Sister’s Homestyle Entrees of Humboldt received the Small Business of the Week Award from Sen. Joni Ernst, spotlighting rural entrepreneurship and community impact.
A Humboldt-area meal program is getting national-style attention, with a U.S.. senator spotlighting its work as part of a statewide campaign to lift up small businesses.. Sister’s Homestyle Entrees of Humboldt received the Small Business of the Week Award from U.S.. Senator Joni Ernst. bringing fresh visibility to a company described as serving people who may not be able to cook for themselves.
Ernst, who serves as Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, has made the award a recurring effort across Iowa. The approach is designed to recognize businesses in all 99 counties and also ensure each company is formally entered into the Congressional Record.
The award visit took place during Ernst’s Humboldt stop on May 8. She presented the honor in person to company owner Mary Catherine Ferry, surrounded by company employees and local well-wishers, turning the ceremony into a public acknowledgment of work carried out on the ground.
Ernst’s remarks emphasized how the business supports not only its immediate community but also others. including individuals who may struggle with access to groceries or meal preparation.. She tied the recognition to the idea that reliable prepared food can make a meaningful difference for residents who are elderly or who otherwise cannot cook their own meals.
The senator also pointed to the company’s employees as a key part of its success. In her presentation, she described the staff as forming the team behind the service, and said that is part of why she was proud to offer the award to Sister’s Homestyle Entrees.
Ernst added that she had visited the company before, when it was owned by Deb Davis. She said that at the time, the business stood out for the quality of its meals and for the wide territory it covers, suggesting a long-running footprint and an established service model.
Her comments placed the recognition within a broader view of Iowa’s economy, where small businesses are framed as essential building blocks. She described Iowa as made up largely of small businesses, particularly across rural areas, and said those enterprises help communities thrive.
The senator also highlighted the scale of small-business ownership in Iowa, noting that roughly 99 percent of businesses in the state are small businesses. That figure, cited during the Humboldt visit, helped contextualize why the award program is structured around county-by-county recognition.
For Sister’s Homestyle Entrees. the honor is more than a trophy; it reflects an ongoing effort to connect local service to wider public attention.. When a business that supports meal access is recognized at the federal level and recorded in the Congressional Record. it can elevate awareness of the everyday needs these companies address and the roles they play in rural life.
The timing of the award, delivered during a targeted on-the-ground visit, also underscores how such recognition can reinforce community relationships.. The presence of employees and well-wishers points to how these businesses often operate as local employers and community partners. not just providers.
As the program continues across Iowa’s counties. the Humboldt recognition serves as one example of how small-business advocacy is being used to put specific businesses and their service impacts in front of a broader audience.. For residents following the development, the full story was noted as appearing in this week’s Humboldt Independent issue.
Small Business of the Week Award Joni Ernst Sister’s Homestyle Entrees Humboldt Iowa Iowa small businesses Congressional Record