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 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. 

“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.

Gary Fox of Fox Countertops says his staff has probably worked in 80% of Lake Panorama homes.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Gary Fox grew up in Panora and has lived in the area his entire life. He attended Panorama Schools but didn’t graduate. 

In 1997, at the age of 17, he was working a part-time summer job when he fell 70 feet off a grain bin in Panora. 

“The recovery process took more than a year and required surgery and lots of physical therapy,” Fox says. “I wasn’t exactly a model student anyway, so I had to work that much harder to make people understand I wasn’t a complete waste of a human being.”

Shortly after Fox turned 21, he took a job with Bertini Stone and Tile in Grimes. That was the beginning of a career that led to him founding Fox Countertops. 

“When I started in Grimes, it was a small business that was growing rapidly,” Fox says. “I started as a tile delivery guy and did that for a year and a half. Then Mark Bertini, the company owner, asked me to move into the countertop side of the business. I eventually took over management of that area, and later Mark trusted me to become the company’s general manager.” 

After 12 years as general manager, Fox says he needed a bigger challenge.

“I took a management position with a larger countertop company but didn’t like the corporate structure, so I decided it was time to start my own company,” he says. “We are a full-service countertop company. We template, fabricate and install granite, quartz, quartzite and marble. We also offer demolition and plumbing services, so we can remove old countertops, disconnect plumbing and reconnect the same day.” 

The business also sells sinks, faucets, pop-up outlets, wood butcherblock and Onyx shower bases and systems.

Fox Countertops opened for business with a showroom in Urbandale on April 1, 2017. Six years later, the company’s Omaha location opened April 1, 2023.

The business currently has 38 employees. Ten people work in sales, five are managers, nine handle templates and computer-aided design, and 14 employees handle installations and service.

Fox says he is heavily involved in the day-to-day processes of Fox Countertops.

“Whether its working with sales, helping with scheduling, helping figure out the difficult jobs and working with my managers to help with situations they may be facing, I’m there,” he says. “I also work with builders, remodelers, retail customers and dealers whenever issues arise to make sure they are getting the level of service they deserve.”

When asked about the territory Fox Countertops serves, Fox says there are no boundaries.

“We currently service all of Iowa and Nebraska, and we have ventured down to Lake of the Ozarks a few times,” he says. “We don’t necessarily have a set territory. If a customer wants to pay us to travel, we will go just about anywhere they want us.”

Fox says he and his employees spend a great deal of time at Lake Panorama. 

“Part of our success is due to Lake Panorama and the loyal customers we have there,” he says. “Throughout my entire career, I’ve probably worked in 80% of the homes there. We take great pride in servicing the entire Guthrie County area. More than half of our staff grew up in the area, and Guthrie County in general has been a major source of our growth.” 

Gary and his wife, Lori, live on a small acreage south of Panora. Their two children, Heidi, 11, and Hank, 9, attend Panorama Schools and are active in sports.

“I coach baseball and football and am on the Panora Park and Recreation Board,” Fox says. “I truly enjoy giving back to the community that helped raise me, whether it’s volunteering time or donating to special events in the community.”

Fox also has two older sons. Grant farms in the Yale area. Garret is currently the scheduling manager at Fox Countertops. Garret and his wife, Jadeyn, are the parents of Fox’s first grandchild, Merrit, who was born in April. 

Fox says the success of Fox Countertops can be traced to three things: a strong family, great employees and amazing customers. 

“I need to give a special thanks to my wife, Lori, for always being supportive throughout the process of building the business,” he says. “It hasn’t been easy — lots of extra hours and missed sleep and lots of stress at times — but she has been beside me through it all. 

“I also want to give special thanks to our employees. Without their dedication, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do every day. They truly care and that’s hard to find. We rely heavily on customer service so seeing all of the employees strive for that is great. We have a very low turnover rate because we work to create an environment that is fun, rewarding and satisfying.”

Ultimately, it is the customers of Fox Countertops who make the business a success. 

“One of the most rewarding things is working with the customers and seeing the satisfaction when we are done,” Fox says. “We love every single customer we work with. Whether it’s a small vanity or someone who builds 80 houses a year, we truly care about each and every one.”

The Des Moines Showroom is located at 10052 Justin Drive, Suite A, in Urbandale. The phone number is 515-410-1316. 

The Omaha Showroom is located at 11415 Centennial Road in La Vista, Nebraska. The phone number is 531-466-2526. 

