BEST OF GUTHRIE COUNTY RESULTS!

Sep 10, 2026 | Feature

 

Brandi Rockwell of Old Soul Millennial, winner of Best Guthrie County Retail Store and runner-up for Best Customer Service.

 

More than 1,000 voters weighed in on 91 categories in this year’s annual poll.

By Rich Wicks | Lake Panorama Times 

Once again, it is time to unveil the results of our annual Best of Guthrie County poll.

Each year, we keep the results under wraps until our Best of Guthrie County event. This year’s event was held Sept. 9, meaning the results remained safely under lock and key — or, more accurately, sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnall’s front porch. (For our younger readers, that is a reference to a recurring gag on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” You are welcome to Google it.)

In all seriousness, we take steps to ensure our polling is conducted fairly, and we want the results to remain a secret until the night of our annual event. Before we get to the individual winners, however, here are a few broader facts about this year’s poll.

This is our third year conducting the Best of Guthrie County poll, and voter turnout once again exceeded expectations. The first year, 471 voters shared their opinions. Last year, that number climbed to 642. This year, an impressive 1,050 ballots were cast. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote.

Each year, we make a few changes to the poll. Some categories become more or less relevant, while new ones are added and others are retired. As in previous years, some categories featured runaway winners, while others were decided by a much narrower margin.

The format of the poll is intentional. Unlike many surveys that provide multiple-choice answers, the Best of Guthrie County poll asks voters to write in their own selections. We do not provide suggestions or preselected options. That gives voters the freedom to decide for themselves which person, business or organization deserves to be called the best.

We also intentionally leave the definition of “best” up to each voter. For example, if someone decides the best gas station is the one closest to home, then that is their definition of best. Who are we to argue with convenience?

And that brings us to another important point: It is what it is. That phrase may be overused these days — and sometimes it is used as a convenient cop-out — but it accurately describes the nature of this poll. The results are a snapshot in time. Most of the votes were cast in June and July. Since then, someone may have moved away, a business may have closed or circumstances may have changed. But if a person, business or organization received enough votes during the voting period, they earned a spot as a finalist. In other words, this is not a scientific survey. It has even been called a popularity contest. Fair enough. But, as we said earlier, it is what it is.

This year’s poll includes 91 categories. We make adjustments from year to year, and we welcome your feedback about categories you would like to see added, removed or changed in the future.

The poll also does not strictly adhere to the boundaries of Guthrie County. Communities such as Linden, Stuart, Casey and Adair are included, even though all or most of their municipalities actually lie outside the county.

Finally, the results below list the winners and runners-up. We do not announce which runner-up finished second or third. In a few categories, only one runner-up is listed because there was no third-place finisher.

So, without further ado, here are the winners and runners-up from the 2026 Best of Guthrie County poll. Congratulations to all of the finalists — and a special thank you to the 1,050 people who took the time to cast a ballot.

 

Best Guthrie County Nurse

Carrie Stein

Runners-up: Joci Berger, Stephanie Reinhart

 

Best Guthrie County Dentist

Larry Spray

Runners-up: Ames Cross, Daniel Nelson

 

Best Guthrie County Chiropractor

Bailey Schreiber 

Runners-up: Andy Allen, Josh Calmer

 

Best Guthrie County Eye Doctor

Cassie Martinson

Runner-up: Kyle Stalder

 

Best Guthrie County Veterinarian 

Abby Frels 

Runners-up: Tom Blair, William Frels

 

Best Guthrie County Pastor 

Father Ray Higgins 

Runners Up: Trevor Nunn, Jeremy Polland

 

Best Guthrie County Health Club/Gym

Guthrie County Hospital Fitness Center

Kandi Meinecke, B&B Marketplace, Winner of Best Guthrie County Boutique and Best Guthrie County Place to Purchase Gifts for Her; runner-up in Best Guthrie County Retail Store, Best Guthrie County Coffee Shop and Best Guthrie County Florist.

