Growing Strong Together

Meet our community

Allie Degroff 

Hi, I’m Allie DeGroff! I was born and raised in Nebraska, I moved to this wonderful small community just over a year ago when I was expecting my beautiful daughter. Moving from a big city, it’s been such a refreshing change to be in a place where everyone knows each other, and I love the safety Oyens provides for my family. Growing up, I lived across from a park, where I met most of my closest friends and made so many cherished memories. Now, all that’s missing is a park for my daughter to experience the same joy, friendships, and outdoor fun that shaped my childhood! A fun fact about myself is I love to bake. The best way to someone’s heart is filling their tummies 

Nicole Owen and Justin Guy

Hi everyone! We’re Nicole Owen and Justin Guy!
We moved in Oyens in 2023 specifically for the location of Oyens and the park! We both grew up in the LeMars area before Justin joined the Navy. We knew once we started a family we wanted to be back in the Midwest. Oyens was the perfect place for us!
Bringing a park back to town is something we’re both incredibly passionate about - not only for our girls, but the future generations. 
A fun fact about Nicole: she cannot wink or whistle.
A fun fact about Justin: his favorite animal is a dairy cow.  

Donna Poulsen

My name is Donna Poulsen. My husband Scott and I have lived in Oyens for a long long time. I actually was born and raised here. I bought my parents home. Scott and I have five amazing kids, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. It's great to have a place for the grandkids to go when they come over to see us! The church sold the property with our previous park on it and we are just hoping to rebuild and have the same joy I had as a child growing up in our beautiful little town!  

Fun fact: Donna is the Mayor!

Gwen and Ethan Taylor

We’re Ethan and Gwen Taylor.
We moved to Oyens in the Fall of 2021. That’s 3 years under our belt! We love the outdoors and are avidly trying to expand our gardening knowledge. We have 2 younger children and 2 small dogs that keep us quite busy.
Ethan and I both have a love for small towns. Not for their size, but for the people. Small towns provide a sense of community, and the “I’ve got your back” mentality that is so hard to find anywhere else.
One of the biggest parenting challenges for our generation is promoting learning through play. Technology has taken over our lives. No one goes outside, plays in the dirt, and drinks out of a hose anymore. And it really shows. Having a park in town provides a safe place for the children in our community to play and grow.

Fun Fact: Ethan is related to Anne Oakley and Gwen’s family is related to Buffalo Bill Cody!