Valley Home has had many stores and businesses over the years. F.D. Volkman came to the area in 1903 when it was still named Clyde. He had a farm and helped to rename the town Thalheim. He built the Pioneer Hotel which included a general store. In 1916 a fire destroyed the hotel which he rebuilt and also built a two-story home next to it. Soon there was a Post Office next door to the home. The J.R. Key family took over a store on the corner of Michigan and Dakota, later renamed Valley Home Road. This store had many proprietors before it also burned down and wasn’t rebuilt. Mr. Kolthof from Lodi built a two-story building with a full basement on Michigan Street across from St. John’s church. They had apartments in the second story; this building also was taken by fire. Ben Aker had worked at the Key Store and became interested in merchandise and was able to acquire another store which became the Ben Aker store. An addition to this building is what we now know as Valley Home Store.
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Dot’s Mini Donuts is a family-owned small business right here in Valley Home. They have been open for business for a little over a year and they love getting to serve their customers and provide something sweet and different. They specialize in custom mini donuts for any theme, party or occasion. Custom mini donuts also make the perfect unique gift for someone special.
For example, the chocolate overload minis with milk, white and dark chocolate chips drizzled in more chocolate! A delicious treat for any chocolate lover. The cinnamon/sugar minis are another customer favorite. They can provide any number of minis from one dozen to 100 dozen for your event. This spring they will begin offering custom Cake Pops and Mini Cake Bites. You can follow them on Facebook at Dots Mini Donuts.
Please keep them in mind for any of your party or gift needs. They can work with you to come up with the perfect custom idea.
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In October 1975, Leonard and Kathy Bianchi moved their family to the Valley Home Road property and established Bianchi Club Lambs. Chris, Kelly and Mike enrolled in Valley Home School and were members of Valley Home 4-H under the guidance of Patti Charles and Brigitta Knudson. This was a large, active club offering a variety of projects. Leonard and Karen were sheep leaders. During this time, the Valley Home 4-H planted the eucalyptus trees that border the playground on the new school campus. Besides being active 4-H and FFA members, the Bianchi kids were often successful sheep exhibitors at the Stanislaus County Fair, Cow Palace and the California State Fair. For four years in a row, they had the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the State Fair, and for several years thereafter, other members of the Valley Home 4-H also won many championships at the shows.
Although Leonard passed away in 2006, Karen remained on the ranch. In March 2021 she sold the home place to her son, Chris and his wife Kim and divided the sheep between her three children. Recently, Chris and Kim completed the building of the house you now see on the property. Karen lives there with her family, with lots of entertainment from her three grandsons.
Another generation continues to raise and show market lambs for Bianchi Club Lambs. Tyler, Troy and Trevor are active in 4-H and FFA and manage activities at the ranch. Bianchi Club Lambs continues to raise competitive project lambs for 4-H and FFA members statewide. Bianchi Club Lambs - Chris, Kim and Karen Bianchi - 209-996-6552.
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Have a great week and send me anything you want to share. If you have items you want to include in our Valley Home News, my email is: bestemor-1@msn.com.
