Brenna first arrived in the Cedar Valley 10 years ago, moving from Ames to be closer to her future husband’s job. Though it took a little while for her to find her niche in the community, the Co-op has provided her with the opportunity to meet like-minded people. One aspect of the Cedar Valley that she really appreciates is that this is a community that is willing to invest in itself. We support small businesses, actively innovate, and are engaged in becoming better is every way.

Brenna’s involvement with the Co-op has given her a better sense of the benefits that a Co-op can give to a community. She originally become involved because she wanted the store, but over the past six years she has come to understand the benefits a co-op can create for producers and how it can empower the community. She also feels that her Co-op activities have helped her to feel more attached to the community, develop better work/life balance, and become a more active and engaged citizen.

When not helping build the Co-op, Brenna and her family like to ride bikes and play at on of the areas many parks. Like any English teacher she enjoys reading and writing, and her and her husband have recently been enjoying watching the Great British Bake Off. She is looking forward to several upcoming trips, one which include the celebration of her mother’s 60th birthday. She is also extremely excited to see the Co-op’s next stage of development and to have the opportunity to finally share with everyone what we’ve been working so hard to build.

Brenna’s dedication and commitment to the Co-op is a symbol of everything that is great about our community. We’ll miss her smiling face and are so grateful for all of her hard work!

This month’s member spotlight is Adel and Tom Kessler. Adel and Tom met when they were introduced by a mutual friend when Adel was a student at UNI studying Elementary and Special Education and Tom was working at the reference desk at Rod Library. While not originally from the Cedar Valley they both have been happy to call this place home for some time.

Now both retired, they enjoy spending their time reading, gardening, travelling, and exploring new places to eat with friends and family. They also love to explore the new locally owned stores and restaurants that have opened up recently. When asked what they love about living in the Cedar Valley, they couldn’t pick just one thing! “There are so many wonderful events, activities to enjoy, volunteer for… the list goes on and on.”

They decided to invest in the co-op because they believe it’s important to have access to healthy food and they see this as another way to invest in the community. Both are active in a number of volunteer organizations, so being a co-op member is another way they can give back. With our member numbers growing, they’re getting more excited about the co-op becoming a reality. They can’t wait to have fresh, local items available year round.

Thanks Adel and Tom for being co-op members!

Carol Lilly is our spotlight member-owner this month, and her family of four moved to Cedar Falls in 2008.  Her husband Chris grew up in CF and after working in the mid-west for several years, they settled here to raise their two boys, Jake and Josh.  Chris is the warehouse supervisor for Cedar Falls Utilities and Carol is the director of Community Main Street.  Jake is now 20 and is in the Marine Corps. Josh is 18 and will be leaving for San Diego State University this fall.

Now that their children will be gone much of the year, their free time is about to change!  They enjoy spending time outdoors and supporting local events and activities, many times through volunteering.  Chris is one of Community Main Street’s most active volunteers, according to Carol. Their most consistent volunteer activity is watering the downtown plants on Sunday mornings during the summer.  Chris is a member of Rotary and Carol is on numerous boards, including Sartori Foundation, Cedar Falls Community Foundation and Cedar Falls Community Theatre.  She also sits on the Park & Rec Commission and acts as a liaison to the Cedar Falls Tourism Bureau and Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber Affiliate group.

Carol’s parents are her greatest role models.  They both endured great hardships growing up, yet were able to find a way to go to college, choosing careers in education.  They taught her that a person’s station in life doesn’t matter and to treat everyone fairly and with respect. “Everyone has something to contribute and tapping into each person’s strengths helps them grow individually and helps the greater community,” Carol said.  They also taught her the importance of family and always making it her top priority.

The vibrancy of downtown is one of the primary reasons they decided to move back to CF, so Carol was really excited when she got the opportunity to work for Community Main Street. “I may be bias because of my work, but I truly love the downtown district!  A locally owned shop or restaurant has a different vibe than big box.  To me, the cluster of local businesses downtown and on the Hill helps give Cedar Falls its personality,” she said.

