Our Story

Kim and I really wanted to have our farm work for us. All our adult lives we have had a farm. At first, we bred and raised American Quarter Horses, competing in local events and traveling doing team roping for many years. We always enjoyed being outdoors with the horses and raised a large garden.

We have always had a goal to see how many months we could go without having to go to the store to buy food. Eventually, we decided to slow down with our horses and thought about how much else the farm could do for us. Mark wanted to raise blackberries and blueberries. The berry journey began with roughly 400 of each.

Then Kim said they needed to raise strawberries, knowing they would be a hit. They contacted MU Extension and got in touch with Dave Brown and the Mid America Strawberry Growers Association, where the president mentored them for three years. That following year they planted strawberries and have not looked back since.

Today, Iron Gate Berry Farm grows 17,000 to 18,000 strawberry plants on one acre using an annual plasticulture system, plus blueberries—we have three varieties—and blackberries with two varieties available for picking. Every plant is tended by hand, and every visitor is welcomed like family.