Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Smith.
Hi Ken, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Back in the 1950’s Ken’s father, Floyd (always went by Bud), worked as a farmer- raising cattle and crop farming. In 1960, Bud was able to buy over 200 acres to accommodate his career. After Bud’s passing in 2010, Ken inherited the land and kept up with it over the years. Ken found himself raising horses and cattle on his farm all while working as an electrician in the Kansas City area. In 2015, Ken started hosting an annual Halloween event in a small barn on his farm but then decided to create something that was a more permanent and elegant area. In June of 2019, Ken wanted to share this beautiful farm with his community, and the construction of Twin Oaks Wedding and Event Center began. He realized his hometown of Warrensburg needed a space where people can come to celebrate all things- from baby showers to weddings. Ken’s natural knowledge of construction along with his love for the rustic feel is what made Twin Oaks become what it is today. Twin Oaks hosted its first wedding in September 2019 and has now hosted over 100 weddings sense. Ken and his wife, Mary, together have made constant improvements and changes as the years go on. Some additional features include a brand-new built pergola for an outdoor option for a wedding ceremony, brand new 23-foot fireplace in the main venue, Groom suite for the men of the wedding to gather before the ceremony, Powder Room for the bridal party to prep, and a 3-bedroom AirBnb to give guests a space to rest and recharge.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ken said the biggest obstacles wasn’t building the venue. The biggest difficulty has been effectively marketing Twin Oaks. “As an old guy I struggle to keep up with the trends when it comes to promoting and marketing.” He has come to discover that it’s a full-time job to just spread the word about Twin Oaks. Thanks to the help of his stepdaughter who has a degree in communications, she has been able to take the reins with this end of business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Ken was a licensed electrician who worked in the Kansas City area until his recent retirement in December 2025. He’s also gifted in construction- you give him an idea and he’s able to build it without any problem. Ken is a patient; quiet man and he can get anything done with his determined mentality.
His wife, Mary, is the ying to his yang. Mary is a licensed mental health therapist whose passion is children and youth. Mary is the spice to his life- the more social of the two. Her fiery nature helps balance out Ken’s quiet nature.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Ken grew up as an only child in the countryside of Warrensburg, Missouri. His mother taught him how to cook and clean around the house. His father taught him how to farm, operate machinery, and mechanic work. His parents really wanted to implement a hard work ethic and wanted Ken to never lack skills when it came to taking care of himself or getting and maintaining a job. Ken says he remembers his childhood being good overall.
Ken’s interests were old tractors and farm equipment, exploring caves, hunting, and CB radio which led him to HAM radio as he grew up. Ken was an assistant emergency coordinator for Johnson County.
Pricing:
- $3,500 for a wedding weekend
- $320 for the small venue space
- $2,500 for a company/organization event
- Price varies depending on date for the Airbnb
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twinoaksofwarrensburg.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/TwinOaksofWarrensburg
