Tiefenthaler Quality Meats, located in Holstein, Iowa, got its start as a custom slaughterer of beef and pork and provider of fresh meats, and that still is a large and important part of the company's business. But thanks to the creativity of owners/operators John and Shelly Tiefenthaler, the state-inspected company draws customer from miles around to its retail store to try its No-Mess Chili Dogs and its raspberry-chipotle chicken breasts, to name just a couple of its more creative ideas.
John started in the business working for a local locker in 1981, right out of high school. The company itself had been around since 1942, and the company’s then-owner, Bob Bagenstos, taught him the ropes and eventually made him his partner. John acquired the business in 1991 and has grown it steadily since then. John and Shelly married in 1994 and moved the business to its current location in 2004.