for nearly 20 years but something was missing; she longed to rediscover an excitement in life. “I was online looking for a place for them, and I serendipitously came across this piece of property. It wasn’t what my parents were looking for but it happened to be the start of my new journey in life,” she noted. “The land was overgrown and the barns hadn’t been used for a little while and sat empty. When I drove up the winding drive and came upon the barns, I immediately fell in love. It was like I knew what I wanted to do. The brown barn is the wedding and event venue space and the green barn would be a wine tasting room. However; I needed to ask my dad if he wanted to come out of retirement and make wine. He was doing home winemaking at the time. He, of course, said yes.”
The property was purchased in August 2019, and Amy applied for a Kansas Agritourism certificate. Agritourism combines traditional agricultural practices with unique experiences for visitors while producers benefit from tailoring their operations to tourism. Tourists can participate in activities on a working farm, ranch, lodge, outfitter, winery or other agricultural operation. Amy renovated the barns, established a farm winery, obtained a liquor license and, with her father, perfected their wine-making art. Approximately 3,500 vines were planted to supply the different varieties needed to build the Serendipity line of wine offerings. A month after the purchase, she began booking weddings. “We opened for weddings in July 2020, started making wine, and opened our winery doors at the end of October 2020. Our coffee shop opened on June 1, 2023. We had our first harvest last fall 2023.”
Her New Purpose
According to Amy, the objective of Serendipity Farm & Vine is to bring friends, family and the surrounding community together, while increasing Kansas Agritourism locally, regionally and nationally. A major piece of the business is weddings and events. Amy shares that the 20-acre farm is perfect for weddings and private parties, while the event spaces combine “rustic beauty with high-end glamour.” She boasts of the farm’s offerings of locally crafted wines. Amy and her father craft a wide range, from Midwest wines to chardonnay and cabernet. Guests can also rent the She Shed, which offers four bedrooms, lounge space and baths. A new offering at the farm is the Serendipity’s Daily Grind. Open 8:00 a.m. to noon on Thursdays and Fridays and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the shop features coffee, espresso, teas, lattes, non-coffee drinks and pastries. Summer days expand to Wednesday through Sunday for the winery. And don’t forget to check the website for special events open to the public. Live music, trivia nights, music bingo, theme nights, pop-up shops, workshops and other fun events are hosted in the tasting room and the brown barn.
Amy runs all aspects of the Serendipity Farm & Vine business, plowing through 60-plus-hour work weeks, with much of that time coming during the late nights when she finds herself the most creative. But it’s that environment of everyone pitching in that finds the oldest through the youngest members of the family helping in their special ways. “It would have been a lot harder without my family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support,” Amy remarked. “We are closer now than we ever have been as a family. This property has been a blessing for me.”
At various times and ways, her children have pitched in to help. Her son, Garrett, cleaned out the barns and helped out with events until he went to college. Now he’s an Overland Park, Kansas, police officer. Daughters Paige and Savannah offer assistance as well. “My dad, Tabb Renzelman, works constantly and is the head winemaker. He likes to study things and he researched how to plant vines and what varietals. He is always taking care of the vines, fixing things that need fixing, making wine and taking care of the landscape. My mom, Joyce, helps with our six miniature horses. Our wine flights are named after them: Levi, Romeo, Juliet, Her Majesty, Maverick and Indigo Rose. She takes care of Riesling, the family’s Great Pyrenees, since they live on the property. It worked out nicely for all of this. They ended up being able to move into the three-bedroom apartment above the tasting room and be closer to their grandkids.”
Family Participation
Being able to enjoy her close-knit family is a key to Amy’s happiness and she also enjoys sharing this environment with her guests. “This is why Serendipity is special to me because it has brought my family closer together. But I feel it’s a place where people come to gather with their family and friends and get reconnected,” she commented. “Something about this place is rejuvenating, hearing the birds chirp, seeing butterflies flutter, hearing the breeze in the trees and enjoying great food and drink.”
Butterflies are an important part of the interior decoration at Serendipity Farm & Vine. One can spot these winged beauties throughout the barns and other spots on the farm, on the wine labels and pulsating in the air. To Amy, butterflies represent her transformation of finding out who she is as a person and that she’s enjoying the fruits of a great passion. “I love to renovate things and transform these barns into what they are today. Seeing people enjoy them with their loved ones is such a good feeling,” she shared. “Serendipity Farm & Vine is bringing the community together to enjoy nature and enjoy wine made in Kansas from our vineyards and other vineyards.”
Trust Yourself
It has been five years since she purchased the property, worked through building and land renovations and pushed through the COVID lockdown. During that time, Amy has achieved more than many will ever realize in their entire lives. She attributes much of her success to her family but also the ability to trust in herself.
“Don’t be afraid to make that leap of faith. I was always afraid of making the wrong decision. But how will you know your potential in life or what you are truly meant to do if you don’t make that leap of faith? You will have hurdles along the way but do not give up. I have had so many individuals come into my life at the right moment on this journey and I am so appreciative that they have. They have helped me and inspired me to keep going even when I faced challenges,” Amy said. “Also, be open to new ideas that could help grow your business and surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. Know you will work harder than you ever imagined and take breaks for yourself so you don’t burn out. Inspire others and be thankful for everyone who helps you along the way.”
While she is successful with this new endeavor, Amy knows that triumphs do not come without hard work, determination, wise words and wisdom from others. Just like her many-times-over great-grandfather Daniel Boone, it’s the journey and how others along the way, especially family, offer the keys to success and an adventure that can blossom into a life’s calling.
“You are never too old to learn something new. I started this journey when I was 45 years old. I had no idea how to become an agritourism business or farm winery. I researched and researched and asked lots of questions. Also, my family is important. They have been here to help as a hard worker, listener or as my biggest supporter. And reconnect with loved ones and enjoy the time you have with them,” she stated. “Find something you’re passionate about. It may not be a career; it may just be a hobby. Or maybe get involved in a charity. Life goes by so quickly, so find what makes you happy.”
Boone Family Fun Facts
• Daniel Boone lived in several states during his lifetime, finally moving to Missouri in 1799. According to the State Historical Society of Missouri, Boone made the journey with his wife, two of his daughters and their husbands, and son Daniel Morgan Boone; son Nathan Boone soon followed. Boone died in 1820 at the age of 85 at Nathan’s home in Defiance, Missouri.
• Amy’s claim to the Boone legacy originates with her father Tabb Renzelman’s side of the family. Her grandmother, Rotha Auwarter Renzelman, is the fifth great-granddaughter of Daniel Boone.
• An article from the December 21, 1963, Kansas City Star shared by Amy states that in the Kansas City area at that time, 65 Boone family descendants could be counted. After 60 years, hundreds of locals more than likely now claim the legacy to Daniel Boone
