BOB DORR: IOWA’S FAVORITE BLUESMAN page 46
11
PLACES TO MAKE A SUMMER SPLASH page 10
WHY THE WACKY WEATHER? page 38
Visit Tassel Ridge Winery ®
and Vineyards
Ride
the Grapemobile through the vineyards and learn about grape growing (seasonal, weather permitting).
Tour
the Winery and learn about wine making from crush through fermentation to bottling.
Taste award-winning wines ranging from dry to sweet
including fizzy, fruit, dessert, and iced wines.
Picnic
on the terrace or spacious lawn and enjoy the views of the vineyards and picturesque farmland.
Shop
for wine-related items and accessories, local cheese, chocolate, dipping oils, and more….
Visit
www.tasselridge.com to see a schedule of special wine and food pairing events and a list of our Iowa retailers.
New Sharon Otley
Pella
Exit 40
163 T15
1681 220th St., Leighton, IA 641.672.WINE (9463) www.tasselridge.com
63
Tassel Ridge Winery
Leighton
220th Street 92
Oskaloosa
23 63
1
THE IOWAN
Open 7 days a week year round Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 92 Sunday, Noon–6 p.m. Tassel Ridge wines are sold at the Winery and nearly 400 retailers in Iowa. For a complete list of retailers visit www.tasselridge.com/retail. Cedar
Tassel Ridge Winery… Simply Extraordinary ® | iowan.com Eddyville
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU Building a Community of Trust
2015 INTEGRITY AWARD WINNERS: CENTRAL IOWA WINNERS:
QUAD CITIES AREA WINNERS:
United Fire Group (UFG)
Mallard Pointe Kennels
Knapp Properties, Inc.
Missman, Inc.
Kevin’s Transmission & Auto
Rock Island Lubricants
Children’s Cancer Connection
Smith Filter
Midwest Construction, Inc.
HAVlife Foundation (NonProfit)
2015 STUDENTS OF INTEGRITY AWARD WINNERS:
FROM LEFT: Addie McKee, Marissa Pham, Marcus Miller, Kegen Fingalsen, Collin Jacobsen
FROM LEFT: Guadalupe Chavez, Molly Kelly, Claire Hamilton
look for the seal 2625 Beaver Ave, Des Moines bbb.org | 1-800-222-1800
July/August 2015 | THE IOWAN
1
contents
JULY/AUGUST 2015
volume 63 | number 6 iowan.com
ON THE COVER Iowa bluesman Bob Dorr, page 46. Photograph by Jim Dorothy THIS PAGE: Detail of Bob Dorr’s Cedar Falls studio, page 46. Photograph by Kathryn Gamble
FEATURES 24 Fairathon!
by Dan Weeks
How many Iowa county fairs can you visit in
one day? And what would you see if you did?
Join us as we take to the road and find out.
38
Iowa’s Wacky Summer Weather
Drought and storms, heat and floods — What’s
going on here? And what can we do about it?
46
Iowan Icon: Bob Dorr
by Avery Gregurich
For more than four decades, this radio producer
and musician has been “driving the blues bus
down Blue Avenue” for Iowa listeners.
Here’s the man behind the music.
60
Portfolio: Eat Me
Photography by Dan Weeks
Take a twilight stroll with us through the glowing,
glittering world of Iowa State Fair food stands.
Corn dog, anyone?
DEPARTMENTS 4
from the editor
How Iconic!
6 letters
More Camping Options
7
iowa map
8
iowa travels
Day Trips
14
iowa grows Some Like It Hot
18
Points of Interest in This Issue
iowa tastes Hello, Mr. Chips!
20
home in iowa
Living Aloft
56
70
from the archives Adventures in Frontier Newspapering
iowa celebrates
Iowa’s Practical Farmers
flashback: 1955
74
60 Years Ago in The Iowan
76 escapades High Noon on Threshing Day
from theeditor
How Iconic!
