Down Home Discount

Past blog posts have taken a look at different farmer’s markets I have attended.  In this post I am excited to share a story about a little different place to find farmer market items.  When I am in the Cody and Powell, Wyoming area, I always stop by to shop for great deals on foods and other items from Down Home Discount.

Down Home Discount in Powell, Wyoming offers a unique service to both local farmers and area consumers.  Staying within the local and state laws they provide a venue for goods to be available from producers in the surrounding area.  Keep reading to learn exactly what locally produced food you will find.

What: Down Home Discount
Where: 410 South Clarke Street
Powell, Wyoming
When: Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm
Saturday 8 am – 4:30 pm

This store opened in August of 2017 as a place to purchase name brand products at a reduced price.  While some products are out dated or dented, most of their merchandise is with in a use by date and with no damage at all. Use this link to read about purchasing items that are damaged or past the date. Since their purchase price is a fraction of what other stores in the area pay, they are able to pass these savings on to their customers.  Owned by a local family with 4 children, they understand the struggles of making ends meet and are excited to offer a lower priced option to the public.  A fun part of shopping here is the excitement of discovering what great deals are available each week. Along with groceries DHD also offers a variety of household wares, clothing, and personal hygiene items at a fraction of prices at other locations.

I enjoyed sharing in the opening of Down Home Discount located at 410 South Clark St. This store owned by the Ruckerts was about 3 to 4 years in the making.  After many conversations, meetings and plans it felt like a dream come true to finally have their store open.  As with most new business ventures, there were and are details to be figured out.

Meet the Owners

Both Brad and April grew up in the Midwest on a dirt road, but not the same one. Brad on a dairy and crop farm and April in a 5-acre woods that included many different animals including horses and goats. Now longtime residents of the Cody/Powell area, they have settled here to raise their own family of 4.  Often, on the trips back home they found enjoyment and value in the many discounted stores thriving in their hometown and surrounding area.  It was here the dream began to bring this shopping option to their neck of the woods in Wyoming.  I admire the fact that it was at least 4 years in the making.  The many steps and meetings as the researched this dream.  Tenacity is a character trait they both carry, although they may or may not realize its presence. 

I was scheduled to be on hand for the grand opening. However, a death in the family, left me with a decision to make and I choose to stay home for the funeral.  I enjoyed helping in the store when I did arrive in the first few weeks it opened

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Local Farmer’s Contributions

The Ruckert’s understand the importance of supporting local business and the health value of local produce and other foods.  Happily, Down Home Discount has made space in the store for local vendors to display their wares.  Along with finding great deals on groceries and other products you will find some of the same buying options as if you were attending a local farmer’s market.  Keep in mind these items are going to support local families and may not be discounted, but their value comes in the form of health and homemade/produced goods.

Local Baked goods
Local Dairy Products

Farm Fresh ice cream is one of the items available at the Powell store.

Mexican Cuisine
Local crafted Tamale after being purchased and then cooked at home.

Eggs are available. Look for other locally produced foods to be available when you visit Down Home Discount.

A New Location

New in 2019, Down Home Discount and it’s owners opened a new location in Cody, Wyoming about a 30 minute drive from Powell. This location is also a little less than an hour from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park making it a great place to stock up on supplies for your trip into the park.

What: Down Home Discount
Where: 2621 Big Horn Avenue
Cody, Wyoming
When: Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 6 pm
Saturday 9 am – 5 pm

This new location offers a different buying option. A percentage of merchandise can be purchased in bulk at an additional discount, on top of already low prices.  For example, 12 cans of baked beans for the price of 11 when prices are already lower.  Get together with your friends when shopping Down Home Discount in Cody and save even more. This new location brings a larger selection in clothing, shoes, health and beauty, and

Facts to remember: 

Both stores do not always carry the same merchandise from week to week.  It can be like opening a present and you find your self surprised with new items on a regular basis when shopping at Down Home Discount. Stay informed of the weekly deals and new products on Facebook: Down Home Discount on FB.

