SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
3 Siouxlanders could soon become household names. They are starring in a new reality TV show on a network cable channel. KTIV talked with one of the stars, Ron Florke.
And while Florke might be headed to stardom, his heart is still in Siouxland.
"If everything were you know would work out, of if you win the lottery, I would be back in Iowa in a heartbeat," Ron Florke said.
In fact, he comes back home often to visit his mom.
"She loves KTIV, she watches, I don't think she ever changes the channel to tell you the truth."
But, back in Upstate New York where Florke now lives, TV crews are following him around as he works with his brother Randy and interior designer Jesse Escue to renovate and flip homes. All three were born in Cherokee. Randy is the flipper, Ron is the contractor.
"Anybody can build a new house, blue prints, all that, you know we don't usually have any blueprints, our blueprint is in our mind and what the place looked like years ago," Florke said.
Ron's brother Randy is a former model who runs the business from his Manhattan office. Ron is more of a blue-collar guy, and it shows.
"Being in front of the cameras doesn't bother me, I don't change, I'm just me, you know I'm Ron Florke, it's just who I am, I'm not going to change for anybody."
Florke actually moved to New York about 10 years ago. So he no longer feels like a fish out of water, but he still notices some big differences.
"They're definitely not I see, as friendly as Iowa, like you can drive down the road in Iowa, everybody waves, everybody says hello, you know you got a lot less of that out here."
He says the best part of being on the show, is just doing something he loves.
"The nice thing about it is, you know, is just to work and do what I like to do, of course I'd rather be farming."
Florke says he's hoping the show gets picked up, mainly because it could potentially mean more jobs for people in his community.
So far, only two episodes of the show have aired. Ron, Randy and Jesse are waiting to hear from A & E to find out if the show will get picked up for a full season.
Picture of Ron Florke tending to cattle.