Runners-up: Active Health Solutions, Reshape Fitness Studio

 

Best Guthrie County Boutique

B&B Marketplace 

Runners-up: Pearls & Lace Boutique LLC, Tribe Boutique LLC

 

Best Guthrie County Retail Store

Old Soul Millennial 

Runners-up: B&B Marketplace, Dowd Drug

 

Best Guthrie County School District

Panorama

Runners-up: ACGC, West Central Valley

 

Best Guthrie County Park

Springbrook State Park

Runners-up: Michael Mills Memorial Park (Panora), Mitchell Park (Guthrie Center)

 

Best Guthrie County Place for Pizza

The Lake Panorama Pizzeria

Runners-up: Casey’s, Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

 

Best Guthrie County Parent/Child Date Spot

Pedal-In 

Runners-up: Casey Creamery, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Bank

Guthrie County State Bank

Runners-up: Farmers State Bank of Yale, Peoples Bank

 

Best Guthrie County Hair Salon

HairJesser 

Runners-up: The Color Nook, Main Street Hair Design

 

Best Guthrie County Doctor (person)

Josh Strehle

Runners-up: Steven Bascom, Cody Silker

 

Best Guthrie County Farmers Market

Panora

Runners-up: Guthrie Center, Stuart

 

Best Guthrie County Farmers Market Vendor

MJ’s Bakery

Runners-up: Toasted Bakery, Tripple Berry Farm

 

Best Guthrie County Place for a Field Trip

Springbrook State Park

Runners-up: Early Morning Harvest, Guthrie County Historical Village 

 

Best Guthrie County Community Festival

Panorama Days

Runners-up: Guthrie County Fair, Yale 4th of July

 

Best Guthrie County Teacher

Maddyson McAtee (WCV)

Runners-up: Bob Bolton (ACGC), Cameron Little (Panorama)

 

Best Guthrie County Coach

Cody Matthewson (ACGC)

Runners-up: Cooper Anderson (Panorama), Josh Beardsley (Panorama) 

 

Best Guthrie County Church 

Panora United Methodist

Runners-up: Faith Bible Church, Lutheran Church of Hope

 

Best Guthrie County Spot for Dessert

M&L Ice Cream

Runners-up: Café on the Hill, Casey Creamery

 

Best Guthrie County Spot for Breakfast

Café on the Hill

Runners-up: Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts, The Sunny Spoon

 

Best Guthrie County Spot for Lunch

Café on the Hill

Runners-up: Prime Time Restaurant, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Spot for Dinner

Prime Time Restaurant

Runners-up: Pioneers Pub & Grub, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Ice Cream Place

M&L Ice Cream

Runners-up: Casey Creamery, Pedal-In

 

Best Guthrie County Daycare

Little Panther Daycare & Preschool

Runners-up: Little Charger Early Learning Center, Panorama Daycare Center

 

Best Guthrie County Library

Panora Public Library

Runners-up: Mary J Barnett Memorial Library, Stuart Public Library

 

Best Guthrie County Chamber of Commerce

Panora Chamber of Commerce

Runners-up: Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce, Stuart Chamber of Commerce

 

Best Guthrie County place to camp

Springbrook State Park

Runners-up: Lenon Mill Park, Nations Bridge County Park

 

Best Guthrie County Photographer

Betty Cooper Photography

Runners-up: Ada Schauer Photography, Rachelle Little/Serenity & Bliss Photography

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Take Mom & Dad

Prime Time Restaurant 

Runners-up: Café on the Hill, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Hold an Event

Guthrie County Fairgrounds Event Center

Runners-up: Guthrie Activity Center, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Car Wash

All Seasons Car Wash, Panora

Runners-up: Stuart Car Wash, The Washing Machine, Guthrie Center

 

Best Guthrie County Barge Service

Lake Panorama Barge Services

Runners-up: Deluxe Docks & Lifts, Van Houten Barge Service

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Take Kids or Grandkids

Guthrie Center Aquatic Complex

Runners-up: Guthrie County Fair, Springbrook State Park

 

Best Guthrie County Auto Service Center

Panorama Tire

Runners-up: Leonard Automotive LLC, M&L Service

 

Best Guthrie County Auto Parts Store

Panora Auto Parts (NAPA)

 Runners-up: Guthrie NAPA Automotive, NAPA Auto Parts Stuart

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Purchase Gifts for Her

B&B Marketplace

Runners-up: Dowd Drug, Tribe Boutique LLC

 

Best Guthrie County Vehicle Detailing Business

Detailers Eye, Panora

Runners-up: Collision Concepts Inc. Bagley, Revive Mobile Detailing, Panora

 

Best Guthrie County Realtor (person)

Dee Powell

Staff members at The Captain’s Pick include Cass Richards, Jen Jensen, Sydney Parks, Sam Menjivar, Natalie Dinkla and Ashley Hummel. The Captain’s Pick was voted Winner of Best Guthrie County Bar, Coldest Beer in Guthrie County, Best Guthrie County First Date Spot and Best Guthrie County Happy Hour. The Captain’s Pick was also runner-up in seven categories.

