Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu
May 28, 2026
Photo courtesy of Conner and Kate Ashton
When husband and wife Conner Ashton, BSBA ’23, and Kate Ashton, BSAcc, MAcc ’24, graduated from the University of Missouri, they left with more than degrees — they carried the confidence, determination and entrepreneurial mindset to spot opportunities and act on them.
That unexpected opening arrived amid sleepless nights and life with a 3-month-old son. The opportunity — purchasing a beloved, locally sourced honey ice cream company near the couple’s small-town mid-Missouri home — aligned perfectly with the future they had envisioned while building their lives together at Mizzou.
Renaming the business Ollie B’s Honey Ice Cream after their son, Oliver, the Ashtons quickly got to work growing the brand while staying true to its local roots.
“Opportunities to buy an established business don’t come along very often,” Conner Ashton said. “We knew buying a business with a newborn at home wasn’t exactly ideal, but we also knew there would probably never be a perfect time. So, we took the leap.”
Just seven months later, Ashton — who now runs the business full-time — has more than doubled Ollie B’s retail footprint to 100-plus locations across Missouri, rapidly expanding the brand’s reach and introducing more customers to the product.
Much of that early success traces back to the experiences, relationships and professional preparation the Ashtons gained at Mizzou.
True Tigers
Missouri roots and Mizzou connections run deep for the Ashtons. Conner grew up in Columbia, while Kate was raised in nearby Millersburg, home of Ollie B’s Honey Ice Cream.
After spending two years playing baseball at Hannibal-LaGrange University, Conner transferred to Mizzou to study marketing at the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, joining Kate, who was enrolled in the university’s five-year accounting program that combines bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Today, Kate Ashton works full-time at Williams-Keepers in Columbia, while also managing the books for Ollie B’s. The day-to-day operations of the business fall to Conner Ashton, who previously worked as a marketing specialist before stepping into entrepreneurship.
Building on the marketing and business foundation he developed at Mizzou, Conner Ashton gained additional industry experience, working closely with leadership and sales teams and gaining firsthand experience in business development, relationship building and sales strategy.
“Between what I learned at Mizzou and the experience I gained afterward, I felt much more prepared to take the leap into buying a business ourselves,” he said.
Busy bees
Since purchasing the business, the Ashtons have rapidly expanded Ollie B’s across Missouri, growing its presence to more than 100 retail locations stretching from Kirksville to the Lake of the Ozarks and from St. Louis to Kansas City.
For Conner Ashton, much of that growth has required the same adaptability and problem-solving mindset he developed at Mizzou.
Part of entrepreneurship has meant learning an entirely new side of the business: beekeeping. The Ashtons inherited eight hives from the previous owners, who continue mentoring Conner as he learns how to care for the bees and maintain the hives that help supply the business’ signature honey.
In addition to the hives, Ollie B’s partners with local beekeepers to meet demand. During peak season — April through September — the business uses about 120 pounds of honey each week to produce its made-from-scratch ice cream.
The operation itself remains largely hands-on. Ashton oversees production, manages deliveries and leads six part-time workers who help make the ice cream.
Ollie B’s currently offers about 30 flavors, including customer favorites such as peanut butter chocolate chip, Coffee Buzz and Rocky Route 66, while Conner Ashton continues experimenting with ideas and seasonal flavors.
“Today we’re making cookies and cream, which we’ve never made before,” he said.
The future looks sweet
Looking ahead, Conner Ashton hopes to continue expanding across Missouri, eventually reaching markets including Springfield and Branson. He’d also like to hire a manager to free up time to market the ice cream and build a social media presence.
The Trulaske College of Business has continued to be a source of support for the Ashtons. Conner Ashton has spoken to several classes, including marketing and entrepreneurship courses, sharing the Ollie B’s story.
“I’m excited about where things are headed,” he said. “The support from the business school and the chance to connect with students has been incredible.”
