Family Business Center to host a celebration at Big Grove Brewery in Des Moines

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Through the work of the University of Northern Iowa Family Business Center, Gov. Kim Reynolds has proclaimed June 23, 2025 as Family Business Day. 

“Family businesses are critical to the economic and cultural framework of communities across Iowa and contribute measurably to their vitality,” said Dan Beenken, director of the Family Business Center. “Approximately 59% of the private sector workforce are family-owned businesses and Iowa’s 84,900 farms are largely family-owned, which requires special care in succession and transition planning to ensure the survival of these firms and the communities that rely on them.”

The Family Business Center is the sole provider of its kind in the state and works with more than 200 families across all industries to ensure best business practices, facilitate networking, and provide educational resources and events.

One of those businesses is Fareway Grocery, a Johnston-based family business that is a Founding Partner of the Family Business Center.

“Fareway has enjoyed our relationship with UNI Family Business Center,” said Reynolds Cramer, president and CEO of Fareway. “Putting many family business owners around the same table to discuss the things that help businesses reach 25, 50, 75 and even 100 or more years is crucial. Fareway continues to focus on its succession planning efforts to ensure a smooth transition to future generations who will lead the nearly 11,000 employees that work at Fareway in Iowa.”

The Family Business Center will host an open house to members of multigenerational family-owned businesses at Big Grove Brewery in Des Moines on June 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. The event is free to attend. Register online.