PROUDLY PUBLISHED AND PRINTED IN IOWA BY THE PIONEER GROUP
On our cover and page 46 of this issue, we’re proud to feature veteran Iowa radio
producer and bluesman Bob Dorr. He joins
past subjects such as Olympian Dan Gable,
editorial cartoonist Brian Duffy, and seed
Senior Graphic Designer Megan Johansen
Image/Photo Specialist Steve Seeman
series of profiles.
exceptional Iowans we feature are more than just that. They each stand
Editor Dan Weeks Creative Director Ann Donohoe
company founder Earl May in our “Iowan Icons” “Successful and admired” is how Webster’s defines “icon.” But the
Publisher Polly Clark
Copy Editor Gretchen Kauffman Senior Account Executive Kimberly Hawn
Account Executives Ronda Jans
Meghan Keller Becca Wodrich
for something: Gable, relentless self-improvement. Duffy, art in service of public awareness. May, generosity and hospitality. Dorr, musical talent, professionalism and accessibility — always served up with a side of bluestinged humor and philosophy. We’re honored to feature these legendary Iowans on our pages. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we have. Look for more Iowan Icons in future issues — including a pair of sisters that monopolized an entire national industry for generations. (Can you guess who they are?) There’s another definition of “icon” — and that’s “symbolic or representative of something.” By those lights, this issue is full of icons: the sights and sounds of Iowa’s county fairs (“Fairathon!,” page 24), the towering clouds of a classic Iowa thunderstorm (“Iowa’s Wacky Summer Weather,” page 38), and the glowing, glittering booths that send a signal straight to your taste buds that Iowa State Fair food is nigh (“Eat Me,” page 60). And that’s just our feature stories. Find more iconic people, places, and experiences in our shorter articles, too: Sterzing’s legendary potato chips show up on page 18. We celebrate Iowa’s practical farmers on page 70. And don’t miss the classic story about coming of age on threshing day on page 76. What’s your favorite Iowan Icon? Drop me a line or shoot me an email to let me know!
Dan Weeks, Editor editor@iowan.com iowan.com/blog facebook.com/theiowan @theiowan
Jim Slife Twilla Glessner Accounting Manager Allison Volker CEO
Production Manager
The Iowan, ISSN (0021-0772), is published bi-monthly by Pioneer Communications, Inc., 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. This issue is dated July 1, 2015, Volume 63, No. 6. All content © 2015 The Iowan/Pioneer Communications, Inc., and may not be used, reproduced, or altered in any way without prior written permission. Periodicals Postage Paid in Des Moines, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices. We cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: The Iowan, 316 W. 5th St., Waterloo, IA 50701. Prices: Subscriptions — Special rate when ordered direct or by mail: six issues per year for $24. International orders require additional postage. Please call for rates. Single copies — on newsstands: $4.95; current issue by mail: $4.95 plus $3.50 S+H. Please call for quantity discount pricing. Single past issues 2005 to present: $5.95 plus S+H, two for $9.95 plus S+H; prior to 2005: $14.95 plus S+H. New Subscriptions, Renewals, Gifts: iowan.com > SUBSCRIBE subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 800-765-1690 Change of Address: iowan.com> CONTACT > Address Change subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 800-765-1690 Past Issues: subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 877-899-9977 Mail Orders: The Iowan Subscription Services P.O. Box 2516, Waterloo, IA 50704 Advertising Information: advertising@iowan.com iowan.com Proudly printed in Iowa 10% PCW Paper Made in the USA facebook.com/theiowan
4
iowan.com
800.545.FAIR · IOWASTATEFAIR.ORG
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
5
letters
MORE CAMPING OPTIONS
INSPIRING [“Iowa’s Murals,” May/June 2015, page 34] has inspired me to keep working to
Greetings from a beautiful privately
make more art that makes people feel
owned campground in east central
good. The article also makes people
Iowa. Your May/June issue recognized
smile, and we need more news like this
the renewed popularity of camping
instead of the bad news we see most
as a fun family activity [“Iowa’s Best
days. Watch for more art I have planned
Campgrounds,” page 20]. The article
for the near future.
