Lance and Kelsey Barhite don’t just live in Iowa Falls—they call it home.
Lance was born and raised in Iowa Falls, and today he and Kelsey are raising their two sons, Harrison and Garrett, here. After spending time in Kelsey’s hometown, they returned when Lance had the opportunity to take over his family’s farm. They’ve now been back for about 12 years, building their family, businesses and lives in the community.
Farming is at the center of their lives. Lance farms the family ground and is preparing to transition the operation to 100% organic production. He also operates a manure and cover crop business, and the family has maintained a greenhouse operation over the years.
Kelsey has taken several paths within the community. She worked in real estate with Homestead Realty and later at Ellsworth Community College. Today, she works remotely as a Metabolic Health Coach, giving her the flexibility to homeschool their boys while remaining active locally.
The family is also deeply involved in their church and community. Lance teaches Sunday school, serves as president of the Strikers Soccer Club and coaches two teams. Kelsey serves on the church’s board of education and helps lead activities.
Their involvement isn’t simply about holding titles. It’s about showing up, volunteering and investing in the place they call home.
What Brought You to Iowa Falls?
For Lance, the answer starts with family.
He grew up in Iowa Falls and on the family farm. After college, he spent several years working for another farmer before receiving the opportunity to return home and take over his family’s operation.
That opportunity brought Lance and Kelsey back to Iowa Falls, where they’ve now spent about 12 years raising their boys, growing their businesses and becoming part of the community.
What Are Some of Your Favorite Things About Iowa Falls?
One of the things they value most about Iowa Falls is its people.
Lance says the community is full of people who genuinely care about the town and want to see it succeed.
“It’s got a lot of people that are trying really hard that love this town to make it something special,” he said.
Kelsey has enjoyed watching Iowa Falls grow and change over the years. She points to improvements around town, the parks, Riverbend Rally, thriving Main Street businesses and new businesses coming into the community. She also appreciates having resources like the library and Ellsworth Community College close by.
Some of her favorite parts of small-town life, though, are found in everyday interactions—running into familiar faces, people waving or stopping to talk, and being remembered by local businesses. It’s the feeling that you’re not just another customer or name in the community—you’re known.
Kelsey shared one example that captures that feeling:
“I walk into Fareway, and they know me by name. They ask where my children are if I’m not with my children. So, shout out to all of these businesses in town that truly love you. Like, who does that? Small towns! We’re very, very blessed.”
Returning to Iowa Falls also meant coming back to a community where Lance’s family already had deep roots. His parents were involved and well known, giving him an immediate connection when he returned.
Together, those people, places and everyday connections are what make Iowa Falls feel like home.
What Makes Iowa Falls a Great Place to Raise Children?
One of the biggest advantages of raising children in Iowa Falls is the opportunity for kids to be part of a community.
There are parks, sports, school activities and community organizations, giving kids plenty of ways to stay active and involved.
The Barhites also value the resources available in town. The library, for example, offers much more than books. Families can check out snowshoes, ice skates, pickleball and tennis equipment, bicycles, games and puzzles.
And then there are the parks.
“There are so many parks,” Kelsey said. “And they’re all well taken care of.”
Lance believes the benefits go beyond activities and amenities.
“It’s a small-town community where people actually know each other and can trust each other,” he said.
That familiarity matters as they raise their boys. They know their neighbors, recognize people around town and appreciate the independence their children can experience growing up in a smaller community.
“You’re not a stranger,” Lance said.
That may be one of the biggest benefits of all: children have places to go, activities to join and a community of people who know and care about them.
What Would You Tell Someone Considering a Move to Iowa Falls?
Kelsey points to one major advantage: you can find much of what you’re looking for without the cost of living that comes with a larger community.
From her experience in real estate, Iowa Falls offers a variety of housing options, including rentals, homes at different price points, newer homes and land for those who want to build.
“We have the rentals available,” Kelsey said. “We have, you know, the smaller price point, the mid price points, we have new, we have tons of land to build and all of the things.”
The value goes beyond the cost of a home. Lance says Iowa Falls offers many of the everyday conveniences people want while maintaining the affordability and feel of a small town.
“You’re talking about cost of living in Iowa Falls for the luxuries our small town has,” Lance said. “Hospital, grocery stores, Walmart… and an awesome Main Street.”
Location is another advantage. Residents can enjoy small-town life while still being within reach of larger communities for additional shopping, dining, entertainment and other opportunities.
Lance describes Iowa Falls as a kind of “bullseye,” surrounded by Mason City, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Ames and Fort Dodge.
That combination of affordability, everyday conveniences and central location allows families to enjoy the benefits of a smaller community without feeling far removed from everything else.
What Are You Most Excited About for the Future of Iowa Falls?
Growth is one of the things Lance and Kelsey are most excited to see.
For Lance, that includes growth in the school district and bringing more young people and families into the community.
“A growing school district would be nice to see,” he said. “So growth, not just in the city sense, but also in the youth… bringing more youth into our town would be awesome to see.”
That growth also connects to retaining the people who grow up here. As someone born and raised in Iowa Falls, Lance hopes young people will be proud to stay—or eventually come back home.
“Being born and raised, you want them to be proud to stay here,” he said.
Choosing Iowa Falls has become about far more than returning to a family farm. It’s about building a life in a community where they know their neighbors, their children have room to grow and their family has opportunities to contribute.
Through farming, raising their boys, coaching, volunteering and serving, the Barhites have found plenty of ways to put down roots and invest in the place they call home.
And after traveling and experiencing life beyond Iowa Falls, they continue to return to the same feeling: pride in where they’re from and gratitude for the community around them.
“We are proud to be from Iowa Falls,” Kelsey said.