Carol is looking forward to having a food co-op in town, due to the sense of community the co-op offers:  “It brings people who may not have crossed paths in everyday life together and turns acquaintances into friends.”

Although they moved around quite a bit when they were first married, Carol said, “No matter where we have lived, we found ways to connect and embrace the community in which we lived.  ‘Living local’ has been our lifestyle long before it became mainstream.”

Mark spent a great deal of time during his masters education living and studying at the Galapagos Islands. Mark lived in a tent for about a year and a half on the Galapagos while studying seabirds. Theresa’s work as a librarian took her from Michigan to New Mexico State University in 2006, where she worked until 2017.

Theresa now is a librarian at the University of Northern Iowa Library. This career change prompted the move to Iowa.  Mark became interested in organic and sustainable farming some years ago, and now operates Solstice Farm just outside of Waverly. Solstice Farm produces chicken, turkey, eggs, and pork, and is present at several farmers markets, including the Thursday market on College Hill.

Theresa and Mark live on the farm with their daughter Robin, along with two dogs and a couple of barn cats. Their farmhouse is just off of the Waverly Rail Trail, so they have ready access to a bike trail to enjoy one of their many interests, which also include hiking, camping and water activities.

Since moving to Iowa, Mark did an internship with Joia Food Farm, and started Solstice Farm from there. He had previously been involved in hobby farming for about 15 years. The Farm currently has Berkshire and Tamworth swine, a variety of egg layer chickens, Cornish Cross and Robust White meat chickens, and a couple of varieties of turkeys. Orders are taken for pork and both processed turkey and chicken. Development plans for the farm include expanding the operation, and adding an organic orchard and bees.

Theresa is quite happy with her position at UNI. In addition to Solstice Farm, Mark also works part-time with Simpleray doing solar electric design work, sales support, and installations in residential, commercial, and utility applications. Mark has prior experience in solar power, and enjoys this line of work as well.

Theresa has prior experience with food co-ops, and has served as the President of the Board for Mountain View Market Coop in Las Cruces. Mark is currently on the Operations Committee for our very own Co-op. They view a Co-op as a centralized place for locally and sustainably produced food, as well as a place that keeps spending local while helping to build community. Be sure and introduce yourself to these wonderful folks when you have the opportunity.

The two moved to the Cedar Valley upon graduation from ISU. Molly went to work for Stantec as an environmental consultant in wind energy. After a stint with the University of Illinois, Andrew accepted a position with the University of Northern Iowa and is now working as a project coordinator in the Center for Social and Behavioral Research.  Each remains happily employed in their respective jobs.

Three years ago the couple purchased a home in Cedar Falls. They share their home with many rescued pets, including two dogs (Quincy & Lojack), a cat (Ralph), and two birds, one a Cockatiel (Sweetie) and the other a Meyers Parrott (Lily). Defying their friendly names, however, the birds do not get along so well. They are allowed out one at a time.

Andrew and Molly stay quite active. Andrew commented upon the many activities available in the Cedar Valley, some of which he is just discovering, and others yet to be explored. Having grown up in the Madison area playing soccer, and having played that sport while an undergraduate at Grinnell, Andrew has an athletic side. He now plays racquetball and bikes. Andrew admires the local bike trail system, and has recently discovered the Tondro Pray mountain bike skills trail, where there is a pump track.  Andrew is also a wood carver, and is hoping this season to explore bow hunting.

The couple heard about the Food Coop through friends at the Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists. Last fall they attended the annual Fall Festival and joined the Coop. Andrew sees many benefits to a local coop, which can be an important component in the local community structure, not just a food store. A coop can foster local community projects, such as clean-ups, potlucks, volunteer work projects, organized outdoor activities, or other activities that encourage inter-generational friendships. The couple is impressed with the professional way that the Coop is being put together, and look forward to the opening.

