Barb Ballard

A graduate of UNL, I Produced Channel 10/11’s Morning Show in Lincoln before “retiring” to raise 3 kids. In 1998, my family started James Arthur Vineyards and I jumped back into the workforce to manage the day-to-day operations of the winery. James Arthur Vineyards is proud to be largest and the oldest continuously operating winery in Nebraska. In 2014, my husband, Jim and I took a leap of faith and purchased the From Nebraska Gift Shop in Lincoln’s Haymarket. In those 11 years, we have doubled the square footage of the store. We have been able to showcase not only James Arthur Vineyards’ wines and ciders, but also the finest products Nebraska has to offer to visitors from around the world. I work closely with vendors across the state to carry the highest quality Nebraska made products available. I use those products to create gift baskets that are sold to individuals, as well as corporations. Since 2014, our gift basket/gift box business has grown by 250%, shipping across the county as well as all over the world. My greatest joy is when a customer remarks what a beautiful store we have or when I get a phone call from someone who has received a basket or gift box and exclaim how amazing the products are and how beautiful the gift was. I love Nebraska and have such pride in showcasing everything that makes our state so unique!