Runners-up: Laura Kemble, Kane Powell

 

Best Guthrie County Bar

The Captain’s Pick

Runners-up: Owl’s Nest, Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

 

Best Guthrie County Bowling Alley

IncrediBowl

Runner-up: Stuart Bowl

 

Best Guthrie County Place for Guests to Stay

Lake Panorama National Resort 

Kristin Rumelhart, Crafty’s Coffee and Gifts, winner of Best Guthrie County Coffee Shop and runner-up as Best Guthrie County Spot for Breakfast.

Runners-up: Brick Street Loft Casey, Midway Motel Guthrie Center

 

Best Guthrie County Coffee Shop

Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts

Runners-up: B&B Marketplace, Ruthie’s Coffee House

 

Best Guthrie County Florist

Panorama Gardens

Runners-up: B&B Marketplace, Stuart Flowers & Gifts

 

Best Guthrie County Nonprofit

Tori’s Angels

Runners-up: 10 Squared Men, Timber Creek

 

Best Guthrie County Landscaping Company

Lakeside Landscaping LLC 

Runners-up: Hackfort Landscaping LLC, Leiferman Outdoor Services

 

Best Guthrie County CPA (person)

Lisa Calvert

Runners-up: Janet Dickson, Sarah Langgaard

 

Best Guthrie County Insurance Agent (person)

Chris Arganbright

Runners-up: Robert Carr, Connie Sloss

 

Best Guthrie County Pharmacy

Dowd Drug

Runners-up: Medicap Pharmacy, Wright Pharmacy

 

Best Guthrie County Volunteer

Steve Smith

Runners-up: Roger Dorr, JoAnn Johnson

 

Best Guthrie County Grocery Store

Hometown Foods Panora 

Runners-up: Hometown Foods Guthrie Center, Hometown Foods Stuart

 

Best Guthrie County Nursery or Garden Center

Panorama Gardens

Runners-up: Grandma Marie’s Greenhouse, Red Maple Greenhouse

 

Best Guthrie County Senior Living Facility

The New Homestead Guthrie Center

Runners-up: Community Care Center & The Willows (Stuart), The Lakeside Village (Panora) 

 

Best Guthrie County Home Builder

Donovan Construction LLC

Runners-up: JRL Builders, Laughery Construction, Kevin Laughery

 

Best Guthrie County Hardware Store

Lake Lumber

Runners-up: Bayard Building Supply, Tractor Supply

 

Best Guthrie County Home Improvement Contractor

Donovan Construction LLC

Runners-up: KHL Builders, Laughery Construction, Kevin Laughery

 

Best Guthrie County Plumber (business)

Doug’s Plumbing & Heating

Runners-up: J5 John Hutchins, Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric

 

Best Guthrie County Electrician (business)

Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric 

Runners-up: Berger Electric, Powell Electric

 

Best Guthrie County HVAC Company

Doug’s Plumbing & Heating

Runners-up: Controlled Environments, Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric

 

Best Guthrie County Lawn Care Business

Rhoades Lawn Services, Keaton Rhoades

Runners-up: S7 Residential Lawn & Snow Removal LLC, Schwingers Lawn
Care

 

Best Guthrie County Attorney or Law Firm

Eric Reinhart

Runners-up: Bump & Twillman LLC, Beverly Wild

 

Best Guthrie County Financial Planner

Dave Grove, Edward Jones, Panora

Runners-up: Brandt Gebel (Guthrie County State Bank), Melissa Loest (Edward Jones, Guthrie Center)

 

Best Guthrie County Pest Control Company

Cyclone Pest Management

Runners-up: Colin’s Pest Control, Paul’s Pest Control

 

