The Ozark Folk Center is a friendly place and no where is that more evident than at the front desk in the Administration Building.

People who come through the door are met with a smile and those who call in hear the same cheery “Hello, this is Rachel” on the phone whether it is morning or afternoon.

Rachel Kempf and her husband Leo moved here from Kansas City about a year ago. They had visited Mountain View with family and really liked it. When Rachel toured the Ozark Folk Center she thought it would be a fabulous place to work. She interviewed for a job in the Gift Shop, but while considerations were going on for that position, the front desk job opened up. It was a perfect fit for Rachel.

“I just love the Folk Center,” said Rachel, smiling. “It’s all the things I love – arts, crafts and music. To be able to work in an environment where people randomly square dance around your desk or show you a painting they just finished is so amazing.”

Like most of the Folk Center staff, Rachel is good at filling in where she is needed. But her incredible range of talents sends her across the park. She had only worked here a week when a few bands had to cancel for the Cowboy Weekend Celebration. Park superintendent Grady Spann overheard Rachel sharing that she could yodel. He told Music Director Carl Adkins, who asked Rachel to sing for him. The next week, she was scheduled to sing on stage.

Every star needs a stage name and Rachel needed to find hers quickly. Out on a canoe trip with Leo they discussed it. Leo’s grandfather always called her Ruby, and they were floating down a river lined by pine trees. “Ruby Pines” made her debut on the Folk Center stage and has quickly become a favorite.

“I didn’t think the name would stick,” said Rachel with a laugh. With her Patsy Montana-style vocals and strong voice, people request Ruby Pines and look for her on the evening music schedule. She loves performing and often sings with the group performing during the day on the Music Pavilion during her lunch hour.

Rachel’s flexibility in juggling phone calls, messages, the cranky office machines and touchy software programs is also legendary. She loves learning – whether it’s in the office, or out.

“Since I’ve been at the Folk Center I’ve been inspired to raise a garden; get chickens; start sewing in my loft; take mandolin lessons and so much more.