The Yoder Family
Second and third generation weavers from their 76-acre Iowa farm
David & Rebecca Yoder
David and Rebecca Yoder have been married for over 27 years and are part of an extended family united by the craft of basket weaving. Their story is one of heritage, hard work, and the joy of working side by side.
David was born in Ohio, where basketmaking was a way of life for his family. Rebecca grew up in Minnesota and learned to weave at just 13 years old. Both families eventually settled in the Amish community along the Iowa-Missouri border, and it was there, while fishing as youngsters, that David and Rebecca first met.
Today, they make their home in the same house David’s father purchased when the family first moved to the community.
A Family Tradition
The Yoders are second and third generation weavers, carrying forward a tradition that connects past to present. Their five daughters, Lydiann, Barbara, Anna, Lana, and Mary, are growing up surrounded by the craft, just as David and Rebecca did.
Their deep ties to weaving have fostered a close-knit extended family. David’s brother Jacob and his wife Sarah live just down the road, and their children often join in the work. It is truly a family operation, with multiple generations creating baskets together.
Life on the Farm
The Yoders’ 76-acre farm is devoted mainly to hay, with horses, cows, and chickens adding to the daily chores. Their half-acre garden overflows with tomatoes, onions, beans, sweet corn, strawberries, and melons.
A typical day begins with breakfast, followed by milking cows and feeding the animals. Then it’s into the basket shop, where the family works Monday through Friday. Saturdays are for laundry and catching up on other household tasks.
They especially enjoy the mild days of spring and fall, when the air is gentle and the work feels just right.
Yoder Family Baskets
Every basket that leaves the Yoder workshop has been checked, rechecked, and held to a standard that doesn’t bend for convenience. The weave is tight, the finish is clean, and the handle sits exactly where it should.
A Family Tradition, Passed Down by Hand
David and Rebecca want every customer to feel the quality in their hands and the satisfaction of owning something made with care by a family working together, just as their parents and grandparents did.
Shop The Yoder Baskets
Handwoven by David, Rebecca, and their five daughters on their 76-acre Iowa farm.
Shop Yoder Baskets