YOU'RE INVITED!

Join Heartland Marketing Group in celebrating our anniversary: 40 and Fabulous

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 

4 to 7 pm CDT

Jake’s Club - upstairs in the Jacobsen Building 

Iowa State Fairgrounds – 3000 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa

We will be serving heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages as well as reminiscing with clients, vendors, family, and friends.

The State Fairgrounds will be busy with set up for World Pork Expo 2023 which begins June 7. Find Jake’s Club upstairs in the Jacobson Exhibition Building near the southwest corner of the grounds.

Dress is casual and the invitation is sincere! See you on June 6!

40 YEARS OF STORYTELLING AND COUNTING FOR HMG

Reflecting on 40 years of telling customers’ stories brings back sweet memories for the team at Heartland Marketing Group. We asked a few staff members past and present to reflect on their time with HMG as we continue celebrating being 40 and fabulous. Enjoy these recollections and look forward to Barb’s coming in July.

TEAM HMG PRESENT

Toby Becker

My favorite project with HMG was perhaps my first set of email designs. It set the tone and tenor of future projects. Everything went smoothly: I had a great chance to flex my creative muscles, finesse the designs to create exactly what the client wanted, work with the team in a concerted cooperate effort. To top it all off, I was able to focus on the creative aspects that I love and am best at. Ann and Barb focused on the client and writing side, Katie helped get me going, and the results were a team effort. I love it when a project shows off the best talents of each member!

Katie Ketelsen

The coolest experience for me was back in 2015 at the Freedom Summit involving King for Congress in Des Moines. I got to hear a lot of the upcoming presidential candidates speak. It was just a really neat experience to see a lot of them up close in that setting.

My favorite projects have probably come from the Ohio Pork Council and getting to work on pretty much everything from ground up with not a lot of restrictions on design including their magazine, Porkline, a couple of 20-foot backdrops, as well as their consumer newsletter.

Previously, we would look into a lot of unique promotional products for Novus such as a cheese board, copper mugs, and reusable ice cubes which was fun to research then see produced.

Ann Trimble-Ray

I’ve had so many opportunities thanks to my work at HMG! I was able to amble the backroads of New England visiting dairy farms and seeing a part of the country I wouldn’t have otherwise. Due to our work with political campaigns, I have met many of our state and national leaders, including Donald Trump before he became a candidate for the presidency. During several trips to our nation’s capital for clients, I fell in love with the city and all it represents in our lives. Thanks to Barb, one of those trips included a Washington National’s game and my love of baseball was rekindled. In one case, HMG worked our way out of a job when statewide four-lane US 20 was completed in Iowa while other clients, like Randy Broesder, have been part of my life for 35 years. I have made great friends, been involved in projects ranging from simple to elaborate, and earned the opportunity to keep the wheels turning for our team, our clients, and our mission to tell our customers’ stories.

Angela Weitzel

The SD Industries product catalog is one of my favorite projects to date. SDI is proud to be the premier manufacturer of stainless steel and mild steel hog equipment. Our client’s goal was to refresh the look of their product flyers and catalog. The new design emphasizes the innovative products they offer. They were thrilled with the end result. TeamHMG collaborated on other projects including pull-up banners, social media, and website updates.

PAST AND PRESENT WORK

TEAM HMG ALUMNI

Jen Hoagland

My fondest memories working as a graphic designer at HMG include helping clients reach their brand potential. It was always fulfilling to see a business transform and thrive after implementing our strategies and ideas. Knowing that I've played a role in their success was extremely rewarding. Collaborating with a team of talented individuals who share the same passion and dedication to our clients is truly inspiring. Their insights and perspectives have pushed me to think outside the box and allowed us to achieve even greater results. It was moments like those that made me grateful for the opportunity to work with such wonderful people.

Nancy Houska

Early’s Crossroads Days parades were fun with the HMG float/entry!

Working the biodiesel equity drive projects and the Protiva dairy testimonial books we put together were a couple of my favorite projects. I loved traveling the Midwest with co-workers for the biodiesel equity drive meetings!

Watching and helping choose the “vibe” (input for design, etc.) of the new HMG office was also fun, watching HMG thrive and grow!

Janelle Steele

I remember helping with spreadsheets of some sort in 1993 or so, in HMG’s original building on the corner of Main and Second Streets. I know I couldn’t drive yet when I was doing this. I always enjoyed working on the Farmeres Coop Association newsletter with Randy Broesder. He was great to work with and I enjoyed being able to go meet with him a couple of times at his location and visit about updates. 

Working on setting up meetings and locations for equity drive meetings in the biodiesel days was always a challenge along with getting meeting and marketing materials delivered on time. Novus was another client I remember with some fun, out-of-the-ordinary projects for meetings and conventions (the escalator clings for Minnesota Pork Congress) but also challenging.

Janine VanVark

Note: Janine was both a former staff member and customer of TeamHMG!

I have been fortunate in having the opportunity to work with HMG during my professional years in numerous agricultural roles.

The “Group” has always had a knack for making me shine and look like a rock star! I always approached them with challenging projects needing their special finishing touches with handouts, graphics, and most of all their writing skills and understanding of agriculture.



The most prized accomplishment with HMG occurred during the last two years. They assisted with the development and deployment of the Neil Dierks Scholarship for the National Pork Industry Foundation. HMG spent hours with me in fine tuning and constantly updating material for the Foundation’s success. Thank you HMG for taking my dream and giving me the tools to convert to a reality… the first two scholarships were awarded in March. 

Other team members from our roster include: Kelli Berg, Dawn Christiansen, LuAnn Cook, Marlys Engle, Kathy Feilmeier, Whitney Free, Deb Galvin, Abby McQuillen, Monica Nedved, Jill Nesheim, and Kelly Werner. Steve Determan remains our business manager.

Heartland Marketing Group began as Country Concepts when Barb and a partner launched an agency 40 years ago. LuAnn Cook was the company’s first part-time employee and Ann was its first full-time employee. When Barb bought her partner out and Heartland Marketing Group was formed, her mission and vision was to employ talented, local folks and serve clients in the agriculture realm. Employing a life-long dedication to the folks who produce the fiber, food, and fuel we all rely on has given Barb and her team enormous opportunities and success.

MEMORIAL DAY

Heartland Marketing Group joins with our customers and friends in recognition of Memorial Day honoring those who gave their all in defense of our great nation. We will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of this holiday.