Former dairy princess finds niche in BP

From the cornfields of southwestern Iowa, a dairy farm with 70 Holstein cows, many parades as Nobles County Dairy Princess, helping students with special needs, and walking the halls as a high school principal in Robbinsdale, to owning a small floral and gift shop.

In a nutshell, that’s how Jacqueline (Jackie) Vorlicek has put her life together thus far. With a pert smile, she welcomes her many customers to her small but vibrant floral and antique shop, Prairie Home Floral and Gifts, at 330 E. Main St.

Often when customers enter Vorlicek’s floral shop, they see nobody at home but hear a cheery “hello” from somewhere inside the collection of Blooming Prairie Blossom items, t-shirts, calendars, plaques, etc.

She landed in the small town because that’s where her husband, Jason Vorlicek, lived. Both worked as special education teachers.

Vorlicek grew up in Ellsworth, located on the southwest corner of Minnesota, one mile north of the Iowa border. The South Dakota border is also only 30 miles away.

Helping with chores on her parents’ dairy farm, Vorlicek learned that a farm housewife was something she didn’t choose to be. She is a 1995 graduate of Ellsworth High School, earned her undergraduate degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and obtained her master’s degree with a major in special education from Bethel College in St. Paul. She picked up her Education Specialist degree from St. Thomas College.

“I spent 20 years in education from Lutheran, to Baptist, to Catholic,” Vorlicek said, laughing.

When the time came for a career change, the flower shop was a natural choice. Vorlicek often helped her mother, Barb, who ran a small antique and home décor shop in Ellsworth.

“Running a school and running a business are a lot alike,” Vorlicek said. “Everything fell into place.”

Along with transferring her skills as a school administrator, Vorlicek took floral classes at Koehler & Dramm Florist School.

Vorlicek loves to share her creativity in whatever she does at the Prairie Home Floral & Gifts. She always tries to customize an arrangement to the likes of a customer. Arranging flowers for local funerals also gives her the opportunity to walk along people during the bereavement process.

“When the customer cries, I cry too,” she said.

Nature appeals to Vorlicek, thus many of her creations have a natural touch to them. Family life also means a lot to her.

“We are blessed to be so close to Jason’s parents, Frank and Diane,” she said.

Vorlicek has found that Blooming Prairie is “special and unique… People come in and share memories. When they say Blossoms for life, they mean it.” She has also received thank-you gifts when delivering flowers, from a dozen eggs to birthday cake and hugs.

But for Vorlicek, the work is a labor of love: “It’s a true gift of having time to build a community.”

Prairie Home’s delivery area includes Blooming Prairie, Owatonna, Austin, Ellendale, Hayfield, and Geneva.