West Forty Market
John Ebensberger’s childhood was filled with countless special memories from growing up on his family farm. It was always his dream to live on a hobby farm of his own someday, and in 1999, he and his wife Sue made that dream a reality. It was very important to them that they raise their children on the farm, to learn about the value of hard work, and be an integral part of their local community.
John, a doctor by trade, and Sue, a devoted mother who spent many years dedicated to raising Teresa and Jason, also worked to help support John’s medical clinic. Their initial plan was to butcher a few cows each year, but they quickly realized there was a much bigger need. In 2013, they began offering single cuts and the business continued to flourish from there.
In 2019, John and Sue took ownership of the grocery store in Greene, which had been in operation in the community for over 50 years. The history of the grocery store dates back to 1970, which was owned by B&W Foods. They renamed it West Forty Market as their Hobby Farm acreage was 40 acres west of town, and began selling their chicken and beef at the store. West Forty Market in Greene is a full service grocery store that proudly carries West Forty meats, as well as produce, a deli meat and cheese counter, and a variety of frozen foods with a hometown feel.
In 2016, John and Sue’s daughter, Teresa started selling family farm favorites downtown at the Des Moines farmers market. She soon came to realize that there was a major demand for meat from the family farm, regularly selling out of the inventory she’d bring on any given Saturday. With a heart for people and a drive to support her local community, Teresa then decided to branch off on her own and along with her daughter, Matti, opened the West Forty Market in Ankeny, Iowa.
West Forty Market in Ankeny features over 120 cuts of beef, pork, chicken, bison, lamb and turkey; all raised on local Iowa farms and butchered in Iowa. They also feature an assortment of local products, including pasta, breads, rubs, sauces and honey.