Our Iowa magazine features local Cresco couple

CRESCO - The Our Iowa magazine focuses on beautiful landscapes from all over the state, and include “conversational” and “light hearted” articles submitted by Iowans. The magazine hosts contests, features fun topics, and shows off striking photos that draw the eye. In a recent publication from April and May of 2024, a native Cresco couple’s home was named  “The Prettiest Farm in Iowa”.

Roger and Elaine Kleve live on the northern edge of Cresco on a family farm. Originally bought in 1930 by Roger’s father, it was run as a dairy farm. Roger lived on the land his entire life, and when he met Elaine, he brought her back to his piece of heaven. 

The Kleve’s built a new house in 1974 to accomodate a growing family,  and with five children in tow, they grew corn, soybeans, and oats. They also put up around 6,000 to 8,000 small bales of hay during the summer, while operating a farrow-to-finish hog set up, and tended cattle. 

Now,  the farm is alive with beehives, vegetable gardens, and the happy hum of family. Although cattle are no longer part of the  equation, the Kleve’s still crop farm, and enjoy tending to their landscape.

With several outside buildings, including a shed from when Roger was a child, old farm machinery expertly placed as yard ornaments, it is easy to see why the Kleve’s family farm stood out to the Our Iowa magazine. An old twisted and knotted tree decorates the yard, next to a “Welcome to my Garden” sign, as the house stands proudly, basking in the  Iowa sun. 

Northeast Iowa is known for its beauty and bluffs, with tourist attractions including old mills, dams, and historic towns. Cresco, the largest town in Howard County, is also known for its rich history and expansive impact on people all over the world.