For more information, visit www.foxcountertopsdsm.com.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Carolyn Wagner joined the Lake Panorama Association (LPA) staff in mid-February as the LPA accountant. Wagner replaces Danna Krambeer, who previously served in this position.

Wagner was born and raised in Bayard. She graduated from Coon Rapids-Bayard, then earned a four-year accounting degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. 

Her husband, Dave Wagner, is originally from Coon Rapids and works for AMVC in Audubon. The couple will have been married 33 years this summer. They have one son, two daughters and two grandchildren. 

The Wagners lived in Audubon for 22 years before moving to Guthrie County in May 2024. Their home is just north of Lake Panorama, located on a six-acre farm. 

“We now have animals for our grandkids,” Carolyn says. “We have chickens, goats, donkeys, turkeys and two dogs.” 

Wagner says they made the move from Audubon to the Panora area because it allows them to be more centrally located to where their children and grandchildren live. 

Their son Heath, his wife Megan and their granddaughter Annistyn, who is 8 years old, live in Audubon. Daughter Matracea, her fiancé Jonah and grandson Malakai, who is 4 years old, live in Ankeny. Daughter Cami and her fiancé Riley live in Knoxville.

“We plan on retiring here,” Carolyn says. “Someday we will buy a lot at the lake so we can enjoy the amenities.” 

Before joining the LPA staff, Wagner worked as an accountant at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center and the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon. 

“As with all positions at LPA, the job description only captures part of what we do,” John Rutledge, LPA general manager, says. “The accountant not only completes accounting tasks but also plays a key role in the general, day-to-day operation of the LPA office. We’re grateful to have Carolyn join our team and look forward to her success in this position.” 

Wagner’s first day on the job was Feb. 16. 

“So far, I’ve been trained mostly on daily and monthly tasks,” she says. “I still need to learn some tasks that are done quarterly, semiannually and annually. I can’t train very effectively without actually doing these tasks, so that’s the next step.” 

Why was Wagner interested in applying for the LPA accountant position?

“The complexity of the association interested me,” she says. “There are so many pieces of the LPA that all fit together like a puzzle. I’m loving it. Everyone is great and the atmosphere is wonderful. Plus, the view of the lake from my office window is nice.” 

 

Second-generation owner Eric Morris provides septic pumping, inspections and maintenance across central Iowa.

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Out of sight, out of mind. That well-known phrase could describe the relationship rural homeowners have with their septic tanks. Flush a bathroom stool and walk away with no thought about what happens next — unless gray water, or worse, starts to back-up in the basement. 

That’s when a panicked call is placed to Jensen Pumping Service, and Eric Morris arrives with a tanker truck to pump out a full septic tank. 

Jensen Pumping Service is part of a family-owned business that began in 1977. 

Frank Jensen was born in Audubon County. As an adult, he worked for Fairbanks Morse Co. installing weighing scales in Iowa and later worked at a steel plant in Des Moines. 

In 1969, Jensen started working for the city of Guthrie Center. In 1977, while still working for the city, he started Jensen Sanitation. In 1985, he left his city job to run the sanitation business full time. He also started a second business pumping septic tanks. 

Frank and his wife, Cheryl, settled into a home south of Guthrie Center, and raised two daughters there. Daughter Jenna started dating Eric Morris in 2005, and the couple married in 2007. 

“Jenna was pretty much involved in her dad’s business since she was born,” Eric says. “I got involved on a limited basis when we started dating to help out here and there, then became fully involved in 2010. Frank fought a long battle against cancer. He stepped away from the business in 2022 and passed away in June 2023.”

Eric and Jenna became the second generation to run both the sanitation and pumping businesses. On Jan. 1, 2021, R&S Waste Disposal became the new owners of the sanitation business. Jenna and Eric continued with the business for a while. 

“Neither of us works for the garbage company anymore,” Eric says. “Jenna now works for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Guthrie Center. I do the septic pumping full time, along with doing time-of-transfer inspections of septic systems when a property is sold.” 

The couple lives in Panora and have two children. Daughter Makayla and her husband Sean have a 6-year-old son and live in Adel. Son Keaton will turn 15 in July.

Morris says the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends a septic system be pumped every three to five years.

“Guthrie County has Lake Panorama residences on a four-year inspection schedule,” he says. “After an inspection is done, the county sanitarian makes a recommendation to the homeowner based on the findings. For fulltime residents, it’s a good idea to keep tanks cleaned out at least every four to five years. It is better to be proactive and do regular maintenance than to have an emergency on a weekend or holiday. Regular maintenance also can save the cost of backups and damage to finished basements.”

