Where it All Began

1986

For as long as anyone can remember Kimberlee has always had a strong passion for animal husbandry. Growing up as a little girl in Northern Minnesota she discovered her love for animals while living on her family’s farm. She spent every hour of everyday in the barnyard and woods tending to her horses, chickens, rabbits, ducks, livestock and most importantly her childhood dog, Chico. In 1986 as a Freshman in Highschool she was asked what she wanted to do when she grew up. The obvious answer? A dog breeder. 

2003

Steve and Kim turned their dreams into reality and purchased the historical 224 acre family farm in the beautiful Northeast Iowa countryside that had been in Steve’s family for over 150 years. This is where she would spend the next many years raising her family of seven children and allowing them to foster their own love for animals taking care of rabbits, horses, chickens, cats and dogs of their own. The 224 acres provided the perfect place for her children and their pets to run free. They discovered the many joys of building stick forts in the woods, playing in the streams, and getting lost but always finding their way home thanks to the smells of a warm home cooked meal wafting through the fields. 

1996

In 1996 Kimberlee had since grown up and moved away from her family’s farm and gone south to the bustling city of Minneapolis. During these years is when she would meet her husband Steve. This is where her and Steve would start their family and both share the dream of one day moving to Steve’s hometown of Decorah to purchase his family farm. Steve and Kimberlee had a desire to give their children the experience of spending time outdoors, learning skills and responsibilities taking care of animals as they had during their own childhoods. 

2008

The town of Decorah has always been one of the finest hidden gems in Iowa. Those who grow up here and those who visit Decorah will without a doubt fall in love with everything the scenic town has to offer. From the touristy downtown, bluffs filled with hiking trails, prairies full of flowers, plentiful trout streams and the storied Norwegian heritage Decorah has something for everyone. Kimberlee and Steve knew they wanted to start something meaningful and lasting on their acreage outside of Decorah so they decided they would try their hand at three things: raising horses, growing grape vines in dreams of a future winery and planting pumpkins for a potential pumpkin patch for the town of Decorah to enjoy. Whatever felt right is what they would dedicate their future too. They would never know that the true answer was right around the corner.