Attentions local farmers and producers:

Are you a local farmer and produce local food in the Cody, Wyoming or Powell area? Be sure to contact Down Home Discount to speak with them about offering your local produce in their store.

Local Farmer Markets

While in the process of promoting, marketing, and establishing the 3 rare chicken breeds raised here at CG Heartbeats Farm, I found the number of eggs produced greatly exceeded the eggs being sold.  Given the cost of feeding locally sourced Non-GMO and organic feed, the “chicken project” was costing as much as feeding 5 horses.  I knew I needed to find an outlet for the eggs. I struggled wanting to question the path I have chosen to incorporate a homestead lifestyle and still find away to earn an income.

It has been a journey these last 4 to 8 weeks from contacting local food banks to last Saturday when I turned a customer away because I had sold out of eggs. I have looked at different ways to market egg for consumption and learned of Indiana’s regulations for eggs sales. I looked into having signs printed to sell from the farm and selling to others who already had a customer base.  I found an answer in becoming a vendor at first one (Bremen Farmer’s Market)and now two (Nappanee Farm and Flea Market)local farmers markets.

A local farmers market provides a place to connect with customers who share a knowledge of the importance of eating fresh, locally sourced food and knowing just what goes into the food they are eating.  While buying from a vendor at a farmers market does not guarantee you are buying organic or non-GMO products, it does provide an opportunity to ask questions about the food you are buying.  Often there are various options to choose from depending on which vendor you choose to make your purchase.  Since I am already using eggs as an example, I will continue that line of thought.  Some vendors provide farm fresh eggs that are fed a commercial feed, and free ranging a certain number of hours a day. Others simply live in an outdoor pen with a chicken coop or shelter attached.  A third option might include birds that are fed specialty feeds such as whole foods, organic, soy free or non -GMO feeds. Any one or more of these husbandry practices may go into the eggs acquired at a farmers market. A wonderful aspect of a farmers market provides the opportunity to ask questions and decide exactly what aligns with your health and food consumption goals.

While a vendor at a farmers market, I truly like to hear someone say they own chickens and produce their own eggs.  I am encouraged to hear about others raising and producing their own food eggs, vegetables, meat and herbs, ect.

I am also happy to be able to produce local options for those who can not for various reasons and still find value in locally produced food. In my case, locally produced food that has little to no chemicals or hormones used in its production.

People

One of my favorite aspects of the farmers markets has been meeting new people, from vendors to customers and those who are enjoying the atmosphere. New found friends both on and off line give me a greater sense of community.

I have enjoyed having conversations with people from other states who were visiting family in town and local residents who have or still do own laying hens.  On occasion a person may be interested in learning about the different breeds that produce the eggs they are eating.  I have had fun connecting with people. I learn from their stories and sometimes share a part of mine.

Products

Every local farmers market delivers a special list of products depending in part on state regulations and exactly what local farms are producing in that area.  I have been to farmers markets in certain states to see whole milk being sold for human consumption while in other states that is not allowed.

Some local markets feature homemade crafts along with food and antiques and collectibles.  Sweet treats seem to be a big hit at almost all farmers markets.

 

Who doesn’t enjoy home baked  goodies such as cupcakes, decorated cookies, and macarons to name a few?

How they Work

Vendors, usually local, pay a fee to set up in a certain space.  Visiting a farmers market is a free event for those interested in purchasing products and checking out the sights.  One market in particular, Bremen Farmers Market, provides live music in the background as a you browse.

Farmers Markets seem to be gaining in popularity in many areas across the country. Often a quick online search either through a search engine or social media will display local farmer market info such as dates, location and time.  Many small towns across the country provide a farmers market on a given day of the week. Larger towns and cities may have a daily market and some places have them in different locations.  For those who patronize farmers markets, thank you for buying local. Did you know there are health benefits to eating local food? If you have not been to one, be sure to find one in your area.

When traveling I like to find local farmers markets to attend. Have you ever attended a Farmers Market either as a customer or as a vendor? Drop a comment below and share your experience.