The Card Farmers Bring Hobby Shop Tradition to Rural Iowa

The Story of a Unique Hobby Destination

Local card shops and Midwest farms may not seem like they have much in common, but that didn’t stop Jonathan Rittgers and Cody Bunda from combining the two.

The story of The Card Farmers has created one of the most unique Hobby destinations in the country. In the small town of Pocahontas, Iowa (population: 1,800), the two friends and business partners are both carrying on traditions and bringing new experiences to their community. Cody and his dad have been farming together since 2006, and their family has been in the business since the 1940s. Jonathan’s family farm is almost 100 years old.

That history gives a truly unique backdrop to the pair’s current Hobby shop business, which was featured in a recent episode of House of Hobby. “We bite off more than we can chew and then we just figure out a way to chew it,” Rittgers said. “That’s the farming mentality. You buckle up and get it done.”

Staying true to the tradition and values of farming and family business, Rittgers and Bunda hoped to continue embracing new ventures. “Our mentality’s always been big city possibilities in a small town,” Rittgers explained. “Sure, we’re a small town, but we can bring a lot of opportunity to the kids around here. Some of this stuff wasn’t available when we were kids.”

Indeed, one of the inspirations for the hobby shop was their own baseball training facility 90TEN Athletics, also in Pocahontas. “We own a hitting and pitching facility,” Rittgers said. “We do lessons out there, a place for players to train. It’s about creating opportunities.”

Here at Topps RIPPED, we were lucky to sit down with Cody and Jonathan to learn more about the story of the shop, the town, and the juggling act of running a farm, a card shop, and more.

---

How Two Farmers Built a Card Shop

RIPPED: What was the inspiration for opening this unique shop?

Cody Bunda (Co-Owner, 90TEN Hobby/The Card Farmers): “My son, I think he was maybe in fourth grade at the time, Blake. He asked me, ‘Hey, Dad, can we buy some basketball cards?’ At the time, we were selling baseball bats and stuff like that, had a lot of overhead. I thought, maybe we can add baseball cards to this.

“They kind of all correlate together a little bit with the sports side, so little by little we started applying for different distributors, and here we are.

“We have been operating since 2020 but have been in our current location for three years roughly. We’re in rural Iowa, but as Kevin Costner said ‘If you build it, they will come.’ The closeness of the community and agriculture background make The Card Farmers what it is to this day.”

RIPPED: Where did the name come from?

Bunda: “The Card Farmers just kind of came to us. I mean, we farm, and we sell cards.”

RIPPED: What do customers experience when they walk through the door?

Jonathan Rittgers (Co-Owner, 90TEN Hobby/The Card Farmers): “People open the door and their eyes kind of light up. I think they just see what we’ve built here and our vision. As well, it’s about our investment in the community. It’s unique. I’m proud of what we’ve developed and built here and what our clients see when they walk in the door.”

Bunda: “When we were designing our new shop, we wanted something that was different that tied into our vision of being farmers and collectors.  So you will see kernels of corn and soybeans as our price tags. Instead of carpet or wood flooring we went with all turf.  We take pride in having it very organized with tons of inventory for any collector. 

“We are located in Pocahontas, which is a very small community in rural Iowa. You can expect to be greeted with a smile as soon as you walk in the door, and you can expect a diamond in the hobby shop.”

RIPPED: What makes the experience different?

Rittgers: “We have people that drive from an hour, two hours away to kind of have the experience with us because they say our shop provides an environment. And, not to toot our own horn, it’s very welcoming. We make it a good environment for kids. We try and really cater to the kids because that’s the next generation. And, if you get the kids involved and they love being here, the parents are gonna come. “

RIPPED: How do you bring the farming side and the Hobby side together?

Rittgers: “The kids love big tractors and equipment. Sometimes we have events and will have a tractor here that the kids can go sit in. They’re vastly different worlds, but being able to bring the two together in a way is really cool.”

RIPPED: How does the experience of a life in farming inform the way you run your card business?

Rittgers: “The farming mentality is, help your neighbors and do the right thing. Your handshake means something. We translate that into the card business. When people deal with us, they know it’s genuine. Reputation is everything in this business. “

RIPPED: How do you juggle the balance of your multiple ventures?

Bunda: “We don’t punch a time clock. If we’re farming, you know, there’s some days, during planting time or harvest, we’re up at 6:00 in the morning and we’re getting home at 10:00 at night. But we have great employees, too. We have really good employees that are here when Jonathan and I can’t be here.

“But, yeah, like Jonathan said, it’s busy. Every day is different. There’s some days that we’re combining. There’s some days that we’re in here doing inventory.””

The Card Farmers Keep Community at the Heart

RIPPED: Why is it important to invest so much in your town?

Bunda: “You work so hard to build up a farm and then you want to pass it on to your kids. You want to leave everything, the community, your farm, in a better situation for the next generation. We take a lot of pride in the community and do as much as we can to give back and be a part of the community. That way it’s someplace your kids want to come back to.”

Rittgers: “We didn’t move away. All our family’s here. My parents are here. Cody’s parents are here. My brother lives here. My brother-in-law works on the farm. My sister lives close. Everybody’s in the community, and everybody helps out.”

Bunda: “We also invested in a restaurant here. I remember my dad always saying, ‘Grandpa said, you have to invest in your community to be able to keep it going.’ Rural America keeps getting smaller and smaller. For a town our size, to have the things that we have, a movie theater, a grocery store, a pharmacy, a hospital. We’re really fortunate.

“Our farm got hit with a tornado back in 2011. Everything was gone. And that next morning, 6:00 a.m., there’s tons of people out there asking, ‘What can we do to help?'”

The Card Farmers FAQs

• Where is The Card Farmers Located?
  • The Card Farmers are located in Pocahontas, Iowa, a town of roughly 1,800 residents. Despite the community’s small size, the shop has become a destination for collectors traveling from across the Midwest. 
• What types of sports cards can collectors find at The Card Farmers?
  • Collectors can find a wide range of sports cards, including baseball, basketball, football, and other trading card products. The store emphasizes organization, inventory depth, and a welcoming experience for collectors of all ages. 
• What makes The Card Farmers different from other card shops?
  • The store blends its farming roots with sports card collecting, featuring turf flooring, corn and soybean-themed price tags, and community events designed to create a memorable experience for collectors and families. 
• Why do collectors travel to visit The Card Farmers?
  • Collectors are drawn to the shop’s family-friendly atmosphere, extensive inventory, and unique identity. Owners Jonathan Rittgers and Cody Bunda have built a reputation centered on community, hospitality, and creating an environment that welcomes the next generation of collectors. 

Key Facts

• Featured Shop: The Card Farmers (Pocahontas, Iowa)
• Founded: Business has operated since 2020 and has spent roughly three years in its current location
• Community Roots: Owners Jonathan Rittgers and Cody Bunda both come from multigenerational farming families
• Sports Card Focus: Store carries a broad selection of cards and collectibles for all types of collectors
• Unique Design: Turf flooring and agriculture-themed décor connect the worlds of farming and collecting
• Collector Appeal: Combines community values, family-friendly experiences, and one of The Hobby’s most distinctive shop identities

---

More Topps

---