What happens once a septic system has been pumped? 

“We have a license with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to land-apply. We have a few different locations we use, where we have agreements with farmers,” Morris says.

Annual filter cleaning was recently added to the services Jensen Pumping offers.

“We clean filters every time we pump a tank, but these should be cleaned annually to prevent backups,” he says. “A septic tank serving a single-family home probably needs pumped every two to four years, so those filters don’t get cleaned annually. If the filter becomes clogged with sediment it will stop the liquid from going out of the tank. That leaves only one place for it to go — back into the home.”

Morris says homeowners can do this work themselves, but for those who don’t want to, the cost is $100 for the annual filter-cleaning service. 

Most regular customers of Jensen Pumping are in Guthrie, Dallas and Adair counties. 

“However, I have been as far south as Winterset and east to Des Moines,” Morris says. “I will travel where needed.”

Many of Morris’ customers are at Lake Panorama. The Jensen Pumping Facebook page is filled with photos he has taken of Lake Panorama views while pumping septic tanks. 

“One thing Lake Panorama homeowners should keep in mind is that when the spring embargo is on, the pumping truck is too heavy to be on the roads there,” Morris says. “Customers who know they will want their septic systems pumped in the spring will need to plan ahead.” 

The business includes two trucks. One is a back-up in case the main truck is down for some reason. There are no employees. 

“It is mainly just me running the truck and doing the inspections,” Morris says. “Our son helps me in the summer months, and Jenna helps if we get a weekend or after-hours call.”

When a customer calls, Morris quotes an estimated price.

“We have a base price, then things like difficulty and travel distance affect it. Most homes around Lake Panorama get done for the base price,” he says. “If I travel 45 minutes away, the price is higher.”

Morris says Jensen Pumping is unique because it’s not a business that he and Jenna had to purchase and then operate. 

“It is a business that Frank started in 1977 and built from the ground up and is still run by family today. We continue to work at building it up and expanding,” Morris says. “Frank said all customers should be treated as if they were our only customer. Work for them and treat them right. That’s what we continue to do today.” 

To reach Jensen Pumping Service, call or text Eric Morris at 641-757-0893, or email ejmenterprisesllc@gmail.com. n

 

Cacen Crandall and Jace Denham are teenage entrepreneurs who are eager to make money.  

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

It started with two 14-year-old friends who were eager to make money. Now these young entrepreneurs have a business that offers two services, one geared to summer months and one for winter. 

Cacen is the son of Damon and Chaille Crandall. Jace is the son of Brian and Jen Denham. Both families live at Lake Panorama. At the end of May, Cacen and Jace will finish their eighth-grade education at Panorama Schools. 

Last fall, they were talking about ways they could make money. Snow removal was one idea. Another was something Jace read about online — car detailing, which goes beyond a car wash to a deep cleaning of both the interior and exterior of a vehicle.

In late October, they put the word out they would be doing snow removal in the Lake Panorama community. A social media posting for Apex Shine Snow Removal included the image of a snowblower and a QR code to book their services. 

They had 10 customers for the winter, and frequent snow helped them make good money. They will offer snow removal again next winter and hope to expand their customer base.

Also, last October, they started detailing cars for family and friends. Some of the money they made moving snow was used to buy supplies and equipment for Apex Shine Mobile Detailing. The “mobile” in their business name means they come to their customers. Now they are making a push to find new customers. 

Business cards promote their business with QR codes for direct booking. They use social media to provide information about their business and a link to their website. 

When customers book an appointment online, they are contacted to confirm the appointment time and location. Then Cacen and Jace arrive with the needed cleaning products and equipment.

“The only thing we need the customer to provide is a water spigot so we can attach a garden hose,” Jace says. “We bring an air compressor, pressure washer, generator, vacuum and cleaning supplies.” 

Their business website lists seven service options. The Basic Detail is an interior cleaning that includes vacuuming, spray and wipe of all surfaces, windows and floor mats, and is priced at $80. The Super Detail is all those interior cleaning steps plus floor mat restoration and is $100. 

The Basic Exterior Detail includes washing and drying all exterior surfaces and costs $40. 

The Supreme Detail option combines interior and exterior cleaning and detailing and adds a few steps beyond the basics, such as floor mat restoration, steam cleaning and wheel and rim cleaning. The Supreme package starts at $135. The Ultimate Detail includes all the things already mentioned but is described as a “deep clean” for both the interior and exterior, at a base price of $160. 

