When Danelle Myer rented a vacant storefront to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her operation, One Farm, she realized she could do more than sell her own seasonal produce there; she could also help bring new life to a building on Main Street in Logan, Iowa.
Danelle received such a positive response from the community that she decided to expand on her original idea and make things permanent by opening One Farm Market.
For the past five years, One Farm Market has been a year-round local foods store offering One Farm produce along with vegetables, fruits, and herbs from other growers. It also offers beef, pork, lamb, chicken, bison, and more, as well as dairy, eggs, honey, seasonings, breads and baked goods, pasta, and granola.
“Thus far, we are having a really great 2025,” Danelle said. “Our retail community in Logan has grown significantly over the past few years, and we are really synthesizing our efforts, events, and promotions this year. I think this type of collaboration will benefit all of us.”
Danelle started One Farm to grow and sell local produce to folks in her area with the intention of increasing access to healthy food and impacting public health. As her reach has grown, she has also been a vendor at and supporter of the Center for Rural Affairs’ Southwest Iowa Local Foods Summit for the past two years, as well as a presenter for the Center’s beginning farmer programs, speaking about topics such as marketing and sales.
She regularly opens her farm store to farmers and food businesses across southwest Iowa to help them expand their markets. Danelle has also opened her space to share information about community organizations and to host gatherings of farmers.
This year, Danelle was featured in the Center’s Rural Grocery Store tour and helped bring awareness to small and locally owned grocery stores and farm stores.
Because of Danelle’s commitment to community and support of local businesses and farmers, she has been chosen to receive the Center’s 2024 Rural Community Champion Award.
The award is bestowed upon a person or persons who work with the Center and make extraordinary contributions to building engagement within their own communities. People who receive this award provide a model for innovation, stewardship, or community development.
“Danelle has been an innovative, inclusive, and welcoming business owner in her community and shares her knowledge and experience with others,” said Cait Caughey, senior beginning farmer and market associate with the Center. “She is a champion for rural health, rural entrepreneurship, and women in business and leadership, and cares deeply about the health and well-being of her community. She supports, inspires, and helps promote other local businesses through One Farm Market, including an emphasis on women-owned businesses.”
Some of the businesses and locally sourced items Danelle showcases include staple grocery items like beef and pork from Rosmann Family Farms of Harlan, eggs from Muxfeldt Family Farm of Woodbine, and milk from Picket Fence Creamery of Woodward, all in Iowa.
Most items in Danelle’s store are from southwest Iowa or the Omaha metro area. Her aim is to bring in homegrown, handmade, and local items, with a few products not from the area that have local connections. Wild-caught salmon and other fish from Alaska come from a small-scale family operation whose owner is originally from Des Moines. Danelle also places a large order each winter for organic citrus from the San Joaquin Valley of California. Her connection there is a friend who grew up on a citrus/olive ranch and now owns a distribution company that moves products for her family and other families.
Providing a place for makers and growers to showcase their hard work has been a driving force for Danelle.
“I think it's important that people with dreams and good ideas and passion have a platform that can help make their vision come to life,” she said. “I see One Farm Market as a ‘testing ground’ for people like this. I started a vegetable farm because I think it's important for all of us to feel connected to our food, whether we grow it ourselves or not. It's important to feel a connection with the things we use and consume—to know the story behind the item—and to know that great care went into creating that item or food because someone is sharing their passion with the world in a physical form.”
Receiving the Rural Community Champion Award has inspired Danelle to continue welcoming and supporting local businesses.
“Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I got the call,” she said. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by such a wide-reaching, effective, and creative organization like the Center. And, as I believe any small-business owner will tell you, sometimes you need a little something to lift your spirits and keep you going, and this meaningful award has definitely done that for me.”
Danelle was presented with the Rural Community Champion Award on June 21.