Best Guthrie County Dog Boarding Facility

Mitzie Rue’s Canine Corral

Runner-up: Guthrie County Veterinary Services

 

Best Guthrie County Golf Course

Lake Panorama National Golf Course

Runners-up: Guthrie Center Golf Course, Panorama West Golf Course

 

Best Guthrie County Massage Therapist (person)

Jade Irlmeier

Runners-up: Brianna Beardsley, Erica Matthies

 

Best Guthrie County Esthetician (skin care professional)

Lexi Blakely

Runners-up: Amy Bassett, Courtney Claussen

 

Best Guthrie County Mexican Restaurant

Los Altos Mexican Restaurant (Panora)

Runners-up: Los Altos Mexican Restaurant (Stuart), Orchard Family Restaurant (Guthrie Center)

 

Coldest Beer in Guthrie County

The Captain’s Pick

Runners-up: Owl’s Nest, Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

 

Best Guthrie County Home Painter

Kunkle Painting

Runners-up: Deb Moylan, Jeremy Riggens Painting

 

Best Guthrie County Elected Official

Maggie Armstrong

Runners-up: Matt Harmann, Steve Smith

 

Best Guthrie County Employer

Guthrie County Hospital

Runners-up: Guthrie County State Bank, Panora Fiber

 

Best Guthrie County Real Estate Company

Lake Panorama Realty

Runners-up: Sunset Realty, Whitetail Properties Real Estate

 

Best Guthrie County Customer Service (overall)

HairJesser

Kile Jackson took first place in Best Guthrie County Local Band or Musician.

Runners-up: Lake Panorama Realty, Old Soul Millennial

 

Best Guthrie County Local Band or Musician

Kile Jackson 

Runners-up: Brick Imerman, Dale Menning & the Stardusters

 

Best Guthrie County Artist

Kelly Nielsen

Runners-up: Joy Hasbrouck, Ginger Lindstrom

 

Best Guthrie County Caterer

Café on the Hill

Runners-up: Brown Dog BBQ, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Unsung Hero

Dennis Flanery

Runners-up: Brandi Rockwell, Steve Smith

 

Best Guthrie County First Date Spot

The Captain’s Pick

Runners-up: Pioneers Pub & Grub, Prime Time Restaurant

 

Best Guthrie County Happy Hour

The Captain’s Pick

Runners-up: Owl’s Nest, Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

 

Best Guthrie County Bartender or Server

Max Monthei

Runners-up: Stacey Nelson, Kayla Nemmers

 

Best Guthrie County Wine Selection

Twin Vines

Runners-up: Local Liquor, The Captain’s Pick

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Take your Dog

Whispering Willows Dog Grooming

Runners-up: Lake Panorama Dog Park, Springbrook State Park

 

Best Guthrie County Place to Buy Meat

Guthrie County Quality Meats

Quintin and Tonya Storesund of Collision Concepts, winner of Best Guthrie County Collision Repair and runner-up of Best Guthrie County Vehicle Detailing Business.

Runners-up: Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker, Hometown Foods

 

Best Guthrie County Food Truck

The Bean Box

Runners-up: Backroads Grill, Deardorff Highland Cattle

 

Best Guthrie County Collision Repair

Collision Concepts Inc.

Duke Donovan and Ashley Drake, Whispering Willow Dog Grooming, winner of Best Guthrie County Place to Take your Dog and Best Guthrie County Dog Groomer.

Runners-up: Guthrie Auto Body, Hummel’s Auto Body

 

Best Guthrie County Dog Groomer

Ashley Drake, Whispering Willows Dog Grooming

Runner-up: Cindy Zieser, Pretty Paws

LIFELONG FRIENDS BUILD TRIBE BOUTIQUE ON FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNITY

Sep 10, 2026 | Business

Sarah Carstens and Chelsea Schwartz are shown inside their Panora store. Tribe offers a wide selection of women’s clothing, accessories, seasonal candles, gifts and other unique items.

 

Sarah Carstens and Chelsea Schwartz started with an online boutique before opening their Main Street store in Panora.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Tribe is a women’s clothing store at 130 West Main St. in Panora. The business is owned by Sarah Carstens and Chelsea Schwartz. 