Two other services are offered. One is the opportunity to schedule a monthly interior and exterior detail for vehicles. The other is a full cleaning and detail of golf carts. 

Two “add on” services also are available. Trim restoration involves using a special solvent to restore faded plastic trim to its original color and is a fee of $30 or more, depending on the amount of trim that needs attention. For those with pets that shed a lot, an additional fee of $50 or more may be added. 

“We have to charge a fee if there is a lot of pet hair, because it takes up a lot of our time and can be a hassle,” Cacen says. 

The time it takes to complete a detail job varies depending on the service chosen and the condition of the vehicle. An exterior detail can take one to two hours, while the Supreme and Ultimate detail packages can take three to five hours.

The final cost also depends on the service chosen and the size and condition of the vehicle. 

“When we get to the customer’s location, we will need to look at the vehicle,” Cacen says. “The size and condition will show us how long the job will take, and we’ll quote a final price before we start.”

Until school is out and athletic activities are over, the boys are available for bookings every day but Tuesday and Saturday. By the end of May, they will be offering mobile detailing seven days a week. 

While Lake Panorama is the primary target area for Apex Shine, Jace and Cacen say they hope to attract new customers from Panora, Yale and anywhere else in Guthrie County. 

Bookings can be made online at apexshine.designdetail.io. Or contact Cacen by texting 641-431-0821 or emailing cacencrandall@gmail.com.mailto:cacencrandall@gmail.com

 

Larry and Heather Isom’s journey to maple syrup production began with Larry’s father. 

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

Larry and Heather Isom have busy lives, but this time of year, they get even busier. That’s because for six to eight weeks each spring, they are taking the many steps needed to turn tree sap into maple syrup. 

The Isom family has lived in a home on Lake Panorama’s Burchfield Cove since 2005, when Larry was hired by Power Lift in Jefferson as director of engineering.

Their journey to maple syrup production began with Larry’s father. 

 

The beginnings

Larry’s parents, Roland and Laura Isom, lived in California, where Roland worked at a chemical processing plant. As the couple planned their retirement, they decided to move to Iowa. 

They purchased a house and large metal building on 13 acres along Highway 25 north of Guthrie Center near Springbrook State Park. One part of Roland Isom’s retirement plan was to make maple syrup. 

In 2010, Roland and Larry planted 1,200 sugar maple trees on the land where the previous owner had grazed cattle. 

“Dad said he wouldn’t live long enough to draw sap from those trees, but he wanted the next generation to be able to,” Larry says. “Only half of the trees survived. It was a dry fall, and we didn’t have a way to irrigate.” 

Another problem was the deer that came from wooded areas on all sides of the farm to take what they wanted.   

“If you look at an aerial map, you can see this is probably the worst place in Iowa for a tree farm,” Larry Isom jokes. “With the Springbrook wildlife area to the east and a church camp wildlife area to the west, the deer pressure is tremendous. Plus, the Middle Raccoon River runs along the south and east borders of the property, which sometimes floods a few acres.”

One good thing about the property, in Roland’s mind, was the huge silver maple trees that line the banks of the Middle Raccoon River. In 2011, he tapped some of those trees to draw sap, then learned the process to turn sap into syrup. For the next five years, he tapped the silver maples each spring and made maple syrup. 

Roland retired in 2017 and moved to the farm full-time, joining Laura who had already made the move. He passed away one year later. Larry and Heather purchased the farm from Laura, who still lives in the house. They committed themselves to carrying on the maple syrup family tradition while operating a productive tree farm. 

When conditions are right

Sap from any maple tree can be turned into maple syrup. Some people tap maples in the fall, others in the spring. 

“You can’t do both,” Heather Isom says. “We always tap in the spring. It’s best to have a hard freeze, then three to five days of temperatures above freezing. That helps the trees start to wake up. We keep our eyes on the 10-day forecast.” 

For a few years, the Isoms waited until Valentine’s Day to tap their silver maples. Now they tap as soon as they think conditions are right. This year, they tapped their first trees Jan. 27. Once it’s “go” time, they tap all the trees they plan to use as quickly as possible and start collecting sap. 

“When the ground is frozen, moisture is trapped in the tree roots,” Heather says. “As temperatures rise, the sap moves up into the tree during the day, and back down toward the ground at night. We want to catch the sap as it’s going up and down.” 

Trees must have a diameter of at least 12 inches at chest height for one tap. Larry Isom uses a drill to make a small hole in the tree. 

