I've owned Jjssmashburgers since March of 2024. It's been a wonderful experience that I've learned to love. My goal was to open a restaurant with the hopes of people enjoying Native American authentic foods made with love. Which has happened, and I find that making food people love tends to bring 'em back for more! I didn't go to school for business. I graduated from Marshalltown Community College with an associate's degree in Liberal Arts. I always wanted to learn. Before this, I was a forklift driver at Pioneer/Corteva, and before that, I worked as an apprentice for housing. Many jobs I've loved doing, but this is by far my most favorite!

This past year has been rough, hard, and tiring, to say the least. I've lost my mom to cancer at the end of March. I was there for every appointment, every radiation. Every time I could be home with my mom, I was there caring, loving, staying by her side, because I already knew it wouldn't last long. I remember I kept telling my younger siblings, help us help her, this ain't gonna last forever, and it didn't. My mom only survived 7 months after she found out her cancer returned. Cancer sucks.

I've never gotten a business loan. My husband's tribe has a bank, but since I wasn't open a year, they couldn't help. I don't have much credit and never got any help from anyone other than my landlord who helped while I was helping mom. Thank God for those kinds of people.

Right now, I'm looking at a down payment for a food truck to get MY business, MY food the opportunity to sell at the Iowa football games!! Go Hawks!!! And anywhere else in the state of Iowa! I would love to share my food with all of you! If you could help share, like, follow Jjssmashburgers, even that would help. We appreciate it all!!! Jjssmashburger thanks you all from the bottom of my heart for any donation, and we look forward to seeing you in the near future!!