“Our families have known each other for years. Our grandparents were friends first, so we’ve always been in each other’s lives one way or another,” Sarah said. “We grew up going to school together and dancing together for years; our friendship has truly been a lifelong one. We feel incredibly lucky to now share this journey as business partners.”

Sarah Carstens and Chelsea Schwartz stand at the Tribe checkout counter with two new gift items available for fall.

Sarah grew up just outside of Yale, while Chelsea was raised in Bagley. Both graduated from Panorama High School, then went on to Iowa State University. Sarah majored in communications, while Chelsea majored in elementary education. 

“I married my high school sweetheart, Jordan Carstens, and we’ve built our life here in the community we’ve always called home,” Sarah said.

Sarah and Jordan have two children. One is currently attending Iowa State University, and one is a senior at Panorama High School.

“I taught fourth grade for one year before marrying my husband, Ben Schwartz,” Chelsea said. “We briefly lived in Minnesota in his small hometown before moving to Iowa and building our home a couple miles west of Panora.”  

Chelsea and Ben have three children. The oldest is at Iowa Lakes Community College in Spencer. The others are a junior and a freshman at Panorama.

“It’s been awesome having our families grow up together in a community that has always meant so much to us,” Chelsea said. “We are constantly asked in the store if we are twin sisters. It happens so often that we’ve gotten to the point of just saying yes. While we may not be sisters by blood, we definitely consider ourselves sisters at heart.”

 

From online boutique to Main Street

Tribe got its start when Chelsea discovered an online clothing boutique that was looking for ambassadors to host pop-up shops. 

“As we gained experience, we realized how much we enjoyed the industry and began dreaming about creating something of our own, something that would give our small town another local shopping experience,” Sarah said. 

The name Tribe came naturally to the duo. 

“Our family has always been a tribe of its own, and we felt the name perfectly represented the close-knit, family-focused values behind our business,” Chelsa said. 

The pair formalized their partnership in December 2018 and launched a website in February 2019. 

The weekly Tribe Happy Hour, a live Facebook event each Wednesday at 5 p.m., got its start in 2021. This photo of Sarah Carstens and Chelsea Schwartz was taken during one of the first happy hour sessions at their storefront on Panora’s Main Street.

“At the beginning, we were operating as an online boutique while filling local orders and shipping to customers across the country,” Sarah said. “To give customers the opportunity to see, touch and try on our products in person, we began monthly pop-up shops at local businesses. These quickly became something our customers looked forward to, creating a fun and personal shopping experience we truly enjoyed.”

In February 2021, their current storefront in Panora became available. 

“We never imagined Tribe would have a brick-and-mortar location, but the timing felt right to make the business a more permanent part of the community,” Chelsea said. “We opened our doors that March and have loved every minute of being settled into our Main Street location.” 

Sarah said Tribe’s target audience is women of all ages who love fashion, enjoy expressing their personal style and want to feel good in what they wear. 

“We strive to create a fun shopping experience where customers can find something for every stage of life — from everyday casual looks and comfortable athleisure to trendy pieces for work, weekends, special occasions and everything in between,” she said. 

Tribe offers a wide selection of women’s clothing, including tops, sweaters, dresses, denim, bottoms, outerwear and seasonal styles. Accessories available include jewelry, handbags, shoes, sunglasses and hats. 

“In addition to apparel and accessories, we offer seasonal candles, gifts and other unique items,” Chelsea says. “Our goal is to provide affordable, on-trend merchandise while offering a personal shopping experience that keeps our customers excited to come back and see what’s new.”

 

Connecting with customers

The Tribe co-owners use an array of marketing techniques to help reach and keep their customers. 

The last Saturday of every month is Tribe Birthday Club, where anyone celebrating a birthday that month receives 30% off one item. 

On the first Monday of every month, a special object is hidden somewhere on the Tribe website. Online customers who find it receive a code for 20% off their next online order. 

There is a Tribe VIP group on Facebook that anyone is welcome to join. 

“It’s a great way for our customers to stay in the know about upcoming events, promotions and the latest happenings at Tribe,” Sarah said. “We also use the group to share sneak peeks and new arrivals as they hit the store, giving our VIP customers an inside look at what’s new. It’s another fun way to connect with our customers and keep our Tribe community growing.”

