Iowa State Bank

BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF OAK GROVE STATE PARK

PHOTO BY JON KLEMME, OCTOBER 9, 2022

MEET BRAD CAVE

Brad Cave is an ag/commercial banker and assistant vice president at Northwest Bank in Le Mars. He’s been in banking for more than 13 years and with Northwest Bank for over a decade. He grew up on the family farm west of Marcus. He’s a graduate of Marcus Meriden Cleghorn High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration / agribusiness with an endorsement in coaching from Northwestern College in Orange City. Brad’s wife, Sarah, is a library teacher and para-educator at Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars. Sons Parker (11), Lawson (8), Cutler (7), and daughter Emmerson (10) all attend Gehlen Catholic.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY

Some of my fondest memories are simply doing the daily activities on the farm such as baling hay, walking beans, mowing and doing cattle chores. The best part of the day was coming into the house after a long hard day’s work and enjoying one of mom’s chocolate chip cookies with an iced cold pop.

A BIG IMPACT ON MY LIFE

Orv Otten recruited me to play football at Northwestern College. He told me that diamonds are found in the rough. Coach Otten pushed me to be my best and to always give it my all. His leadership and drive led me to continue that competitive call. After college, I went on to coach football at MMC High School and then at Dordt University before retiring to coach my kids and their school athletic teams. I can only hope that I am passing on some of the life lessons that Coach Otten taught me.

Brad and Sarah Cave with their children, Parker, Lawson, Cutler, and Emmerson.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A BANKER?

I primarily worked on the family farm my whole life. After college I wanted to gain some business experience. I worked for Farm Bureau Financial Services and Titan Machinery for a span before beginning my banking career. A local bank recruiter approached me one day about an open position at a bank and here I am 13 years later. Being an ag/commercial lender allows me to help people achieve their dreams on a daily basis.

DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

A successful life is being able to do what you have a passion for and hopefully impacting others along the way. We are all blessed with unique talents and gifts. The successful ones are those who are willing to share them with others for the common good.