Carla O’Connell was born and raised in Hudson and graduated from the Hudson High School class of 1991. She graduated from the Medical Institute of Minnesota with an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. She completed her internship at Stillwater Veterinary Clinic, and never left. She worked there full time until she had their first child, and still works on an at-need basis.

Carla restored 2 homes in Hudson, one on 5th St. and one on historic Vine Street. Their family lived in Hudson until 1998, when they moved to Baldwin to oversee operations at their Baldwin chapel. Once there, they found 80 beautiful acres of land. Since moving there, they have fenced pastures, bush wacked brush, cut down and planted trees, raised chickens, bred horses and blazed trails in the woods.

Since 2002, she has been a board member for the Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, where she enjoys volunteering to promote her passion, early childhood education.

She is also involved in her church, where she sits on the board for the Wednesday night youth program, LOGOS. You will find her every Wednesday night making and serving the homemade meal.

While redesigning and renovating the Hudson and Baldwin locations, she discovered a new love of interior design, where she was an integral part of moving both locations into a serene, welcoming, updated feel.