was done very well and had several
—Todd Spaur
beautiful photos of some great parks. We were, however, disappointed that a
66
064-69 photoessay
- sf 75 years.indd
Jolene Stephens on, Des Moines
66-67
privately owned campground was not
AMAZING
featured along with the state and city
I received my May/June 2015 edition of
parks. As private campground owners,
The Iowan on April 22, Earth Day. The
we feel strongly that we offer many
photograph The Dam-to-Dam Thirst by
wonderful family options when it comes
Jolene Stephenson on pages 66–67 to
to activities and amenities to campers
me indicates the continuing problem of
looking to get away for a weekend or a
litter. I find it amazing the sponsor(s)
weeklong outing. Most of our camping
of the Dam-to-Dam event could not
customers travel less than an hour to
or would not provide for a proper
find the fun and relaxation they are
collection of these paper cups. The
looking for in a camping experience.
participants are being encouraged to
Privately owned campgrounds are just
litter, in my opinion.
May/June 2015
—Jim Urban
and industry as are the many county
Iowa City
67
MURALS AND BASEBALL We really like The Iowan and look forward to each issue. However, the May/June 2015 issue missed two possible northwest Iowa additions to stories: Le Mars’ delightful Art in the Alley and the Sioux City Explorers professional baseball team. Please include them when/if you can. —Curt and Barb Abney Sioux City
and state parks in our marvelous state.
Dam-to-Dam community events
Thanks for letting us know! Next time
Thank you for a terrific magazine.
organizer Tim Lane responds: “Rest
we’re in Le Mars, we’re going to cruise
assured that the three main things all
the downtown alleys and enjoy the
Sleepy Hollow Campground & RV Park
runners are encouraged to do is obtain
many murals there, then pop down
Oxford
their optimum time, stay hydrated, and
to Sioux City and catch an Explorers
have fun. The runners you saw in that
(xsbaseball.com) game. —ed.
The Gingeriches are right: There are
photo know that Dam-to-Dam protocols
many privately owned gems among
instruct all water station coordinators
Iowa’s more than 450 independent,
to leave no cup behind so that the
franchise, state forest, state park,
runners can concentrate on running.
public land, Army Corps, military,
The arrangement is just like the wait
county, city, and casino campgrounds.
staff that clears your dishes when you
For comprehensive listings of all types of
eat out. Every water stop of every race
Iowa campgrounds, visit woodalls.com
I have ever been connected to prides
or allstays.com. Happy camping! —ed.
itself on cleaning up and leaving the route better than they found it.”
CAMP 14 GROUNDS
’S IOWA T
great places to spend a weekend — or a vacation!
BES
ALREADY A FAN
phy by DAN WEEKS story and photogra
I picked up your magazine for the first time recently and am already a fan. I have to note an error, though: The Iowa Cubs are in the Pacific Coast League, not the Midwest League. —Mike Pearce Via Facebook
a peninsula at Honey This tent site on with beckons campers Creek State Park of Lake Rathbun. its expansive view
20
THE IOWAN
5/11/15 10:54 AM
as important to the camping families
—Jim & Sandy Gingerich, owners
020-028 IA Best
Bussey
The Dam-to-Dam Thirst
iowan.com
May/June 2015
THE IOWAN
21
5/11/15 10:50 AM
iowan.com
ndd 20-21
- Campgrounds.i
6
iowan.com
AWESOME I loved the garden issue. I did not know the Earl May story [“Iowan Icon: Earl May,” March/April 2015, page 30]. And “Our First Garden” [page 58] was awesome — proof positive that fueling your body the right way makes the human machine function so much better! —Amber Barz Des Moines
iowamap
CONGRATULATIONS
Points of Interest in This Issue
Congratulations on receiving the Corporate Award of Excellence presented by the Keep Iowa Beautiful 4
Board of Trustees! The Iowan is a great representation of all that our state 31
promoting that. I love to receive The Iowan. I’m always looking for ideas
12
39
has to offer, and you do a great job of
22
41 44
43
23
42
when I’m out traveling.
