With our team growing and many new faces on this little corner of the internet, we thought it'd be a good time for introductions!
L to R: Steve Strasheim (owner), Lorie Tesch, Jolene Norby, Dave Altick, Gwen, Brianna Pickett
Steve Strasheim: You probably recognize this guy! Steve started Twisted River Farm back in 2014. What began as a hobby and passion for local foods turned into something much more as he realized the need in north Iowa. He loves that TRF allows him to connect with customers about food, and he feels so rewarded when customers share how they're using the produce he grows. When he's not at the farm, he's probably backpacking to his next camping destination.
Lorie Tesch: Lorie enjoys taking home fresh greens on harvest day (we agree!), and her favorites are arugula and microgreens. When she's not at TRF, she loves spending time with her grandkids! We're lucky to have her help around the farm!
Jolene Norby: Jolene joined us this year and she's been a huge help around the farm! The things she most enjoys about her work here are planting and watching the growth and change. Her favorite TRF product is the Spicy Blend (good choice), which she says gives salad and eggs a new face! Aside from farming and her many hobbies and volunteer efforts, Jolene also loves horseback riding!
Dave Altick: While Dave doesn't technically work for Twisted River Farm, he's definitely an honorary member of the team. Dave is our next door neighbor, and let us tell you: he is the neighbor you dream of. What can we say about Dave? He's a huge part of the reason we're able to advance to tractor-based farming, and he has singlehandedly worked our new plot into submission in addition to loads of other farm work over the last few years. Dave likes to stay busy on his tractors and is always looking for a garden to till or a gravel driveway to level, so you know who to call if you're in need!
Gwen: Gwen was our very first employee who joined us last summer. She just graduated from Osage High School and is headed off to Iowa State this summer, majoring in geology and biology. She's been very active in FFA and band, and also helped found the Eco Club. She's dabbled in amateur beekeeping until some pesky got into the hives! When Gwen heads off to college later this summer, she'll leave some big shoes to fill and we'll miss her!
Brianna Pickett: Ever wonder who handles our social media and manages our marketing efforts? Meet Brianna! While not technically a farm hand, and even though she's a Minnesotan city girl, she puts her marketing knowledge to work for us through her business Good Chat Media! Lucky for Twisted River Farm, she's also a pescatarian, so veggies are kind of her thing. Her favorite TRF products are Summer Crunch and MicroBroccoli, and she'll find any excuse to throw microgreens on her food for a dash of green and bit of crunch