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.

Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch

There are days my mind wonders to past days. As winter fades and the beauty of spring appears, amidst rainy days, I find myself craving a road trip. I might even be planning one depending on the year. Either way, along with my desire to travel my mind drifts to past trips and memories. I have been to a few areas enough that they are beginning to feel like my second home.

Nestled back on a mountainside only 3 miles from the east entrance of the Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone Guest Lodge welcomes anyone wanting to feel close to the rugged terraine and wildlife.  One of my nieces who at the time did not own a horse, informed over the phone that when I came to visit we were going to go on a trail ride at this lodge. This was how I came to visit the lodge one Sunday afternoon in August of 2017. 

The main building provided meals to guests and anyone else who made reservations.  My favorite part was the porch.  Several chairs gave a beautiful view of neighboring mountains and if you sat in the right spot you did not even see the road, only the campfire pit across the way and cabins that can be rented.

Always one to explore I soon went found my self inside checking out the interior. The dinning area and reception desk sat a level lower than the entertainment room.

Speaking of entertainment, my eye caught sight of a guitar and what was that? A fiddle! I had not been playing mine much for reasons I do not recall. I wonder if I would be allowed to play it?  I was terribly rusty, but how fun would it be to play a fiddle on the porch of this log lodge in the mountains of Wyoming?  Turns out my sister knew the lodge owners and the fiddle belonged to her.

After shooting a few pictures on the porch, we were informed it was time to ride.  Read all about the ride we took in the blog post dedicated to that experience titled: A Guided Trail Ride.

Returning from the grand adventure, my niece had fulfilled her dream, I carried the beauty of my first mountain ride, and even my Dad seemed happy with the experience.  On a mission now to meet the wife of our trail guide, I found her at the reception desk.  I learned we shared a common like for music, specifically fiddle playing, and writing, specifically blogging.  Instantly we found conversation abounded.  My sister shared the beauty of mother hood with our new acquaintance as their daughters enjoyed playing together.

We had a grand time getting to know  Lydia and learned that her and her husband had a couple businesses back home in their home state of Arkansas.  I recall the joy I felt learning this lovely young lady enjoyed blogging. At the time I had just started this website and it was fun to encounter another blogger. Her blog is titled: Letters and Lyrics

The longing to play that fiddle was still flirtling around in the back of my mind. I had to ask. Yes, I was assured I was welcome to play the fiddle.  A bit of tuning, and many minutes practicing, still rusty, I managed to play a tune rooted in my family history.  “I see the Moon”  The lyrics are posted to go with the video of my playing on the porch of Shoshone Guest Lodge. 

I see the moon,  The moon sees me,
Down through the boughs of the old oak tree,
Please let the moon that shines on me,
Shine on the one I love.

Over the mountain, Over the sea,
That’s where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me,
Shine on the one I love.

We needed to leave before the camp fire that night for the next morning I was headed back to Indiana after being gone for over 4 weeks.  I may return one day to embark on a longer adventure such as the pack trip that encompasses at least one night of sleeping under the stars. 

Hanging out sharing the peace and beauty

Be sure to check out the Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch located near the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Find them on Facebook: Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch

One of the views from the Lodge porch