Michelle La Fata keeps it simple, but never boring.

She is the owner of Pasta La Fata – a fresh Italian food company in Columbia, Missouri. “Shelly” and her all-female staff spend their days making fresh pasta, sauce, soup, cookies, and more by hand, selling them at the Columbia Farmers Market and through home deliveries. Her food philosophy is centered on keeping what you eat fresh, seasonal, and most importantly, local. Wherever she goes, her presence is usually accompanied by a bounty of upbeat tunes and the aroma of the world's greatest combination: high-quality olive oil and fresh garlic.

A version of this story was published in the Columbia Missourian after the conclusion of this project. Read more here.