Steve Becker always wanted to own his own farm. When the opportunity popped up to buy acreage near the intersection of Highway 22 and Sand Road, he took it.
The 54 acres he bought is now a 3-acre hops farm, with additional acres planted in alfalfa and fruit trees.
The alfalfa is marketable now, but it’s going to take a few years before the hops and fruit trees are producing in quantity. In other words, it’s a long-term investment.
Becker, the youngest of 12 children, grew up on a farm, land his family rented, near Ainsworth and farmed in partnership with his dad for seven years.
He moved to Iowa City in 1989, owned and managed several small businesses, including River City Auto Sales in Coralville. He is currently a Realtor with Lepic-Kroeger in Iowa City.