PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW POTTER – Crowds fill the floor of the MHS Roundhouse for the Times-Republican Home and Garden Show Saturday morning and afternoon. Over 20 businesses set up booths and welcomed potential customers.

The return of sunny, mild spring weather to central Iowa coincided with the return of the Times-Republican Home and Garden Show, which was held at the MHS Roundhouse on Saturday after missing 2021 due to the ongoing COVID pandemic.

Having missed a show, the reception from the public for this year’s edition was overwhelming, said T-R advertising representative and show organizer Malette Glader.

“It feels really nice,” Glader said. “It’s turning out wonderful. We were a little worried seeing the weather the last couple of days, but seeing the sun shine makes people think ‘I want to get out. I want to get started on stuff for my house.’ I think that makes a difference.”

Beginning at 10 a.m., over 20 local small businesses and representatives of other businesses in the area gathered at their stands and attempted to help any and all potential customers. The vendors ranged from large companies like U.S. Cellular and Karl’s Chevrolet to local advocacy groups like Marshall County Veterans Affairs and Child Abuse Prevention Services – which works to provide “resources, education and family support” to help parents and caregivers “create safe and positive environments for their children.”

There were also over seven businesses new to the garden show, including a solar power business called 1 Source Solar represented by Michael Dunn.

Dunn said he didn’t know what to expect on Saturday, and he was pleasantly surprised with the response and the amount of interest from the Marshalltown community.

“I wanted to get my name out to Marshalltown as much as I can to let them know there’s somebody local here for them so they don’t have to rely on some national company,” Dunn said. “My mission is to see everyone go green. The more solar panels I see out there, people offset their energy bills 80 percent to 100 percent. That’s my goal.”

One of the more unique booths belonged to Jeff Mayer, a member of LimeStone Station Farms and the representative for the Cartwright Downtown Farmer’s Market, which opens up the 2022 season on May 4.

Mayer’s farm focuses on meat during peak season and in addition to producing meat, they have learned to make soap from the lard of their pigs and dog chews with other parts of the animals they raise.

He added that it was important to get out and give the public an idea of what and where their food comes from ahead of the spring and summer.

“It feels good to let people know where their food comes from and being local to Marshalltown is important,” Mayer said. “Not only what they grow, but who grows it and where it comes from, that seems to be the main thing. Chicken, pork and duck are the three meats that we grow on the farm and bring to market.”

Another of the outdoor-oriented representatives taking advantage of the bright conditions was LeafFilter rep Kristine Hall, who said the reception was the best of any trade show she’s been to and highlighted the “warm and receptive” response from show-goers.

Glader said the rise in new entrants to the show, up to at least five in 2022, was a welcome sight after missing a year and not being totally sure of what the response would be.

Glader has been working on the show for at least 10 years, and with the months-long preparation process leading to Saturday’s final product as well as the wide array of businesses present, she said it has given her more motivation and encouragement about the show’s future.

“I think there’s plenty of vendors out there that would like to have a show,” Glader said. “We have one new vendor from one of the bigger towns, so the fact they came here was nice to open up a new market. I think for the future, having all these ones that do come back and having a bunch of new ones open up [is big]. There’s new businesses opening up all the time.”

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING –
From left, Jane Dougall, Donna Mitchem, Fred Mitchem and Hugh Dougall enjoy a Saturday afternoon at the Times-Republican Home and Garden Show inside the MHS Roundhouse. Twenty-plus businesses and multiple food trucks were on hand for the show.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING –
Kristine Hall, a representative for Leaf Filter, poses with her booth during the Times-Republican Home and Garden Show Saturday. Hall said it was her first year attending the event as a vendor.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING –
Estefani Reyes-Covarrubias, left, and Michelle Cazares-Alvarez, right, of Child Abuse Prevention Services pose with their booth at Saturday’s Times-Republican Home and Garden Show inside the MHS Roundhouse.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING –
Jeff Mayer of LimeStone Station Farm represents the Cartwright Downtown Farmer’s Market during the Times-Republican Home and Garden Show at the MHS Roundhouse on Saturday. Mayer was presenting the farm’s soaps and dog chews that they sell during the offseason.