KALONA WOODWORKING BUSINESS EARNS IOWA FARM BUREAU’S RENEW RURAL IOWA ENTREPRENEUR OF MONTH AWARD

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – JULY 29, 2011 – Ramsey Creek Woodworks, a custom cabinetry building and installation business, is the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award winner.

Boyhood friends Bill Yoder and Lynn Hostetler grew up near Kalona and became woodworking craftsmen who founded the company. They named their business after a small stream in the area called Ramsey Creek. Yoder and Hostetler still run the company today with the help of partner Mike Springer.

Ramsey Creek Woodworks is located in the heart of Iowa’s historic Amish territory, where woodworkers pride themselves on meticulous attention to detail. These ideals are at the core of how Ramsey Creek Woodworks does business each and every day. The company builds cabinetry for nearly all rooms, including kitchens, bathrooms, offices and whole-wall entertainment centers. The business’ newest design is a handicappedaccessible cabinet, with cabinet doors that tuck back, with a retractable door that allows closer access to counters or sinks.

Tom Pickering, who works with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Iowa, nominated the company for the award. He says the business is quality- and customer-oriented. “They are good, honest people with good, solid ideas who aren’t afraid to try new things,” said Pickering.

“From our perspective, small towns are built around small businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Dave Hochstetler of Hills Bank. “It’s the lifeblood of our…farm communities.”

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative that supports new and existing businesses through business education, mentoring and financial resources. RRI will oer a business success seminar at the Iowa Farm Bureau Auditorium in West Des Moines on Nov. 2. The seminar features Curt Nelson, author and president of the Entrepreneurial Development Center. To learn more and register, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.

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