Living Jewels

April 1, 2026

By Gretchen Westdal Centers

Iowa is known as a land of bountiful agriculture. The verdant soil and topography provide ample opportunity to tend to and harvest crops, care for livestock and live off the land. Iowa’s agricultural traditions are strong, and from that strength, innovation creates new opportunities. 

In the rolling hills near Amana, one Iowa farm raises something unexpected beneath the surface of mineral-rich ponds: living jewels, which are more commonly known as koi fish.

Kloubec Koi Farm is a designated Iowa Century Farm and a third-generation family-owned and operated business that has reimagined Midwestern agriculture. In 1981, Myron and Ellen Kloubec began building ponds and installing aeration systems. What began as game fish production evolved into a specialized ornamental koi operation that now ranks among the largest koi farms in the U.S.. The Kloubecs have dedicated their farm to perfecting the science of raising fish. 

From Common Carp to Living Art

Koi, or nishikigoi, are ornamental varieties of the common carp. These brightly colored and patterned fish are descendants of two different species of carp that originated in ancient China. It was the Japanese rice farmers in Niigata who eventually bred the carp to produce beautiful colors and patterns that contrast with their ponds. For centuries, Japanese breeders refined bloodlines to create fish that resemble living works of art.

Now, nearly six thousand miles away in Iowa fields, these storied fish that represent good luck and prosperity are bred to be enjoyed nationwide. 

While the well-known Go-Sanke varieties — Kohaku, Sanke and Showa — remain staples, they represent only part of the farm’s production. Kloubec Koi raises dozens of varieties, including Utsuri, Bekko, Ogon, Goshiki, Asagi, Shusui, Koromo, Ochiba Shigure, Butterfly (longfin) koi and more. All koi varieties carry Japanese names rich with symbolism. Some reference color, while others evoke imagery from nature, such as Ochiba Shigure, meaning “autumn leaves on the water.” In Iowa, those meaningful names now echo across earthen ponds in the heart of the Midwest.

Farming Fish in Iowa

On their 80-acre Amana property, the Kloubecs own and operate more than 50 outdoor earthen ponds along with multiple indoor koi houses that collectively provide approximately 300,000 gallons of under-roof growing space. These controlled systems allow for year-round availability, even during Iowa winters.

A delicate balance must be maintained for the fish to thrive. Water chemistry is monitored constantly. Oxygen levels, filtration and stocking density must remain precise to protect fish health.

Like on other farms, biosecurity and environmental stewardship are central to the Kloubec’s operation. Strict health protocols and quarantine systems safeguard both the farm and its customers. During harvest, pond water is retained within the farm by pumping it into adjacent ponds rather than allowing it to flow away. This preserves the valuable resource and reduces unnecessary discharge.

Farming fish in Iowa is distinctive, but the Kloubecs have long maintained that aquaculture is agriculture — with the added twist that their livestock live beneath the water’s surface.

Precision and Protection

For the fish to properly develop, it’s critical that each step of the process is done with precision and proper protection. Indoor spawning allows selective pairing and improved fertilization rates. Fry begin life protected indoors before transitioning to earthen grow-out ponds where natural plankton, sunlight, and mineral-rich clay enhance their development.

Kloubec Koi’s stock is certified KHV-free by USDA APHIS — a federal designation reflecting rigorous testing and strict biosecurity standards. This testing is done twice a year and ensures fish are virus free. In an industry where disease control is critical, this certification provides added assurance to customers nationwide. 

Coast-to-Coast Reach

Kloubec Koi supplies both wholesale and retail markets, serving garden centers, pond retailers, landscape professionals and individual koi hobbyists. Fish are sold and shipped coast to coast, allowing customers to source healthy, American-raised koi directly from an Iowa family farm.

Through its online platform, the farm offers year-round purchasing and professional overnight shipping, maintaining oversight of quality from breeding to delivery.

A Century Farm, Reimagined

Though koi may seem far removed from traditional row crops, Kloubec Koi Farm reflects the same principles that define Iowa agriculture: stewardship, careful breeding, long-term planning and family commitment. The Kloubecs honor their agricultural roots while advancing aquaculture innovation. In 2018, the farm received the Leadership in Industry Development Award from the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

“We’re proud to be an Iowa farm,” says Ellen Kloubec. “We just happen to raise our livestock a little differently.”

Today, vibrant flashes of red, white, black, gold and platinum glide through Iowa waters — living jewels raised by Midwest hands and shipped to ponds across America. 

Photos courtesy of Kloubec Koi Farm