NIACC Pappajohn Center & SBDC Recognizes Steve Strasheim of Twisted River Farm as the October 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month

MASON CITY, IOWA – The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Steve Strasheim of Twisted River Farm in Mitchell, IA as the October 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month.

Steve Strasheim founded Twisted River Farm, a five-acre produce farm, in 2014. Steve distributes his produce across North Iowa to grocery stores, restaurants, farmers markets, through an on-farm store, and with a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

Steve grew up on a sugar beet farm in eastern Montana, where farming meant raising crops for bulk delivery to a factory or elevator. He explained, “My concept of agriculture wasn’t direct-to-consumer marketing or farmers markets or even vegetables. It was take your sugar beets and your wheat to the factory and do it all again the next year.” When Steve and his wife Marcy began focusing on eating fresh foods in 2012, they struggled to find local options in North Iowa. That search sparked the idea of growing their own produce and eventually selling to others.

Steve’s model of entrepreneurship is one of measured and thoughtful growth. Twisted River Farm began small and expanded as demand grew. “We started very small and just kind of kept growing as the market dragged us into getting bigger every year,” Steve said. Today, the farm focuses on serving the community while maintaining sustainable practices. They avoid spraying chemicals whenever possible, rotate crops to reduce disease, and use techniques like insect netting to protect plants.

Twisted River sells through five primary channels: CSA subscriptions, farmers markets, the on-site farm store, restaurants, and grocery stores. Steve is constantly evaluating his sales channels and has shown that he’s not afraid to pivot when needed. The CSA program became a major part of the business after the COVID-19 pandemic forced restaurants to close. “We quickly had to pivot […] with the shutdowns that were happening. A lot of our restaurant partners were closing up, so we had to quickly figure out how are we going to move our product,” Steve said. What started as a temporary delivery program turned into a permanent CSA model that now represents nearly half of farm sales.

Community connections have reinforced Steve’s mission. He recalled joining the Mason City Farmers Market in 2016. “Just hearing that feedback from customers, they were so appreciative of what we were doing, and that just continues on to today,” he said. Positive comments from customers keep him motivated even through weather challenges, crop losses, or damage from deer. “When you go to the market and people come in and they just say, ‘Oh my gosh, your corn was amazing and thank you for doing this,’ that pumps up the tires,” Steve said.

Giving back to the community has also been important. Twisted River Farm partners with Cedar Summerstock Theater by providing produce for its culinary program, which feeds actors and crew throughout the season. The farm also collaborates on a farm-to-table dinner event, Harvesting Harmony, that brings together local food and the arts, creating a truly unique Heartland experience.

Mentorship and support networks have been part of Steve’s growth. He credits his wife Marcy for what Twisted River Farm has become. He said, “Marcy works full time off-farm, but she’s very involved behind the scenes and heads up our cut flower bouquet program.” He also found guidance through Practical Farmers of Iowa and other growers he connected with online. “There’s not a lot of vegetable growers in our immediate area, so I didn’t really have anybody I could just drive down the road to and say, ‘How do you do this?’” he said. These networks helped him build confidence in expanding the farm.

Reflecting on his experience, Steve offered advice for others considering entrepreneurship. “Always start small. Find your tribe, find your niche, see what people are looking for. Let the market in general kind of drag you into getting bigger, as I always say, rather than pushing it to accept you.”

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is the expert in rural business innovation and success. In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. We counsel both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. Contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu. Visit the NIACC Pappajohn Center online at www.pappajohncenter.com.

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