FOR THE LOVE OF. . . Carl Junction Joshua Howard is Happy to Live, Work in Carl Junction

By Don Lowe

Happy Trees Table Co., owner Joshua Howard couldn’t be happier than he is right now, operating and overseeing a company located in his hometown of Carl Junction, Missouri.

When asked why he chose this city of about 8,000 residents in Jasper County, Howard says, “I never really considered opening Happy Trees Table Co., anywhere else.

“Carl Junction supports small businesses so well and really comes together as a community.”

Howard believes Carl Junction has appeal for virtually any company and organization looking for a place to do business, and he suggests what makes it such a desirable destination is, “the people in this community as a whole, and their willingness to build others up and support each other.”

Howard feels as though there’s a lot to like about this area, and he suggests that what helps make it attractive is “its proximity to local landmarks and amenities.”

Overall, there’s just such a friendly vibe, and Howard says, “The community as a whole is very welcoming and neighborly.”

Howard is focused on providing residents of Carl Junction and visitors to this town with a unique product that is masterfully made with the goal of bringing a lifetime of joy to those who spend their hard-earned money such a high-quality purchase.

Starting his own business “kind of came out of necessity and tragedy at the same time. We have a life group we host once a week. My wife and I were tired of setting up a plastic table once a week.

“A friend of ours had a nice farmhouse-style table, and I told my wife I could build one of those for us.”

While that first table was coming to fruition, Howard’s dad passed away in August 2019, and he says building the table became “very cathartic and therapeutic. And I fell in love with woodworking.”

From there, Howard was able to start promoting his trade and talent. “I’m an extrovert at heart,” he says. “It allowed me to meet new people while taking an idea or space that a client had in mind and transform it for them. It allowed me to help tell their story.”

Howard has an incredible business, but he insists making it work well isn’t automatic. “There are four things that really allow a person to be successful in any business: intentionality, authenticity, communication and patience.”

It all comes full circle for Howard, running a business in the middle of a community where he’s always lived. “Carl Junction is where I grew up, and it’s where my son is going to grow up.

“Carl Junction embodies a mindset of loving your neighbor as yourself well, and I’m proud to play a small part in that. Everyone within Carl Junction is welcoming and inviting.

“Carl Junction offers a heartwarming charm and hospitality to those who visit or call this city home. I love working and building a business in Carl Junction.”

Joshua Howard

Happy Trees Table Co., Fast Facts

Age: 36

Wife: Stephanie

Children: Son, Declan, 9 years old

Hometown: Carl Junction, Missouri

High School Alma Mater: Carl Junction High School

College: Missouri

Southern State University

Degree: General studies with an emphasis in art and mathematics

Career: Owner at Happy Trees Table Co. (furniture maker, craftsman and carpenter)

Relaxation and Recreation Fun: Spending time with family and friends, playing outside with his son