On a sunny Monday afternoon, Ron and Lorraine Crow and their daughter Kelsy sold corn, watermelon and cantelope in the parking lot next to Members 1st Community Credit Union. Cars continuously drove up to Long’s Sweet Corn stand which gets its name from Lorraine’s maiden name. Buyers chatted with the family and left with bags of corn or melons.

“It’s been a very good year,” Lorraine said.

The pandemic has not affected their produce sales, though it was a concern for the family.

They are in the stand every day except Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. until the corn is gone, which is usually around 4 or 5.

Kelsy Crow Orelus helps a customer buying watermelon at the Long’s Sweet Corn stand on Monday. The family spends long hours out in the heat, but they are happy to interact with the community.

The family has been growing corn for more than 50 years, but the stand is more recent. Buyers used to take a trip to the farm to buy the produce.

Ron and Lorraine’s children Ethan, Kendra and Kelsy are part of the farm business.

“The fun part of it is it’s just a family thing,” Lorraine said.

She said her 92-year-old father Clair Long can still be found out in the fields driving the tractor.

The family is happy to be out interacting with people after the isolation of the pandemic.

Ron said they have regulars who they look forward to seeing.

“People look for us and we look for them,” he said

Kelsy said she appreciates returning to their ordinary activities after the disruption of the pandemic.

“It’s nice to have something normal,” she said.

It also offers a sense of normalcy to community members who buy from the stand every summer.

Their produce makes its way all over the country, with buyers from South Dakota, Texas and other states, according to Lorraine.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but the community makes it worth it,” Lorraine said.

——

Contact Anna Shearer at 641-753-6611 or ashearer@timesrepublican.com.