Ross Hoekstra State Farm celebrated a new chapter Thursday morning, holding a ribbon-cutting at its renovated downtown Sioux Center office.
The ceremony brought together Hoekstra’s family, staff, customers, local contractors, and representatives from several community organizations. For Hoekstra, the opening of the North Main Avenue location represents both the growth of a young business and another connection to the community where he was raised.
A Sioux Center Native Returns Downtown
The new location carries additional meaning for Hoekstra because of his lifelong connections to Sioux Center. He grew up near Children’s Park and attended Sioux Center Christian, Unity Christian and Northwestern College.
Hoekstra said mowing lawns for relatives, friends, and neighbors helped develop his entrepreneurial mindset. He later spent three years in Holland, Michigan, while attending seminary and went on to work in ministry—a calling he continues through funerals and pulpit supply.
After COVID, Hoekstra transitioned into HVAC sales and estimating and then financial advising. He eventually walked into Cindy and Kyle Van Wyhe’s State Farm office looking for a job and told them he wanted to own a business.
“They were at the tail end of their career, and they worked in State Farm, Cindy and Kyle Van Wyhe, for about 30, 31 years,” Hoekstra said. “They kind of laid out what I needed to do to earn my spot.”
State Farm ultimately made the decision to select Hoekstra as an agent. He originally anticipated working with the Van Wyhes for about five years, but they transitioned out after approximately a year and a half to two years.
Hoekstra joined Sioux Center’s existing State Farm office and began learning what he needed to do to become an agent. He initially anticipated working with the previous agents for about five years, but their retirement moved the transition forward more quickly.
Hoekstra became the local State Farm agent in 2025 and initially rented office space near Walmart while establishing the agency.
Transforming a Downtown Building
About a year to a year and a half into the business, Hoekstra received an opportunity to purchase the downtown property at 308 North Main Avenue.
He was drawn to the building’s character and downtown location, but its five-step entrance created accessibility concerns. Removing that obstacle became one of his highest priorities.
“My number one desire was to make this handicap accessible, for any customer we have,” Hoekstra said. “I was blessed to get a grant from the city. That helped fund a lot of the renovations.”
Ross Hoekstra State Farm was one of four downtown businesses that received assistance through Sioux Center’s one-time SCORE Grant Program. The program was created to encourage exterior restoration and revitalization projects during the Highway 75 reconstruction.
Hoekstra said the renovation relied on local contractors for architectural work, flooring, windows, railings and other improvements. The project created a zero-entry entrance and added an accessibility lift, which he said was its most expensive component.
While making the office more functional, Hoekstra wanted to preserve as much of the original building as possible. Its tall ceilings remain, and the office displays what once served as the front of the old meat locker in Sioux Center.
“How do you not love the front of the old meat market?” Hoekstra said. “That’s one of my favorite pieces.”
The office also includes a large piece by northwest Iowa artist John Vander Stelt depicting an earlier Sioux Center scene and its old water tower. Hoekstra said the artwork has added another connection between the renovated building and the changing downtown around it.
A renter is also renovating space in the back of the building for another business Hoekstra expects to open in the future.
Learning to Serve Through Difficult Circumstances
Hoekstra’s introduction to the human side of the insurance business came before he became the agency owner.
When flooding devastated Rock Valley and Hawarden, Hoekstra was still a team member and found himself handling hundreds of claims while the office’s agents were away.
“I was the only one in the office, and we had like two to three hundred claims,” Hoekstra said. “And so that’s where I really knew, like, this is—I want to, I want to take care of people.”
Hoekstra said some of those affected had coverage for their losses and some did not. Regardless of the outcome of a claim, he said residents whose lives had been uprooted still needed someone willing to assist them.
That experience helped shape the community-centered approach Hoekstra said he wanted to bring to his own agency.
National Recognition During First Year
The ribbon cutting also recognized the agency’s early success.
Hoekstra said State Farm evaluates approximately one thousand new agents using performance measures that include sales and helping customers, with the company recognizing its top 50. A regional State Farm representative put Hoekstra’s result into perspective.
“It’s a big deal across the nation. The coast down south, we’re in rural Midwest, Iowa, and Ross finished third in the nation as a first-year agent. So I just wanted to publicly, like, say that’s amazing and unheard of for the Midwest. So I just want to say congrats to you for doing that on behalf of State Farm.”
The representative presented Hoekstra with a personalized jersey and plaque commemorating the achievement.
Hoekstra said he had aimed even higher, but considers the recognition meaningful because of the people who helped the agency succeed. He credited his staff with handling much of its daily operations while he focuses on marketing, training and its future direction.
The agency has also worked to establish a presence by supporting local schools, athletics and community organizations. Representatives of many of those groups joined local contractors, banks and other supporters at Thursday’s celebration.
“I think it was really cool to have such a good showing, you know, for the open house or ribbon cutting,” Hoekstra said. “…All of them showed up because they’ve all played a piece in the story. And so that, that just means a lot.”
Hoekstra also expressed his appreciation for the employees who helped the young agency grow.
“Just a sincere thank you to my staff, Amanda, Julia and Bryce,” Hoekstra said. “They just do so much for our office to make it what it is to create a great customer experience. They’re all a great piece of the puzzle.”
Hoekstra also thanked his wife and family for supporting him through the long hours required to establish the agency and complete the renovation.
With the ribbon now cut, Hoekstra said he is grateful to be in a more visible and accessible downtown location—and thankful for the community that helped the agency reach it.
For more information on Ross Hoekstra, Agent, State Farm, visit the website or call 712-722-0806.
