Proving Value in Iowa's Landscape
December 2, 2019
"You Don't Have to Leave the State to Recreate"
In 1997, at just 21 years old, Joel Bryan received a phone call that would change his life. His aunts and uncles, who took over for Joel's grandfather as the owners of the former Fun Valley Ski Area in his hometown of Montezuma, were calling with a huge opportunity. The family had recently purchased another ski area in Boone and wanted their nephew to run it.
After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in general studies, Joel always assumed he would end up working for John Deere, a place he could use his education and show his work ethic.