Another marketing tool is the Tribe Happy Hour, a live Facebook event held each Wednesday at 5 p.m.  

“If you tune in, you’re more than likely to see a friendly challenge between the two of us, a new drink recipe, and a short try-on session featuring our newest arrivals,” Chelsea said. “It has become a fun way for our customers to see what’s new, interact with us and get a little taste of the Tribe experience from wherever they are.”

Sarah said the Tribe Happy Hour concept started with early Facebook Live videos because customers loved the signature drinks the women created for their pop-up shops.  

“Tribe Happy Hour has become a signature part of our brand,” she said. “We even have a “Happy Hour” section on our website featuring all of the recipes we’ve created and enjoyed over the years. It’s another fun way we’ve been able to connect with our customers.”

 

Community support

The pair said their success comes down to their customers and the community that has supported them from day one. 

“Keeping a small boutique open for nearly eight years in a town the size of Panora is something we never take for granted,” Chelsea said. “We are incredibly grateful for the people who choose to shop local, tell their friends about us, interact with us online and continue to come back year after year.”

Both Sarah and Chelsea said their business has given them the flexibility to raise their families and show them the ins and outs of running a small business while still being present for their important events. 

“We are incredibly grateful Tribe has allowed us to build a business while still being there for the people who matter most to us,” Chelsea said. 

“We genuinely love what we do and strive to keep God and our faith as the focal point of our business and success,” Sarah said. “We have built Tribe around friendship, community and creating a place where people feel welcome. We feel fortunate to have built something that has become a part of our community, and we look forward to seeing where the next chapter takes us.”

Tribe is open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed Sunday and Monday. 

Daily updates, new arrivals and upcoming events are promoted on Facebook and Instagram. Customers can email sales@tribeclothingboutique.com or call 641-755-2026. The Tribe website is www.tribeclothingboutique.com.

TORI’S ANGELS HOLDS OPEN HOUSE AND RIBBON CUTTING

Sep 10, 2026 | News

ulie Dent-Zajicek, Patty Reeve, Jackie Wicks, M.J. Brown, JoAnn Alumbaugh, Dr. Terry Sprague and Kirby Klinge

By Rich Wicks | Lake Panorama Times

Tori’s Angels opened a downtown office in Panora at 110 East Main St. and celebrated Friday, Aug. 28 with an open house and official ribbon cutting. The office space is shared with BH Real Estate and Consulting.

Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres were served, and attendees were able to learn more about the organization.

Tori’s Angels began in 2010 with fundraisers to support the medical needs of a local girl, Tori Heckman. When there were leftover funds, the organization was formed to help other youth.

Tori’s Angels Administrative Assistant Ellen Betzer described how the organization functions and what type of situation qualifies.

“The child has to have a life-threatening illness, and they have to live here in the state of Iowa, and they have to have some type of medical insurance,” Betzer said. She added that once approved, Tori’s Angels can support the need until the child turns 19 years old.

“We can cover anything that’s not covered by insurance, that’s medically necessary for that life-threatening illness. So if there are doctor’s appointments that have a co-pay, or deductibles, things like that,” Betzer said. “We also cover the travel expenses and meals.”

Betzer shared a few numbers to provide scope on what Tori’s Angels has done.

“We recently approved our 208th child, and we currently have 147 that we’re actively supporting,” she said. We’ve paid out over $3 million in benefits to the families we’ve covered in the 16 years.”

Visit www.torisangels.org to learn more about the organization.www.torisangels.org

Tori’s Angels CEO and Chairman Julie Dent-Zajicek thanks those who attended and shares information about Tori’s Angels.

Patty and Ted Reeve

Ellen and Scott Betzer

Kathy and Kirby Klinge

Julie Dent-Zajicek and Lynn Zajicek

The official ribbon cutting was held for Tori’s Angels office space on Aug. 28.

Kirby Klinge, Julie Dent-Zajicek, Patty Reeve, Jackie Wicks, M.J. Brown, Tori Heckman, Ellen Betzer, JoAnn Alumbaugh, Dr. Terry Sprague and Lynn Zajicek

Tori’s Angels CEO and Chairman Julie Dent-Zajicek expresses her appreciation to BH Real Estate and Consulting for sharing office space with Tori’s Angels.