Joel likes the big, small-town feel of the Cedar Valley. There are a lot of options within the community. There is plenty to do, but the area is small enough to get to know your neighbors. They live close to the Main St. area and walk to the many delicious restaurants such as Ginger Ty and Whiskey Road, but they enjoy all of the restaurants. They also like Asian Fusion and all the Microbreweries. There are so many wonderful places to go in the area.

Joel does most of the shopping and cooking for the family and will enjoy having the Co-op store close by so he can walk or bike there for locally sourced foods. He especially likes Mexi-can food and recently made Vietnamese spring rolls for the first time. They actually turned out really good! Maybe he will share the recipe with us?

Joel and Laura both like to scuba and are certified. They love sailing. Joel grew up sailing. They go to Hot Yoga classes, and rock climb at UNI. They also take advantage of the many bike trails and all other outdoor activities. They both enjoy international travel and go at least 2 to 3 times a year. They have a trip to Prague and Greece coming up. Two places they have not traveled to yet, so exciting! Their kids, Alex and Max, have been on several trips with them as well.

Summer and fall are the two seasons Joel likes the best. He likes the heat of the summer, then the cooling off that happens in the fall while watching football.

Please join us at one the Co-op events and say hello to Joel, Laura, Alex, and Max.

Jóia Food Farm raises pigs, sheep and lamb, chicken for eggs and meat, turkeys, and ducks. They also grow organic grains and pastures.  The animals are grazed within the organic rotation, adding to the nutrients that the soils need to grow healthy plants. Jóia Food Farm believes in the principles of agro-ecology, with a focus on biodiversity, the sharing of animals and plants working together to create healthy soils, healthy animals, healthy plants, a healthy environment and most importantly, healthy food.

Wendy stresses their commitment to high-standard animal welfare. “If the animals are going to be eaten, then their life needs to be fully respected. We are believers in eating less meat, and when we do, eating responsible and ethically raised meat.”  To show their commitment to humanely raised animals, Jóia Food Farm is Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) certified.  Wendy says animals deserve to eat a diet they were born to eat. The animals on their farm are fed a diverse mix of more than ten organic and/or non-GMO grain and legume ingredients as well as grass and hay, food waste and seasonal nuts, apples, pumpkins, and squash. The sheep and lamb are AWA certified 100% grass-fed and can graze and browse from a diverse selection of grasses and legumes. 

Wendy and Johnny support a “clean” Iowa by adding conservation practices on their farm. They also want to help grow and be a part of a rural revitalization to North Iowa. Wendy believes the Cedar Falls Food Co-op is the perfect model to support the natural resources (the people, the land, the environment, the community building) that will promote this revitalization. A food co-op connects the farmers to the consumers, saves people time by finding local food in one location, keeps local dollars within the community, educates, and grows community. 

Wendy lived in Brazil for three years and during that time she learned how to eat fresh and what was in season. Fresh vegetables were a part of every meal and cooking was more about the process, ingredients and the flavor and less about efficiency.  Out of this experience, Wendy’s love of food grew, and the importance of knowing where and how her food was raised and grown became a priority. Slow food became a motto. Wendy and Johnny today love to cook and invite people over to visit the farm and share a home-cooked, farm-raised/grown meal. 

All of the seasons in Iowa have good attributes according to Wendy.  Winter is for learning, spring makes all things new again, summer is busy with growing and harvesting, and fall is pure beauty and the realization of all of your hard work. Jóia (pronounced joy-a) means jewel in Portuguese, which Wendy feels represents the farm itself and the family heritage she so admires. There is a saying in Portuguese, “Tudo jóia!” that helps remind her that everything is like a jewel. When things don’t go as planned or when days get difficult, in the end, all is good.  