10 46
7
5
34
3
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
33 11
13 4748 18 1 40 15
19
32
24
21
—Bill Northey
MAQUOKETA COMEBACK
30
17
50
2 38 26 49
35
45 16 36
29 9
Thank you for the great story on our
25
14
37
20 8
28 6
daughter, artist Rose Frantzen, and her husband, artist Charles Morris [“Living
27
Large in a Small Town,” March/April 2015, page 42]. Maquoketa is coming back, and the town is rebuilding its Main Street with new sidewalks, etc., this spring. Thank you for writing stories on our town and its people. —Ellen Frantzen Maquoketa
1. Altoona — p. 10
26. Iowa City — p. 6, 19, 49
2. Amana Colonies — p. 9
27. Keokuk — p. 19
3. Ames — p. 15, 39, 41, 71
28. Keosauqua — p. 9
4. Arnolds Park — p. 10
29. Knoxville — p. 26, 33
5. Bellevue — p. 74
30. Lansing — p. 75
6. Bentonsport — p. 9
31. Le Mars — p. 6, 9
7. Blairsburg — p. 42
32. Manchester — p. 11, 26, 31
8. Burlington — p. 10, 18
33. Marion — p. 50
9. Bussey — p. 6
34. Marshalltown — p. 26, 29, 50
STAY IN TOUCH!
10. Cedar Falls — p. 2, 9, 19, 46
35. Montezuma — p. 57
The Iowan
11. Cedar Rapids — p. 19, 41
36. Muscatine — p. 9, 57
300 Walnut Street, Suite 6
12. Charles City — p. 11, 43
37. Ottumwa — p. 6
Des Moines, IA 50309
13. Coon Rapids — p. 9
38. Oxford — p. 28
editor@iowan.com
14. Corning — p. 8
39. Paullina — p. 70
iowan.com > Contact
15. Cumming — p. 9
40. Pleasant Hill — p. 8
Facebook.com > The Iowan
16. Davenport — p. 8, 20
41. Rolfe — p. 71
17. Decorah — p. 49
42. Sac City — p. 75
READ OUR BLOG! iowan.com/blog features local
18. Des Moines — p. 4, 6, 8, 20, 26, 41, 43, 50, 51, 60–67, 75
43. Sioux City — p. 6, 9, 20, 56 44. Storm Lake — p. 10
characters, favorite places, little-
19. Dubuque — p. 10, 43
45. Tipton — p. 8, 26
known facts, and other Iowa
20. Eldon — p. 8
46. Waterloo — p. 11, 19, 50
Discoveries every Friday.
SUBSCRIBE Like what you see? Don’t miss an issue! Subscribe at iowan.com
21. Eldora — p. 26, 28
47. Waukee — p. 8
22. Elkader — p. 11
48. West Des Moines — p. 8
23. Fort Dodge — p. 26, 27
49. Williamsburg — p. 11
24. Grundy Center — p. 30, 33
50. Wyoming — p. 26, 32
25. Hastings — p. 71
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
7
iowaxxx iowatravels
DayTrips Events worthy of an excursion
I ♥ Figge TAKE THE MOBILE TOUR Davenport, Figge Art Museum Tuesday–Sunday, June 16–August 16, Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday noon–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m. 225 West Second Street figgeartmuseum.org 563-326-7804
NASCAR Dirt Track Racing
175th Anniversary Celebration
HEAR THEM ROAR
PARTY LIKE IT’S 1840
Corning, Adams County Speedway
Tipton, Downtown Tipton and Cedar Valley Fairgrounds
Saturdays through September 12; gates open 5 p.m., racing at 7 p.m. 12th & John acspeedway.com 641-322-4184
Thursday–Sunday, July 2–5; see website for event schedule tiptoniowa.org 563-886-6350
$10 adults, $5 students grades 7–12, free 6th grade and under
Admission prices vary by event
Experience “Dirt Track Racing at Its
contests for beard growing and vintage
Finest” at the Adams County Speedway.