“Some people do more than just one tap in their trees,” he says. “We tried that, and it seemed we got just about as much sap whether we had one tap or more. We decided the result wasn’t worth the damage to the tree.” 

Isom spreads his taps out year to year, rotating around each tree. The hole from a year earlier still can be seen, so he drills the new year’s tap 4 inches to the right. After he has made a full circle around the tree, he will start a new circle 18 inches higher and follow the same pattern. 

A plastic tap is inserted into the hole and gently “tapped” in with a small rubber hammer. A tube is connected to the tap on one end and the lid of a five-gallon, food-grade bucket on the other end. Soon, sap is flowing into the bucket. 

Sap is collected any day the temperature is above freezing for 24 hours. Heather does most of the sap collection, which takes her about two hours. 

“It’s best to collect in the mornings when the sap is cold, for easier storage,” she says. “Sap has yeast in it and can turn cloudy if it gets too warm. We can’t store sap more than three days if temperatures exceed 50 degrees.”

 

Complicated steps

In general, 150 gallons of sap yields about three gallons of syrup. The steps between collecting sap and pouring maple syrup on a warm waffle are complicated, and precision is required. 

First, the Isoms run the sap through a series of paper filters, then through a reverse osmosis system. These steps reduce water content and remove impurities. The sap then is run through another filter before being placed in large pans on an outdoor, wood-fired cooker. 

The cooker stands in the middle of a three-wall enclosure. Larry Isom builds a fire in the bottom section of the cooker using wood he cuts, splits and stacks in a nearby shed. Once the cooker is hot, buckets of sap are poured in. 

“The wood fire is great,” Larry says. “I pour buckets of sap in as the water level drops. We ladle the sap from the back pan to the front, and eventually end up with about one-quarter inch of sap in the bottom of the front pan. That gets poured into a clean bucket and carried into the building for finishing and bottling.”  

“Maple tree sap generally has a sugar content of 1.5%,” Heather says. “We need to get the sugar content to about 66% before bottling.” 

The sap pulled from the cooker is filtered again before being poured into a large pan on a propane stove. While Larry manages the outside cooking, Heather handles getting the syrup to the right sugar content, then bottling it. 

“The first four years we bottled, we did it in the kitchen,” Heather says. “Since then, we’ve added new equipment that takes much of the guesswork out of the finishing and bottling. We learn something new every year.” 

Heather keeps a record book on all aspects of the sap-to-syrup operation, including how many days taps are in trees, temperature ranges for those days, and how many buckets of sap were collected. 

“The season for drawing sap ends when tree buds burst and flower,” she says. “Some years we’ve had trees tapped for 11 days, others for 45 days. It all depends on the weather, but 45 days is most common.”

The Isoms usually tap about 180 maple trees, then collect and cook enough sap to fill about 100 jars with maple syrup. 

“Some people blend all their syrup together so they have a consistent color in their bottles,” Heather says. “We bottle our syrup in batches as we have it ready. Syrup in bottles filled earlier in the season is lighter and has more vanilla undertones. Later in the season, the syrup is darker and more robust.”  

 

The family business

While the Isoms enjoy the maple syrup part of their family business, other aspects of the Isom Tree Farm are more profitable. In 2018, they planted additional sugar maple trees and a few other varieties. They have a tree spade, which is used to transplant large trees from the farm, plus move existing trees for customers. 

They purchase nursery trees each year for resale, which Larry will plant and stake for customers. 

Eight years ago, they planted 2,000 pine trees. Last year was their second season offering choose-and-cut Christmas trees from their fields. They also sold Balsam and Fraser pine trees, which don’t grow in Iowa. Heather creates and sells fresh green wreaths, porch and table pots, grave blankets and other items made from fresh greenery.   

Right now, Larry and Heather are busy making maple syrup. The Isom Tree Farm maple syrup is offered in three sizes and has a loyal following.   

“I usually just post on Facebook when the syrup is ready,” Heather says. “We have a regular list of family and friends who always want some, and we get new people every year. We always sell out pretty quickly.” 

 

Grandpa’s Tree

One of the huge silver maples the Isom family taps has been dubbed “Grandpa’s Tree.” 

“It’s on the southwest end of the property and gets the most sun,” Larry says. “It will produce five gallons of sap each day and is one of the trees Dad always tapped in the five years he was able to make maple syrup.” 

“Larry’s dad, Roland, got us hooked on making syrup. He started with tubes and orange juice jugs,” Heather says. “It’s been nine years doing it without him, and we have learned so much. It’s amazing what a love of trees does for the soul.”