IOWA AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VISITS GUTHRIE COUNTY CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Sep 10, 2026 | News

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig asks a question about how small Christmas trees are shaped as they grow during his Aug. 24 visit to the Isom Tree Farm near Guthrie Center.

 

Mike Naig visits Isom Tree Farm, which is owned by Larry and Heather Isom, who have lived at Lake Panorama since 2005.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Each summer, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig takes time to visit a Christmas tree farm. This year’s visit was Aug. 24 at Isom Tree Farm north of Guthrie Center on Highway 25. 

“I love to visit Christmas tree farms in the summer to remind all of us this is the time of year when most of the work needs done,” Naig said. “Planting new trees, trimming and shaping existing trees, keeping trees watered and growing trees all happen in the summer heat.” 

Isom Tree Farm is owned by Larry and Heather Isom, who have lived at Lake Panorama since 2005.

The farm was started by Larry’s parents, Roland and Laura Isom. They lived in California but planned to retire in Iowa and wanted to operate a tree farm. In 2010, Roland and Larry planted 1,200 sugar maples on the farm, which includes 13 acres, a house and large metal shed.  

Clint Isom holds a frame filled with photos of his grandfather Roland Isom the first year he made maple syrup from sap drawn from trees on the farm.

Roland retired in 2017 and moved to the farm full-time, joining Laura who had already made the move. Roland died nine months after his retirement. Larry and Heather later purchased the farm from Laura, who still lives in the house. 

The farm visit started on the deck of Laura’s home, where Larry Isom shared the farm’s history with Naig and Iowa state Sen. Jesse Green.

One part of Roland Isom’s retirement plan was to make maple syrup from the sugar maples on the farm. The Isom family continues that annual tradition. 

Nine years ago, the Isoms planted their first Christmas trees. 

“It was always part of the plan to grow our own Christmas trees,” Larry said. “Christmas is an important holiday for our family.” 

The family planted 300 evergreens that first year. 

“About 30 of those survived,” Larry said. “We realized we had a lot to learn about growing Christmas trees. Now we have about 3,000 Christmas trees, and offer seven different varieties.” 

After that first year, the Isoms turned to the Iowa Christmas Tree Association where they found the information and mentoring they needed. Larry Isom has served on the association board for six years and is the current president. 

This is the third year the Isoms will be open for customers to choose and cut their own Christmas trees. Fresh green wreaths, porch and table pots and other holiday decorations also will be available. 

Christmas trees and other merchandise will be available starting Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 29. The farm also will be open a few weekends in December.  

Naig praised the Isoms for welcoming classroom students and others to visit their farm and learn about maple syrup production and Christmas trees. 

“What you’re doing here is agritourism,” he said. “We want more of this in Iowa. We want you to keep doing what you’re doing, and we want others to do this, too. You’re investing in a business that helps Iowa agriculture.” 

Naig talked about the Choose Iowa grant program, now in its third year. The program is designed to identify, evaluate and financially support programs and services that add value to agricultural products and support alternative marketing strategies. 

“Each year we’ve gotten grant requests totaling nearly $2.5 million, but we only have $500,000 available,” he said. “As we visit farms like this, we keep learning. We hear new ideas and see things that work well and create economic activity in rural Iowa. Perhaps we need to work with the Iowa Legislature to grow the Choose Iowa program.”

Naig is the 15th Iowa secretary of agriculture. He was first elected to the position in November 2018, re-elected in 2022 and now is running for a third term. Naig grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa, and graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, along with Iowa state Sen. Jesse Green, visited the Isom Tree Farm Aug. 24. From left, John and Vickie Silva, who are Heather Isom’s parents; Jesse Green; Mike Naig; Clint, Heather, Larry and Danica Isom; and Larry’s mother, Laura Isom.

A LITTLE RAIN CAN’T STOP THE PANORA FARMERS MARKET

Sep 10, 2026 | News

Abbey Road Hanson with Colorblind Press

By Shane Goodman | Lake Panorama Times

The Panora Farmers Market withstood a short thunderstorm on a recent Saturday morning, but the sun eventually broke through and allowed for another successful market. 

Drew Peer entertained the crowd.

Abbie Zager with Knead The Heart