RED OAK, Iowa – On National Egg Day, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Director of the Senate Committee on Small Business, today announced Farmer’s Hen House of Washington County as Small Business of the Week. Senator Ernst will be honoring small businesses in all 99 counties in Iowa during this legislative session.
“The Farmer’s Hen House is wonderful “My job is to help Iowa farmers supply organic, free-range eggs to consumers across the country.” Senator Ernst said: “The business started modestly with three local farm partnerships and has since expanded to 90 partner farms and is actively involved in the Kalona community. It is thanks to these entrepreneurs that Iowa continues to rank among the top in the nation for egg production.”
In 1997, Eldon T. Miller founded Farmer’s Hen House in Kalona after partnering with three local Amish and Mennonite farms to produce organic eggs. Eldon was well known in the organic farming community and founded Organic Growers Group in 1995. His neighbor, Mark Miller, purchased Farmer’s Hen House in 2000. Mark’s son Ryan now serves as president of Farmer’s Hen House and is spearheading new outreach efforts for the business, including working with culinary experts to develop egg recipes, creating The Scramble podcast, and writing a community blog. Farmer’s Hen House also works with the Iowa Food Bank, donating over 12,000 eggs per week across the state. They celebrated their 27th anniversary in business in 2024.
Stay tuned as Ranking Member Ernst will further recognize small businesses across Iowa in this week’s Small Business Awards.
