Meet the Unruh Family
Iron Horse Farm Barbecue Sauce got its name from Dad’s (Darryl) love of the old ‘Iron Horse’. It’s hard to beat the sound of Iron Horses poppin/away as they turn the soil in the field. About as hard to beat as a sizzlin’ steak seasoned with Iron Horse Farm Steakmaker just off the grill and eaten with Iron Horse Farm Barbecue sauce – Original or Rassie!
Dad and Grandpa Alfred farmed together. Then, in the mid-eighties, Grandpa retired and Darryl and his sons, Dayl and Shelby, worked together on the farm. They started cleaning their own seed wheat at their shed in Galva and soon friends and neighbors were bringing theirs to be cleaned, too.
In 1991, they added on to the shed where they cleaned wheat and here Dayl still stays busy cleaning wheat. Also in 1991, Shelby started working for Unruh House Moving. Moving houses, barns or whatever people wanted moved to somewhere else. One of the latest moves was the original Pizza Hut on WSU campus!
Iron Horse Farm Barbecue Sauce was Created!
Somewhere in all of this, Dad and Dayl started selling Pioneer Seed, too. But mixed in with all the hard work, Dad still dreamed of finding the perfect sauce to compliment the meats he grilled. And so, he began his journey of making and perfecting that sauce! Mom (Karen) and Meri Kay and Gina helped as he stirred, cooked and tasted, trying to find the one that passed the test. Then, HE DID IT! He entered the sauce in a local contest and won 1st Place! So, now Mom, Meri and Gina were busy cooking sauce in bog roasters in the basement, then bottling the sauce in Mason quart jars. Friends and family now were able to enjoy it.
In January of 1994, paperwork was finalized and Iron Horse Farm Barbecue Sauce was available in stores. Dad had Unruh House Moving relocate a garage to his place. He remodeled it and purchased a big kettle to cook sauce in. And so the house no longer smelled of Barbecue sauce. Iron Horse Barbecue Sauce is still cooked, bottled and labeled in the remodeled garage. Folks also came up with a Steak-and-Chop seasoning to season meat. It’s also good sprinkled on fried potatoes, eggs or any kind of veggie.
Barbecue Sauce Lives On
Over time, Meri and Gina both married and the Folks stayed busy making sauce. The grandchildren helped some if they needed help. Then came the time when mom fell and severely broke her leg. Shelby and some of his children helped Dad with sauce making. In 2014, the folks were wanting to slow down and enjoy life more. Shelby and Raelene and their four children have taken over making the sauce. So, pick up some Iron Horse Farms Barbecue sauce – Original or Rassie – and sprinkle some Steak -n- Chop seasoning when cooking or grilling. Your taste buds will thank you!
