BackRoads & Byways Junkin' Tour – Fall Edition
September 14, 2026
By Anna Toot, Wixted
Some of Iowa's most unique destinations aren't found along busy highways. They're tucked down gravel roads, nestled among rolling fields and built by families and entrepreneurs who have turned their passions into thriving local businesses.
Twice a year, shoppers in Warren and Madison County participate in the BackRoads & ByWays Junkin' Tour, a self-guided tour of local small businesses in the area. Since 2016, the tour has connected visitors to antique shops, vintage stores, farm stores, cafes, garden stores and more. Now, shops often considered "hidden gems" are finally receiving the moment they deserve.
"My goal is to promote these small rural businesses that don't get a lot of visibility and don't have the advertising and marketing resources that big businesses have," says Alyssa Griep, the promoter of BackRoads & Byways.
Among this year's featured stops are two Warren County businesses that showcase rural Iowa's spirit: Busy Bee Garden Center and Harvest Barn Marketplace.
From Family Farm to Fall Destination
In 1995, Pennsylvania natives Jeff and Amy Boyer left home with a few purebred Limousin cows and started their farm in Osceola. As farmers, they fell in love with Iowa because of its beautiful, rolling hills and opportunities for families. In 2001, they purchased and restored a 1930s barn, transforming it into Harvest Barn Marketplace, where they sold fresh produce and country-inspired gifts.
Over the years, the business has evolved far beyond a traditional farm market — they soon added a pumpkin patch, corn maze and other fall-themed activities. Then came homemade beef sticks — made with their own beef — hand-poured candles, natural raised meat products, local cheeses, homemade fudge, snack mixes and much more. During the fall, Harvest Barn runs Trixie's Feed Bunk Eatery, selling beef born and raised on their family farm.
One of Harvest Barn's most lucrative sellers is their holiday gift boxes. Curated with local meats, cheeses, and other goods, companies across Iowa use Harvest Barn to wish their employees, customers and clients well around the holidays. Outside of their retail venture, the Boyer Family owns and operates Boyer Family Farms, where they sustainably raise beef.
Harvest Barn has been part of the BackRoads and Byways Tour for several years and greatly appreciates the partnership.
"Usually that weekend is one of our biggest weekends at Harvest Barn, and we always try to post and promote the tour to encourage customers to come in," says Kaitlyn Boyer, the Boyer family's only daughter and the head of Harvest Barn's holiday gifting, wholesale and online businesses. "We are very thrilled to be a part of the tour."
Busy Bee Garden Center blossoms into a destination
A common theme for small business owners on the BackRoads and Byways Tour is turning their dreams into reality. Busy Bee Garden Center started as just that in 2008 and has grown into one of the area's busiest agritourism and event destinations.
Busy Bee owner Chelsey Soder studied commercial horticulture and bought a greenhouse after college from one of her professors, planning to use it to grow vegetables primarily for sale at local farmers' markets. She came from a family of beekeepers and planned to continue that legacy into the 4th generation, but she developed a severe allergy to bee stings and knew she needed to pivot her career goals.
Things started to fall into place when she noticed her floral products were selling better than produce. The garden center quickly became a reality. Every season, the business expanded, adding more greenhouses for annual bedding plants, tomatoes, peppers, vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, shrubs and more.
In 2015, Busy Bee moved to a 40,000 sq. ft. location north of Indianola and added another venture in 2019 — The Hive event space. She has continued to diversify, adding a coffee shop, cut flowers, farm animals and family-friendly attractions.
As the business has grown, Soder says it's where she always wanted it to be, and she plans to enjoy the seasons as they come.
"The Hive and Busy Bee have provided us with a great opportunity to showcase not only the garden center, but also the landscaping and plants, all to make a great space for people to get together," Soder says.
Soder also appreciates the partnership with the Backroads and Byways Tour and how it encourages new business growth.
"It's been a positive addition to what we are doing, and it's nice to share the experience with other local businesses. There are some younger businesses that I think it's important to showcase what they're doing and use the customer base to help reach out to everybody so we can spread the word about everything happening in Warren County," Soder says.
For both Busy Bee and Harvest Barn, participating in BackRoads & Byways isn't just about attracting customers. It's about being part of a broader network of small businesses that support one another and help visitors experience the best of rural Iowa.
The fall event is coming up on October 2nd -3rd, from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. each day. Learn more about the tour here and plan your visits here.
Photos courtesy of Harvest Barn and Busy Bee.