Van Meter Life

09/03/2026

Hey Van Meter! Don't forget to give us your input on what we should name our new trail!

With Phase 1 of our trail getting close to completion we would like some feedback from the community on what we should name our trail. One day this trail will connect all areas of Van Meter and beyond that it will connect us to our neighboring communities.

08/22/2026

This is where I get all of my pork products from! Yall need to check them out!!!

🌾 Welcome to Rolek Farm LLC! 🐖

We’re a small-batch family farm raising pasture-raised pork with pride, care, and a commitment to bringing quality pork to our local community.

From delicious bacon and pork chops to our variety of flavorful skinless brats, we’re proud to offer farm-fresh products you can feel good about serving your family. ❤️

https://rolek-farm-llc.square.site/

Thank you for supporting our family farm and local agriculture! We’d love to connect with our neighbors and share what we’re doing here at Rolek Farm.

📍 Rolek Farm LLC
🐷 Small Batch Family Farm
🌾 Pasture-Raised Pork
❤️ Local • Family • Quality

08/18/2026

Hey Van Meter!

Come join us tomorrow morning for the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new addition at the school. After the ceremony they will be offering tours.

08/13/2026

Hello Van Meter!

This last week it came to our attention that some of our flag subscribers received an email saying that their credit card had(or soon will) expire and asked them to add an updated credit card to their account.

Unfortunately, when people tried to do this they received some kind of error and were not able to make this update.

We have since fixed this issue so you should now be able to log into your account and update your payment information if needed.

Thank you for your patience as we worked on fixing this issue.

08/11/2026

Hey Van Meter! I don’t normally get excited about writing checks, but today I am! We are excited to announce that VMCDC dropped off a check to city hall for just under $17,500. This payment was for our share of the cost for the new sidewalks at the intersection of Hazel and Arlington as well as the new sidewalk by the high school softball field. We would like to thank the Van Meter Schools and the City of Van Meter for partnering with us for these projects!

Big ThankYou to everyone’s generosity over the years supporting VMCDC! Thanks to your donations and support we are now able to continue having these types of projects each summer for the foreseeable future!

If you would like to help decide what sidewalks and trails project we work on next, or to learn about the other exciting ideas we have planned please join us next Tuesday at Van Meter Health at 6:30 for our next quarterly meeting.

07/23/2026

Why “The Goose”? 🪿☕🍦

When we started thinking of a name for our ice cream and coffee shop, we wanted a name that represented more than just a place to grab a treat.

Geese are strong, confident, and loyal creatures. They do what they want with style. They travel together, protect one another, and understand the importance of community. They show up, support each other, and know that we’re stronger when we stick together.

That’s the heart behind The Goose — a place built around connection, community, and creating a welcoming spot where everyone feels like they belong.

We can’t wait to share coffee, ice cream, and plenty of memories with all of you. 🪿Come join the flock at the The Goose - Ice Cream & Coffee Shopon Friday July 24th at 3:00 p.m!🤍

07/22/2026

🪿 Meet the Family Behind The Goose - Ice Cream & Coffee Shop ☕🍦

We’re excited to introduce the Merkle family — the faces behind The Goose!

Rob and Nickie Merkle, along with their kids Rylie, Ellie, and Brodie, have called Van Meter home since 2015. Over the years, we’ve loved becoming part of this amazing community and watching our kids grow up here while being involved in activities like soccer and wrestling.

Now, we’re bringing something new to downtown Van Meter — a place where friends, families, and neighbors can gather to enjoy delicious ice cream, coffee, and good conversation.

The Goose is more than just an ice cream and coffee shop — it’s a place built by a local family for a community we love. We can’t wait to welcome you through our doors and share this adventure with you!

🪿☕🍦 Welcome to The Goose — Join us at our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Friday July 24th at 3:00 p.m!

07/16/2026

Hello Van Meter! More exciting news! The new trail along Richland Rd. Is moving along and should be completed in the next 30-60 days. Help Van Meter Parks and Rec come up with a name for this trail. Keep in mind the long term vision of this trail is for this to go throughout Van Meter.

Please fill out this form by July 26.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebyDTY5WDEJI9u9qMGwjlj6bHkXaxuuZWp0u4nyz_Vn8HTbg/viewform?

Help the City of Van Meter name its new trail system!

07/16/2026

Hey Van Meter! Lots of exciting stuff coming over the next several days, weeks, and months for our great town! Stay tuned!

As most of you probably know the city has acquired 415 Grant St. in Van Meter and is now accepting proposals for the purchase and redevleopment of this building.

We join the city in our excitement to see a new property owner and a new business in the space in the coming years! If you, or anyone you know wants to open a business in downtown Van Meter, and likes redeveloping properties please share this RFP with them.

https://vanmeteria.gov/wp-content/uploads/415-Grant-RFP-with-Inspection-Reports.pdf