Farmhouse Kitchen, September 2026
A beautiful, ancestral oak tree in south Montgomery County has provided the Hicks family more than shade through the years. Nestled on land that has been in the family for six generations, it’s offered a place to gather, share meals and celebrate a century of milestones.
Birthday parties, Easter Sundays and family picnics have filled the space beneath its branches. That’s where Caleb Hicks made memories with his grandfather.
It’s also where Caleb proposed to his now wife, Katie, and where the couple later exchanged vows.
“I can’t put into words how special this place is to me,” said Caleb, a Montgomery County Farmers Federation board member and Young Farmers Committee chair. “We say it’s our family event center.”
The tree remains at the center of life for Caleb and Katie as they raise children Mary Glenn and Jennings while growing Old Oak Creative. The floral, photography, decor and event business owes its moniker to the towering tree.
The business is a natural extension of Caleb’s upbringing. Growing up in Ramer, he was surrounded by family members who catered weddings, owned restaurants, arranged flowers and snapped photographs.
Those experiences came full circle after Caleb helped plan his and Katie’s October 2022 wedding. They launched the floral design component of Old Oak Creative in July 2023 and expanded into fall porch decorating this year to help families fill homes with holiday spirit.
“It is hard work, but it is fun,” Caleb said. “It is rewarding to meet people and get to know them. They become a part of your life because you’re providing a service on a special day.”
The couple’s creativity carries into their kitchen.
Caleb loves juggling multiple components of a meal, while Katie’s cooking roots trace back to her mother and grandmother in Montgomery.
Recipes range from more involved meals Caleb enjoys preparing (such as Shrimp & Grits) to practical, personal favorites such as Easy Veggie Muffins — a wholesome snack with a hidden vegetable.
For Katie, however, those gathered in chairs around their table matter more than what fills the plates.
“I want us to sit and have family dinner and reflect on our day,” she said. “Table time is your time to capture your kids’ attention.”
Whether serving in the community through agricultural organizations, at church or through Old Oak Creative, Caleb and Katie said they feel called to give back.
“We just love helping people,” Katie said. “It is fun. It gets our brain working and his creative side working. It’s something Caleb has always been passionate about. It is a fun thing for both of us to do together. The oak tree helps tie me to Caleb’s family, too.”