Apr. 24—PELLA — Three small, locally-owned businesses "swam in the shark tank" to compete for financial funding for their businesses, with a local food truck taking the top prize.

Diane and Bob Mitchell were chosen by a "shark tank" of judges to receive $5,000 for their food truck, Kaaswagen, at the second annual Red Rock StartUP! competition last week.

The food truck serves a variety of mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and nachos within a 75-mile radius of their home base in Pella at farmers markets, festivals, grand openings, weddings, graduations, craft shows, car shows and "anywhere there is a crowd."

"Our mission is to provide delicious homemade comfort food that is affordable for families and that is unique to the food truck scene," Diane Mitchell said. "Our vision is to take the idea and expand it over the next five years to have multiple trucks in our fleet, overseen by our LLC, Volks Kitchen. We're thinking an ice cream truck next."

The couple started their journey last year as Bob considered retirement.

"Bob's dream has been to work in the food industry, so here we are — dreams become a reality," Diane Mitchell said.

Jennifer Adkins received second place and $1,000 for her business Coffee Station, an up-and-coming drive-thru coffee shop to be located off Highway 5 near Pleasantville. The business will offer a variety of beverages and food as a convenient, one-stop shop for both breakfast and coffee.

Kelly Bandstra received third place and $500 for her business Clover Leaf Kitchen. The business, located at 408 Oskaloosa St. in Pella, offers quick, convenient comfort food in take-out boxed lunches and freezer meals. She is also the co-owner of de Kelder Speakeasy in Pella with her husband, Adam.

Each participant was given five minutes to pitch their business, following questions by judges Kim Didier, with DMACC Business Resources; Sandy Ehrig, retired Iowa Farm Bureau-Renew Rural Iowa; and Anna Ruppert, owner of Maiden Holland, who won last year's inaugural competition.

The event was sponsored by Marion County Bank, DMACC Business Resources, Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance, and Marion County Development Commission.

"These people need to keep their businesses moving forward, and a lot of times they just need some investments and some financial friends behind the scenes to make those dreams come alive," said David Vollmar, member of the PACE Alliance Board of Directors.

Four local students were also recognized at the event with Young Entrepreneur Awards to celebrate their accomplishments as budding entrepreneurs, as well as to encourage and inspire other young entrepreneurs.

Students who received awards were Trevor Langner, fifth grade, Pella Community Schools; Patrick Bishara, sophomore, Pella Community High School; Holden De Vries, senior, Pella Christian High School; and Keira Wysong, sophomore, Pleasantville Community High School.

Emily Hawk is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. She can be reached at ehawk@oskyherald.com.