Handcrafted in the Heartland

Handcrafted in the Heartland

By Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

Schnebbe’s “Shop Local” Style Features Metal Art, Culinary Creations

Itsy Bitsy Spider” is a fun children’s song, but it’s quite the opposite with the colossal yard art at Randy and AJ Schnebbe’s farm near Victor.

“A field rock makes the body of the spider, and each leg weighs about 90 pounds,” says Randy, a farmer and owner of RS Welding Studio, which has gained a loyal following at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market and other venues.

While Randy can design larger than-life artwork, most of his creations fit easily in a garden. They range from whimsical ants and caterpillars made of rocks and iron to metal topiaries, trellises, benches and more.

An innovative entrepreneur with a creative spirit, Randy never intended to become a metal artist. He grew up on a farm near the Amana Colonies and studied farm operations at Iowa State University. After college, he moved to his grandmother’s farmstead near Victor, where he raised corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. By the early 1990s, he needed more income to support his “farming habit.”

Following a trip to a hay auction, Randy got connected with an Amish craftsman who made roll-top desks, dining room tables and other fine furniture. Randy started selling the furniture through Amish Creations, which he founded in 1993. “Then we found another Amish man who made lawn furniture, and that sold really well,” says Randy, who began offering these items at lawn and garden shows around Iowa.

Randy decided to expand his product line by selling Mexican yard art, but there was a problem. “It’s not high quality, and you’re lucky if you get three years out of it,” says Randy, who often had to weld and repair these items. “I told my wife, ‘I can do better.’”

Randy Schnebbe in his welding studio

Creating Home Décor and More

Around this time, Randy and his wife AJ attended a lawn and garden show in Cedar Rapids, where they met a vendor from Oklahoma who made yard art. While the man was a competitor, he showed Randy a few tricks of the trade and made some custom tools for him before he retired. “That was one of the best things that ever happened to us,” says Randy, who has been dubbed the “Grant Wood of yard art.”

Before long, Randy went from a full-time farmer to a part time farmer and metal artist. Through the years, he and AJ have developed an array of products, including bicycle-themed items, home décor, items with logos from Iowa universities, triangular metal Christmas trees and Christmas ornaments that can be customized with a wreath, ribbons and more at the point of purchase.

As the Schnebbe’s business has grown, so has their team, which includes part-time welders Emily Riedel and Haley Voigtman. Their craftsmanship has led to some custom projects, thanks to connections made at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market and other venues.

One of Randy’s designs (double eagles in a double circle) was sent to the Pentagon. Another one of Randy’s favorite projects, a 9.5- foot metal tree, evolved after the client saw his work at a national Pheasants Forever convention in Des Moines.

The tree is displayed in the lobby of Scag Power Equipment in Mayville, Wisconsin. “This company makes the ‘Cadillac’ of commercial lawn mowers,” Randy says. The employees commissioned Randy to build a huge metal legacy tree as a gift to the company’s owner. The tree’s leaves feature words like “kind,” “friendly” and “godly,” which describe the company’s owner. “It took nine months to complete this project,” says AJ, who handles marketing and more for RS Welding Studio.

Homegrown Grace, Got Dough Connect the Community

A willingness to try new things helps the Schnebbes adapt to changing times. In 2021, they debuted Homegrown Grace, a market at their farm.

Named after the couple’s collegeage daughter, Meredith Grace, Homegrown Grace was held on the second Saturday of each month from May through September. Up to 500 people attended each event, including 30 to 40 vendors, food trucks and more. “It was great to see all the smiles and hear people visiting,” Randy says.

Along with their metal art, the Schnebbe family sells their popular Got Dough products. In 2017, AJ developed this edible, chocolate-chunk cookie dough (which local “dough divas” package in the kitchen at the Victor city hall) after returning from a show where people waited in line for funnel cakes – the only snack available.

RS Welding has a variety of art pieces for every taste and style

Got Dough, which contains heat-treated flour and no eggs, has been a big hit as a fundraiser for 4-H clubs, high school show choirs and other organizations. “We like to help out local communities,” AJ says.

The Schnebbes appreciate the customers and employees who have helped RS Welding Studio and Got Dough to thrive. “When you support a small business, you’re supporting a family,” AJ says.

It’s hard to say where the family’s entrepreneurial spirit will take them next. Randy adds, “It’s unreal how this business has grown.”

Win a $100 gift card to RS Welding Studio to purchase a “Handcrafted in the Heartland” item. Visit iowafoodandfamily.com/magazine/rsweldingstudio and enter to win.