GILLETTE -- After driving 540 miles overnight, Daryl and Paula Meendering greet their customers early Friday mornings with sleepy eyes but bright smiles.

The Meenderings leave their home in Hull, Iowa, to sell homegrown produce here at the Good Times parking lot. This isn't a one-time trip for the Meenderings, who own Rainbow Ridge Gardens, but an annual business venture consisting of 10 or 11 trips per year.

The Meenderings originally sold their produce in Sioux Falls, S.D., before the saturated market made it difficult to make a profit, Paula said. Since Daryl had two sisters in Rapid City, S.D., the Meenderings were familiar with western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming, and they thought residents would have a greater appreciation for fresh produce. In 2003, the Meenderings began their weekly trips to Gillette and surrounding communities.

"It's a good market because so many people have moved in," Paula said. "They're used to good produce, then they moved out to Gillette."

What became a trial run in 2003 turned into a weekly occurrence two years later. The Meenderings say their business has grown right along with Gillette.

Months of preparation

The work involved in selling produce 540 miles from home starts long before their first trip. In late winter or early spring, the Meenderings typically make a couple of trips to visit Daryl's sisters and set up locations to sell their produce in the summer. April and May are spent in the fields planting 16 acres of crops. Next year, Paula said they hope to plant a few more acres because of the increasing demand for their produce.

In early July, before weeds really get started, Paula said the family enjoys a little downtime. But once the corn is ready, they begin their weekly journey west. Mondays through Thursdays, the Meenderings fill two trucks and trailers with vegetables, then head out Thursday evenings. The Meenderings make the haul to Gillette in roughly 10 hours, including a quick stop to pick up melons in South Dakota.

"We try to pick things fresh and then drive all night, so we're very tired on Fridays," Paula said.

They set up one trailer in Gillette and typically another in Rapid City on Fridays. They spend Saturdays in such communities as Buffalo, Sheridan, Moorcroft and Newcastle, as well as Custer, S.D., and Spearfish, S.D.

Paula said they're considering selling produce in Buffalo and Sheridan on a more consistent basis next year because of growing demand.

Road warriors

This year the Meenderings committed to selling produce two days a week, whereas they used to set up shop on Fridays, then head home.

"When we drive all night, you've done two nights of driving back to back and it really wears you out," Paula said.

The Meenderings have been able to make their extended stays more enjoyable before beginning the harvesting process for the following week's trip. They've added a day or two to some of their trips this year to spend time sight seeing. Two weeks ago, Paula spent a couple of days in the Big Horn Mountains with extended family members.

"We like it out here, it's beautiful," Paula said.

That's not to say life on the road isn't without its difficulties.

Just last week their diesel truck broke down.

"Most of the time it's tire problems," Paula said. "This time our pickup blew up six miles east of Wall, [S.D.]"

Fortunately for them, the pickup was easily repaired and back in commission Saturday.

The Meenderings have also weathered high gas prices, drought, poor crop years and weak economies.

"We haven't raised prices in three years," Paula said. "We just don't go barreling down the interstate. We go about 60 and that helps the mileage, too."

While their business has stayed strong during the current national recession, the Meenderings' friends and neighbors in Iowa haven't been as fortunate.

"In our area we have a lot of layoffs with a lot of people out of jobs," Paula said.

Family commitment

The Meenderings' ability to sell produce in Wyoming and South Dakota is only possible because it is a family commitment.

"We get a lot of help from our kids," Paula said. "You have to be willing to work hard. It takes the whole family."

Their four children -- David, Jacquelyn, Carolyn and Eric -- all help on the farm and at the produce stands. David and Jacquelyn, who both live outside of the home, come back to help pick vegetables and prepare for the journey west, making trips as often as possible. Until school starts, the two younger children ride along to help and sometimes miss an occasional Friday in the classroom. Extended family members and friends sometimes join the effort on Fridays and Saturdays.

"We're very committed during this time of selling," Paula said.

Paula works as a part-time registered nurse and is passionate about planting and growing vegetables, and sharing them with others. She said this is the perfect kind of work for her family, which receives a large portion of its income from the produce it sells.

"Its been fun going out there," Paula said. "People are very appreciative and we appreciate the friendliness of the people out there."

Friday will be the last day the Meenderings will be in Gillette this year.