They love the Cedar Falls area and surrounding communities. “The people are warm and friendly, and there is plenty to do.” Jackie enjoys going to local events such as The Cedar Falls Authors Festival featuring local authors like Nancy Price, movies and concerts in the park, and the incredible Farmers Markets. She likes how the local businesses are so supportive of each other; it creates such a cooperative environment. Jackie thinks the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will fit right in by offering as much local and organic food as possible in a warm, inviting space that cultivates that cooperative spirit.

“There are so many business partners that support the vision of the Co-op, it’s quite remarkable.” Jackie enjoys frequenting several of the Co-op business partners such as Sidecar Coffee, Kitchen Essentials and Gifts, SingleSpeed Brewing, Second State Brewing, the Brown Bottle, Green Fields, Hansen’s Dairy, Three Pines Farm, The Shine House Detail & Tint, and Chocolaterie Stam to name a few.

Jackie stays busy with family, volunteering with the Co-op, and cultivating new career interests. She is looking forward to warmer weather and all of the events that happen in our beautiful community.

Jim O’Loughlin and his wife, Julie Husband, have three children, Nic (19), Devin (16) and Ian (11). Julie and Jim have both taught English at UNI since moving to Cedar Falls in 2000. Jim is the host of the Final Thursday Reading Series at the Hearst Center for the Arts, a forum for creative writers that is now in its 18^thseason. He recently edited and published, Planting Red Geraniums, a collection of previously unknown James Hearst poems that he discovered.

As a downtown resident and bike commuter, Jim really appreciates all that can be done within a short walk or ride. Since they bought their first house here, there’s been a new library, a new Lincoln Elementary School, an expanded Recreation Center, not to mention the investments made in the trail system. So, they have come to appreciate that a changing community can become a community with more to offer its residents.

Jim is a regular customer at Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy and makes use of the Co-op discount on milk there all the time. Hansen’s Dairy is one of the many Co-op business partners that offer discounts to our members.

Jim feels that a Co-op can focus on the kind of farm-to-table initiatives that Iowa needs and is well-suited to offer.  Diversified farming can lead to safer waterways and healthier eating. It’s a win-win situation. But a Co-op can do more than just provide food. It can become a community resource that offers cultural programming and education.

Jim is a runner and a biker and loves to cook.  He was a co-founder of the Overman Park Neighborhood Association and is currently the group’s President. Last summer, he and his friend, Jon Taiber, made the inaugural SingleSpeed kayak loop, paddling from downtown Cedar Falls to downtown Waterloo and back, which is sure to become a regular summer event.

Between Julie’s ambitious vegetable garden and Jim’s modest herb garden, they can eat salads with ingredients they mostly grow themselves throughout the summer. Nothing tastes better than food you grow yourself and pick just before eating.

Jim loves spring in Iowa. When the calendar says spring has started, it’s like the word goes out to nature and everything begins to turn a vibrant green. It’s an amazing transformation to see every year.

Desarae and Nate take advantage of the many family-friendly activities and places to go and see in our community. They especially like to frequent some of the CFFC business partners such as Single Speed for their delicious craft beers, Cup of Joe, and Wayson Family Chiropractic. They love the friendly environments and service at these establishments.

When Desarae thinks about having the CFFC in the Cedar Valley, she likes the idea of having a trusted market that will offer a wide variety of fresh local fruits and vegetables and other wholesome food options. She also loves the purpose of minimizing waste in our community. She believes the Co-op will support our community economically, environmentally, and will bring people together.

Spending time outside is something the Pierce family likes to do. They utilize the walking trails, as well as dirt trails for hiking and dirt biking, which Nate loves to do. Nate also loves to golf, and Desarae enjoys practicing yoga.

When it comes to food, she can’t say she has a particular favorite because she loves so much! Desarae loves to cook and try new recipes using a wide variety of fresh ingredients. Another reason she is excited about the Co-op opening!

Fall is the favorite season of the year for Desarae. It brings the perfect weather with gorgeous outdoor colors, beautiful harvest fruits and vegetables, and fun “fallish” activities like bonfires.