Board Member Spotlight: Fort Dodge Fiber

City Connect FORT DODGE

GIRLS STATE SOFTBALL

Fort Dodge is gearing up to host the 2022 Iowa Girl High School State Softball Championship on July 18-22. This tournament is the largest special event Fort Dodge hosts and we have had the honor of hosting it since 1970. The tournament hosts the 40 best teams within the state of Iowa and spectators can watch the best of the best play this American summertime tradition. Teams from every corner of the state strive for years to get a chance to play at the Iowa Girls High School Softball Championships. It is a summertime tradition that Fort Dodge is proud to host. During the five days of the tournament, 14,000-15,000+ players and spectators, including media from across the state, will be at Rogers Sports Complex. Many hotels, restaurants, gas stations and retail businesses see a significant uptick in traffic during this week, creating an economic impact of approximately $1 million from this tournament alone.

Even with our long history of hosting the Iowa Girls High School State Softball Championships, Fort Dodge should not take the tournament for granted. Our community must sell itself each and every year by providing top-notch facilities and services to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union while our businesses sell themselves to the tournament teams and spectators. Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation staff does a great job providing services for the tournaments with the assistance of funding from the Fort Dodge Convention Visitors Bureau. Many dedicated volunteers and employees work in the hot July heat to provide the needed services for the tournament to run smoothly. Iowa Central Community College’s commitment to providing lodging and meals for the teams is also extremely important. Local media such as the Messenger assists by providing excellent coverage of the tournament. The volunteer organization, PICA (Pride in Community Appearance), works diligently to beautify Rogers Sports Complex and the community in general for our residents to enjoy and our visitors to see. These are just some of the services that are critical to the tournament staying in Fort Dodge.

Following the 2021 tournament, Lori Branderhorst, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director, praised everyone who makes Harlan Rogers the destination for State Softball over the past 51 years. “We’ve had a terrific week, which is a testament to the staff and the people who keep the tradition alive at the park,” Branderhorst told Messenger Sports Editor Eric Pratt. “We value the little things so much, and it (collectively) makes a difference. I can’t thank them enough for the work they do, both before and during state week.”

“I think what makes it work above all else, though, is the fact that we are never satisfied with where we stand. Our goal is always to grow and figure out ways we can improve as the tournament host. It’s about the personal touches and relationships we build and maintain. So, I look at this (then recently announced) five-year extension (through 2025) as a challenge to both the city and the community in general. What will we do over these next five years to keep this tournament in Fort Dodge for the long term?”

In the same article, Branderhorst said “We have to separate ourselves in that way — not just at the park or through Iowa Central (who annually provides housing to nearly 30 teams on campus), but as a community-wide effort. What kind of experience are the teams having, not just when they play and where they stay, but in Fort Dodge as a whole? It’s healthy to always assess what we are doing and where we can improve, both individually and collectively.”

To keep this tournament Rogers Sports Complex needs to be one of the premier softball facilities in the state. These improvements require investment by the City of Fort Dodge as well as private funding. These investments not only impact the State Softball Championships, but also other various baseball and softball tournaments held at Rogers Sports Complex throughout the season. These tournaments are critical to bringing in tourism dollars to the community. Rogers Sports Complex is a venue to be proud of and continues to get better every year. “This complex is still one of the premier complexes, not only in the state but in the Midwest,” Fort Dodge City Council member David Flattery said at the 50th-anniversary celebration for the park in 2019. “We’re very fortunate to have this facility, but we can’t just sit back,” he said. “We’ve got to continue to move forward. We see a lot of competition throughout the state and the Midwest for this type of facility.” His words continue to hold true today.

Our residents have the opportunity to see all the fun firsthand by going out to watch their favorite teams or any of the outstanding softball teams here from throughout the state. We encourage everyone to show the teams coming into town for the tournament what makes Fort Dodge great. Let’s put our best foot forward and keep the tournament coming back from now through 2025 and beyond.