Who we are
Meet our Family
Doug and Heather Beckman are the owners of Beckman Heritage Farms, along with their children Nora, Jacob, and Vivian. As Burlington natives, we’re proud to raise our family on land that’s been part of Beckman history since 1848, carrying forward six generations of rural Iowa heritage.
All three of our children — Nora, Jacob, and Vivian — attend Danville Community School and stay active in academics, athletics, and community programs. Nora is a member of the Danville FFA and enjoys showing at the Des Moines County Fair, continuing a long tradition of youth agriculture in our family.
We’re a working farm, growing corn and soybeans, along with pumpkins, gourds, and ornamental corn. Over the years, we’ve also built Beckman Heritage Farms into a place where people can gather, celebrate, and make memories — from weddings to fall festivals to community events.
As parents of two autistic children, we’ve learned firsthand how traditional events can be overwhelming for families with sensory needs. Their experiences have inspired us to look for ways to utilize our farm to create experiences that welcome people of all abilities. What began as small changes to help our own kids enjoy fall traditions has grown into a mission to make Beckman Heritage Farms a place where inclusion is part of the landscape.
Heather is also the owner of Pink Wreath Company, creating handmade crafts, wreaths, and seasonal décor that bring color and creativity to the farm and to homes across the region.
The Beckman name is often described as meaning “one who lived by a stream,” which feels especially fitting along the banks of Flint Creek — the heart of the land we’re honored to steward and share.
the roots
The Farm
Beckman Heritage Farms has been part of Southeast Iowa since 1848, when the first generation of Beckmans settled along Flint Creek. For more than 175 years, this land has grown crops, raised families, and served as a gathering place for the community. Today, we continue that legacy as a working farm, growing corn and soybeans, along with pumpkins, gourds, and ornamental corn for the fall season.
Beckman Heritage Farms is located just 8 miles north of Burlington, off Flint Bottom Road, with convenient access from Highways 61 and 34. The original farm includes 140 acres along Flint Creek and connects directly to the Flint River Trail system. Our home farm is a neighboring 240‑acre property that joins the original farm along its northern boundary.
Stewardship and conservation are central to how we care for this land. Our family supports ongoing improvements to water quality and timber management, and the farm includes more than 30 acres of native prairie enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, plus 6 acres of pollinator plantings that support bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Visitors can explore our trail system, including a natural spring surrounded by limestone shaped over thousands of years.
Over time, the farm has grown into a place where people gather, celebrate, and make memories throughout the year. What began with our Fall Market has expanded into year‑round activities, including weddings in our restored 1914 barn, seasonal attractions, and community events. In 2026, we introduced a sensory‑friendly patriotic drone show — a quiet, comfortable alternative to fireworks that welcomed families who prefer low‑noise celebrations and created a new kind of summer tradition on the farm.
Inspired by our children, we’re committed to creating experiences that welcome people of all abilities, ensuring every visitor can enjoy the land, the events, and the traditions that make Beckman Heritage Farms special.
Private tours are available by appointment.
Follow our story
Historic Timeline
Settlement began in present day Burlington and was officially named the following year.
Burlington was designated the second territorial capital of the Wisconsin Territory.
The Iowa Territory was organized, and Burlington was the first territorial capital.
Alexis Phelps purchased 320 acres from the General Land office of the United States for $400.00. Mr. Phelps, a native of New York, was a fur trader who founded the town of Oquawka, IL along with his brother Stephen. His original home in Oquawka is now a museum and open for tours.
Alexis Phelps sells 160 acres to Maria Mathilde Beckman (aka Mary Beckman) for $250.00. Maria was born in Germany on November 12, 1789, and immigrated to the United States in 1841 at the age of 52 with her four children, Caroline (25), William (22), Charles (20) and John (18).
Mary Beckman sells the 160 acres to Frederick Weidekind for $900.00
Iowa is admitted to the union as the 29th state of the United States.
Foreclosure judgement is entered against Frederick Weidekind.
Mary Beckman is the highest bidder at a Sheriff’s auction and purchases 160 acres a second time for $538.50.
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad is established in Burlington and is the first to serve the area. In 1856 the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad would reach the Mississippi River on the Illinois side and ferry cars across the river with a bridge being constructed in 1868.
The civil war begins with the attack on Fort Sumter. Confederate forces would surrender on May 9, 1865.
Maria sells the farm to her oldest son William Beckman and his wife Mary for $3000.00.
William and Mary sell the farm to their oldest son Louis Beckman and his wife Sarah for $3837.50.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote—78 years after Maria Beckman first purchased the farm in her own name.
The Estate of Louis Beckman sells the farm to Louis’s son Wilfred Beckman and his wife Vera.
Wilfred and Vera's son Earl is drafted into the US Army. In the early morning hours of the day he left for his deployment to Korea, he dug up a sapling near Flint Creek and planted it in the front yard for his mother in case he didn't come home.
The Estate of Wilfred and Vera Beckman sell the farm to their oldest son Earl Beckman and his wife Mildred.
Earl and Mildred sell the farm to their grandson Douglas Beckman and his wife Heather. August 2017 – Doug & Heather Beckman family receive a Heritage Farm Award at the Iowa State Fair for being in the same family for 150 years.
The 1895 hay barn is cleaned out and a new concrete floor installed. A Fall Market is held in September with area vendors set up and pumpkins and fall décor for sale.
Renovations on the hay barn continued with electricity and new metal siding installed. A Fall Market was held again in September with great success. The number of vendors doubled, and attendance tripled from the year before. A wedding reception was held at the farm in October.
The farm is 175 years old and is officially open for weddings and events. A corn maze is being added and a Fall Market is planned again in September.