Talk with Emily Longenecker Rineer about her new role at Root's Country Market & Auction, and you can't help but hear the excitement in her voice.

"It almost feels like a dream come true to be here and be fully a part of everything," said the new market master. "I'm excited to work alongside standholders and continue to have this place be a Lancaster County tradition."

Emily is at the helm of a Manheim-based business started by her great-great-grandfather A.W. Root in 1925. Although her great-grandmother Edith Root Longenecker was president of the business, there has never been a female market master until Emily.

Emily grew up in the market, spending free time there with her siblings and her father, Tom Longenecker, who has served as market master for more than 40 years. She attended Hempfield High School and Elizabethtown College, working during the summers in both Root's Old Mill Flea Market and Root's Country Market.

Initially, however, Emily chose a different career path than the family business. She was an upper elementary school teacher at a local Montessori school for seven years.

"I've always had a love and passion for teaching, having had some really great teachers when I was growing up. I always wanted to be that teacher for other students," she said. "That was my first dream, but I knew my dad was wearing so many hats here and he was going to need some assistance."

As the market enters its 100th year of operation, Emily thought the milestone provided a nice opportunity for a career change.

"I always knew I wanted to be a part of the market," she shared. "I have loved learning from my dad and working with him. It's incredible to be a part of the fifth generation in this business."

Her father is in his 60s now, but he's not going anywhere, she said.

"Longeneckers don't really retire," she said with a laugh, noting that her grandfather is in his early 90s and he still comes over on Tuesdays when the market is open.

As market master, Emily will be responsible for operations of the market, including filling stand vacancies and maintaining open communications with standholders.

It's a big job, she admits, since the market features 250 standholders in the summer along with standholders who operate year-round inside buildings on the grounds.

She sees a challenge in finding the best options for everyone involved in the market.

"I'm dealing with a lot of individual business owners, and I want to make sure all decisions made are what's best for everyone," she said. "I want to consider the needs of the standholders and the customers."

She credits the longevity of Root's to its niche in the community.

"We offer something unique with the variety that is here," she said. "The people who are here are the people growing the foods or making the crafts or running the business. Nobody can speak better towards what it is that they do, and this really becomes a community of people here every Tuesday."

When she's not at Root's, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband, Kyle, and their dog, Nigel.

As she settles into her new role, Emily is focused on the future while staying aware of the past.

"I am mindful of learning where we came from and relying on my father, my grandfather and my uncle who is also on the board, so we can know both where we came from and where we're going," she said. "One hundred years is a fantastic milestone to hit, but we don't want to stop there. We want to make sure we make it into the next 100 years."