Austin Farrow

My story

Overland Park to everything at once.

I was born in Overland Park, Kansas, and grew up and went to school in Belton, Missouri, on the south side of Kansas City. I'm 22 now, based in the Kansas City area. Here's how a catcher became a goalkeeper, a goalkeeper became a referee, and a graphic designer started building companies.

Start the timeline ↓
Austin smiling inside Arrowhead Stadium during the 2026 World Cup
Arrowhead, World Cup summer 2026

Timeline

  1. The beginning · Roots

    Born in Overland Park, Kansas

    I was born in Overland Park, KS, and grew up just across the state line in Belton, Missouri, on the south side of Kansas City.

  2. About age 9 to 17 · Roots

    Baseball: catcher and infielder

    I played baseball for roughly eight years, mostly behind the plate as a catcher and in the infield.

  3. 4th or 5th grade · Roots

    Diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy

    I was diagnosed very young. It's something I grew up with, and it will likely be with me for the rest of my life.

    Read my health story →
  4. Middle school · Soccer

    Soccer, then a broken growth plate

    I started playing soccer in middle school, then broke a growth plate in my foot. I didn't play again until my junior year of high school.

  5. 7th and 8th grade · Roots

    Homebound

    Because of my narcolepsy I was homebound for two years. My homebound teacher helped me figure out what I actually liked: writing, science and history.

    What homebound means →
  6. Age 15 · Work

    First job: lifeguard

    My first job was lifeguarding for the City of Belton and Midwest Pool Management. My brother had just become a Lifeguard Instructor, and I was in one of the first classes he ever taught.

  7. Junior year of high school · Soccer

    Back in goal, with Scott

    When I came back to soccer I played goalkeeper, and I fell in love with the game. My best friend, Scott Glodowski, was a really good player: he played over in France a few times and won Futsal Nationals in 2020. Every day, after school and after my high school practice, we went and trained. When someone like that shoots on you thousands of times, you get pretty good pretty quick.

    Scott's site →
    Austin in an orange goalkeeper kit holding a ball
  8. High school · Soccer

    One season at Borussia International Academy

    I played one season with Scott at Borussia International Academy in the US. Besides the short season when I broke my growth plate, it's the only year I ever played club.

  9. Fall 2021 · Roots

    Senior year

    My senior year at Belton High School.

    Austin smiling in a blue shirt
  10. March 3, 2022 · Business

    Founded Upstacles at 18

    I founded Upstacles L.L.C. while I was still a senior in high school. It's my first company, and it's still running.

    See Upstacles →
  11. 2022 · Roots

    Graduated from Belton High School

    I never went to college. Financially I don't regret it at all. Socially, I'll be honest, I regret it a little.

  12. Aug 2022 to Jan 2024 · Work

    AlphaGraphics Belton

    My first real job. I did graphic design and some account management, and I left to do a full-stack programming bootcamp.

  13. Jan to May 2024 · Work

    Full-stack programming bootcamp

    I completed a multi-month full-stack bootcamp. I never ended up taking a developer job, but I use those skills in my own projects all the time, including this site.

  14. Sept 6, 2024 · Referee

    My first match as a referee

    After falling in love with soccer in high school, I decided to become a referee. My first match was as AR2 at Lone Elm Park, with Nereo M Hernandez in the middle and Cooper Herold as AR1.

    Refereeing →
  15. 2024 · Business

    Ribbon Development

    I started building websites for local businesses under the name Ribbon Development.

  16. December 2024 · Referee

    Early days in the yellow

    With a USSF crew in December 2024. I'm on the right.

    Three referees in yellow jerseys on a field; Austin is on the right in a black cap
  17. March 26, 2025 · Referee

    My first high school match

    I registered with MSHSAA in March 2025 and worked my first high school game that month: C-team girls, Lee's Summit North 2, Liberty North 0, in a two-man system with Cameron St Amand. I ran about 3.09 miles. High school is still my favorite.

  18. 2026 · Photography

    Club photographer for Sunflower State FC

    In 2026 I was the club photographer for Sunflower State FC, often shooting behind a rented lens.

    Photography →
    Austin kneeling behind a large telephoto lens on a tripod at a soccer field
  19. 2026 · Business

    Building Lower League Report

    LLR is my independent lower-league soccer publication, and I'm proud of building it.

    lowerleaguereport.com →
  20. Summer 2026 · Soccer

    World Cup summer in Kansas City

    The World Cup came to Arrowhead, and I was there.

    Austin smiling inside Arrowhead Stadium wearing a FIFA Kansas City shirt
  21. Nov 3, 2026 · Referee

    First postseason match

    AR2 for boys Summit Christian Academy vs. Grandview, which ended 3-0. As of Nov 10, 2026 I've done 68 varsity matches, 8 of them as center, and 4 postseason games.

    Match log →
  22. November 2026 · Business

    Ribbon Interactive

    I relaunched my web work as Ribbon Interactive, a premium studio for local businesses. This site is one of its builds.

    ribboninteractive.com →

An honest note

On not going to college

Financially, I don't regret it. Socially, I regret it a little.

I went from Belton High School to AlphaGraphics, then a full-stack bootcamp, then building my own things.

Austin sitting on stone steps in an alley, wearing a black jacket