Our Story
Sometimes life sends you down unexpected paths, but they turn out to be a huge blessing. My Sister’s Pantry was an idea Kyra came up with, as she was opening a box of spices, she had ordered from another small spice company. She thought if this place is successful surely something similar could happen in Monte Vista. After some more mulling around and praying about it, she brought it up to Carl. Kyra knew from the beginning of her idea that she needed to have Shannon be a partner. After a few more days of thought and prayer she brought her idea up to Shannon. Shannon thought about it and prayed about it, and decided it was a worth a shot. Just in time for the Christmas season of 2019, we started packaging and selling our first few products. In a little more than a year we have created 9 dips, 19 spice blends, and 5 Hot Cocoa flavors just to name a few! The fun is just beginning, even in the year 2020 with all the challenges we were able to grow our business, and we look forward to what God has in store for the years ahead.
Kyra Stillings
Kyra was born and grew up in the San Luis Valley. Growing up she was in the kitchen quite often, having an older sister it was usually a go getter role. Once she was out on her own and got to take the lead role in the kitchen, she found a love for cooking. The love was specifically for cooking not baking. Cooking could be spontaneous, and recipes changed easily, baking was more specific not so easy to change. When Kyra met and married Carl, they quickly grew to enjoy spending time cooking together. Carl often jokes it isn’t a dinner Kyra made unless the recipe is altered in at least one way. Kyra and Carl were married in 2014. They now have 2 little girls, Rylee is 2, and Sairee is 5 months. The kitchen is still a favorite place in the Stillings house.
Shannon Frees
Shannon grew up in the San Luis Valley. Growing up her two younger brothers and Father always loved to be taste testers, now her husband George also gladly takes on the taste tester roll. It makes no difference cooking or baking she loves it all, and always has taste testers ready to test it out. She spent her younger years participating in cooking and baking in 4-H, and later led her own groups of girls in 4-H cooking. There are no limits to testing new things in Shannon’s kitchen lamb chops, home grown tomato soup, and lobster are just a few things she has tried. Shannon and George live south of Villa Grove, they raise Charolais cattle and Shannon has an ever-growing garden plot.