T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Chris Buck, the owner of Clover Bloom Farm in Rhodes, shows the coolers filled with beef and pork products in his store. Customers can get locally-produced homegrown beef, pork, jellies and more at Clover Bloom.

RHODES — A hobby, bolstered by a family farm, has blossomed into a small store in Rhodes — Clover Bloom Farms.

When Chris Buck moved back to Rhodes in 2023, he knew he wanted to plant a garden. With all of the extra produce, he started a roadside stand north of Rhodes where the family farm was.

“People liked it and were really supportive. I did that for another year and last June, we opened the store here and started selling meat, as well,” Buck said.

He partnered with his older brother Jeremy, and father Norman who operate the farm. Buck works with them on the beef side of Clover Bloom Farm and continues growing seven acres of vegetables to sell the produce from the brick and mortar location.

Large coolers stand tall against a wall of the business, and is filled with beef cuts such as soup bone, various roasts, tenderloin filets, hamburger, tri-tip steaks, jerky and various beef sticks (Willie’s beef sticks and garlic parmesan are this reporter’s favorites).

The cattle raised in the cow-calf herd on the Clover Bloom Farm are grass fed and grain finished, giving the products a robust and natural beef flavor.

“We do rotational grazing, so they get fresh grass regularly which is fun to watch,” he said. “When you watch them go from one pasture to the next, they really get excited. We believe in a low-stress environment and try to raise them with as little chemicals as possible.”

Buck added that does not mean they do not treat the cattle if they get sick. The way they raise the cattle creates the best-tasting beef, according to Buck.

“One of the things we hear from people is, ‘Oh my gosh. Your steaks have so much flavor,'” he said. “There’s a couple who moved from Des Moines. They recently bought some steaks from us and are trying each one. She told me it was the single best thing she ever had.”

Buck told her that is because they met the grower and producer, and the product is local and very fresh.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is producing quality meat across the board,” he said.

If people are not fans of beef, Clover Bloom also raises and sells pork. Buck said they are very selective on the breeds they use and how they are fed and taken care of.

“Our pigs live on apples, and things they would forage for naturally,” he said. “I think the results speak for themselves. I’ve never had a pork chop taste like that before, and I’m not a pork chop person.”

For the vegetables Buck raises, he is focused on regenerative, no chemicals or tilling to ensure everything they grow has the least amount of harm for the environment while maximizing the flavor and quality. And everything that can be grown in Iowa is grown at Clover Bloom. Tomatoes are the biggest seller, but they also have peppers, celery, carrots, eggplant and more. He is even trying to grow peanuts, which will be interesting.

Stating the store is a family business, Buck said his mother has chickens and sells the eggs inside. His grandmother makes and sells her jams and jellies and his grandfather makes all of the woodwork which is also for sale.

“This is my attempt to infuse the economy of Rhodes,” Buck said. “I’m really passionate about helping Rhodes. I think it’s a community that has had highs and lows, and I want to be a part of helping people see it’s a great community to live in, where businesses can be successful. The store would not have been as successful as it has been so far without the support of the people here.”

The store has not even been open for a year yet even though it feels like it, he said, laughing.

Being able to work from home with his full-time job also gives Buck the flexibility to arrange deliveries and fulfill certain requests of customers.

“I will make deliveries during my lunch, or whenever I want to take a break from my real job,” he said.

Buck said the family farm is more than 100 years old, and like similar families, he wants to see it continue.

“I think right now, agriculture needs disruption to continue to exist,” he said. “We’ve built a system around soybeans and corn that’s not working. We have too much supply and not enough demand anymore. The markets are getting flooded. It’s less profitable and input costs are rising. We can be forced to change or embrace it and say this is a really good opportunity. Iowa has some of the best soil in the world, which means we turn out healthy plants and the best quality food you could possibly want. Why wouldn’t we take some of the best soil in the world and continue to make it healthier and better and grow high quality food? That’s a big thing for me – showing farmers there’s another way besides corn and soybeans.”

BUSINESS INFORMATION

Address: 307 W. Walnut St.

in Rhodes

Hours: 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays;

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays;

1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.