Farmers Hen House: Iowa’s Organic Egg Producer of the Week

In recognition of their hard work and success, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has chosen Farmers Hen House as her Small Business of the Week. Located in Washington County, Farmers Hen House is known for producing high-quality organic, free-range eggs that are beloved by consumers across the country.

The business began with just three partner farms in 1997 and has since expanded to work with over 90 farms while remaining active in the Kalona community. Entrepreneurs like those at Farmers Hen House are helping to maintain Iowa’s reputation as a national leader in egg production.

Eldon T. Miller started Farmers Hen House in 1997 by partnering with local Amish and Mennonite farms to produce organic eggs. He was a well-known figure in the organic farming community and founded the Organic Growers Group in 1995. Mark Miller took over the business in 2000, and today his son Ryan is the president of Farmers Hen House. Under Ryan’s leadership, new outreach efforts have been implemented, such as collaborating with culinary experts, creating The Scramble podcast, and writing a community blog. Additionally, Farmers Hen House donates over 12,000 eggs per week to Iowa food banks. This year marks their 27th business anniversary.

Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties throughout this Congress to highlight their contributions to the state’s economy and society