07/31/2026
What Makes Howells Home | Jason Janata & Stacey Janata
For Jason, coming home wasn't about returning to a place. It was about building a life.
"I think deep down I always knew my roots were still here," Jason said. "Even before we moved back, we found ourselves coming back to Howells for family gatherings, community events, and to spend time with friends."
Working alongside his dad at the family feed mill made the decision even clearer.
"I was making the drive every day, and once we moved back, life just felt simpler. Being close to family, having our kids grow up around their grandparents and cousins, and being part of the community every day instead of just visiting made it feel like the right place to call home."
For Stacey, who grew up in Lindsay, moving to Howells meant leaving one small town for another.
What she didn't expect was how quickly she would feel like she belonged.
"Honestly, it felt like home from the beginning," she said. "I didn't know everyone's names or who everyone was, but somehow everyone seemed to know me. People genuinely cared, stopped to visit, and made me feel like I belonged. That's something that's hard to find, and it's one of the things I love most about this community."
Today, Jason and Stacey are raising four young children in Howells.
For Stacey, there's one phrase that captures it best.
"I've heard it said that some places are 'a little piece of paradise,'" she said. "That's exactly how raising our family in Howells feels."
"Our kids are surrounded by friends and families who share the same values we hope to teach at home. We have wonderful neighbors who truly look out for one another, and it's comforting to know our children are growing up in that kind of environment."
Sometimes it's the smallest moments that remind them why they came back.
"I love that something as simple as going to the grocery store turns into conversations with people who know our kids by name and take time to ask them about their day," Stacey said. "Those little moments remind us that we're part of something bigger."
Their oldest daughter, Blakely, has shown them that in an even deeper way.
"It really does take a village to raise children," they said. "Having a daughter with special needs has brought its own challenges, but it has also shown us just how incredible this community is."
"One of the greatest blessings has been watching Blakely grow up in a community where she is accepted for exactly who she is. Whether she's at school, participating in activities, or spending time with friends, she's included, encouraged, and celebrated. That is a gift we will never take for granted."
As the years have passed, they haven't just watched their children grow.
They've watched them become part of the community.
"Watching our kids start school, make friends, join activities, and become part of the community has confirmed that we made the right choice," they said. "We see how this town supports families, not just ours, but everyone."
The Janatas hope their children never take the little things for granted.
Summer evenings riding bikes through town.
Catching fireflies under a sky full of stars.
Friday nights cheering on the Jaguars.
Halloween spent walking nearly every street in town.
Neighbors who wave.
Teachers who know every child.
Coaches who invest in more than the game.
"We hope they never forget what it feels like to truly belong," they said. "To be surrounded by neighbors who know them, teachers who care about them beyond the classroom, coaches who encourage them, and a church and community that support one another through both the joyful moments and the difficult ones."
They hope those lessons stay with their children wherever life takes them.
"We hope they remember the importance of giving back and supporting others, just as so many here have done for our family."
Because that's what home has become.
"Home isn't just where you live," they said. "It's where your people are."
And for the Janatas, there's no place they'd rather put down roots!
