As a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, I’ve been to Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, an ice cream shop at 6340 S. Parker Road in Aurora, countless times. My father-in-law, a fellow ice cream lover, and I initially came for the decadent dessert (mainly the Chocolate Velvet Peanut Butter Cup), but after reading the company’s mission on the wall and meeting its employees, we were hooked in more ways than one.
Howdy Homemade’s mission is to “create jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities using the power of smiles and amazing ice cream.”
Founder Tom Landis opened the first Howdy Homemade in Dallas in 2015 with a mission to empower people with special needs through meaningful employment. Today, the ice cream shop has six locations in Texas, Colorado, Missouri, Indiana, and Louisiana.
In 2022, local owner Troy Knuckles opened Colorado’s first and only Howdy Homemade in Aurora with his son, Kayle. After seeing the ice cream shop featured on ABC News’ America Strong, a good news segment, Troy says he knew he wanted to open a location to provide jobs for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and give them a purpose.
“This is my mission from God,” Troy says.
Howdy Homemade employees are called heroes because they are the star of the show, general manager Kasey Lee says.
“I couldn’t think of a more fitting title to describe somebody who has an intellectual disability,” Kasey went on to say. “I think that Howdy Homemade is taking that disability and putting it out for the whole world to see, making them the stars of the show, making them the true heroes every day, and wanting to make the world a better place.”
Ben Levine is one of about 15 employees at Howdy Homemade in Aurora. He and several others have worked here since the shop opened four years ago.
“This job essentially has zero turnover. It speaks to the fact that this is really a fun job and a great, healthy, safe environment for them to be the stars,” Kasey says.
It’s not just the employees who love Howdy Homemade. The shop has several fans — those who come for the award-winning ice cream, people who support the company’s larger mission, and ice cream club members who do both.
As founder Tom likes to say, it’s hard to say Howdy with a frown on your face. And like the name, the ice cream shop and its heroes will bring a smile to your face.