ladies’ costumes — or the new way with
Hobby stock, B-mod, pro stock, modified,
stage entertainment from the Miller
and late-model classes race on what’s
Sisters, Adam Keith, Sheltered Reality,
been called one of Iowa’s best dirt
and Hairball. There’s more: picnics,
that highlight the museum’s collections.
tracks. See rookies make their mark and
inflatable games, food vendors, a pork
champions defend their crowns. Check
chop dinner, beer garden, craft fair —
Farmers Market/ Music in the Junction
website for details.
even a parade and fireworks.
Jazz in July
West Des Moines, Historic Valley Junction
American Gothic in Stitches
Thursdays through October 1, 4 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
SEE QUILTS INSPIRED BY GRANT WOOD
Greater Des Moines, various locations
Eldon, American Gothic House Center
Various days, July 3–26, 6:30 p.m.
Fifth Street valleyjunction.com 515-222-3642
Daily, July 1–October 18, Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday–Monday 1–4 p.m.
jazzinjuly.org 515-280-3222
Free
300 American Gothic Street americangothichouse.net 641-652-3352
Stretching from Pleasant Hill to Waukee,
$7 adults, $4 kids 4 and over; senior and membership discounts The Figge’s tenth birthday party features artwork by area children and families, interactive activities, and a new mobile audio tour app that lets your tablet or cell guide you through more than 40 stops
JUMP-START YOUR WEEKEND
Pick up a tasty supper and stock up on fresh produce, baked goods, plants, and flowers at one of the market’s 100 vendors. Then settle in for the free concert. Bands include Brother Trucker, Get Off My Lawn, Papa Proffitt Band, and Sumpin’ Doo — one each week until October 1. See website for schedule.
Free View nine works by quilters from around the world who have created their own masterpieces inspired by Grant Wood’s iconic painting. Also scheduled: an American Gothic-theme lecture series, 5K walk/run, art contest, and fabric art challenge. See website for details.
8
iowan.com
Celebrate the old-fashioned way with
LISTEN UP
Free the free 4-week, 16-concert series is a moveable feast of great music that features both local musicians and national acts with Iowa ties. Food vendors, visual artists, children’s activities, and inviting outdoor venues add to the fun. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy! See website for schedule.
Percussion on the Pearl SEE “MARCHING MUSIC’S MAJOR LEAGUE” Muscatine, Muscatine High School Sunday, July 12, 6 p.m. 2705 Cedar Street dci.org 563-263-6141 $20–$30 Eight World Class and Open Class drum corps from New Jersey to Texas strut their stuff at Muscatine High School Stadium. It’s all part of a World Championship tour of the best-of-thebest drum and bugle corps — including the Madison Scouts, performers in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Polo on the Green ENJOY ELEGANCE FOR A CAUSE Cumming, Powder River Ranch Saturday, July 18, 5 p.m. 7900 Adams Street varietyiowa.com 515-243-4660 $150 per person, $1,250 for table of 10 This fund-raiser for Variety — the Children’s Charity is an elegant outdoor event including a polo match (opposite left), dinner, auction, live band, and dancing. There’s also a family event Friday night with face painting, zoo animals, pony rides, food vendors, and more. Cost for the family event is $20 for ages 13 and up, free for 12 and under.
Huey Lewis & the News GET HIP TO BE SQUARE Sioux City, Tyson Events Center Saturday, July 18, 7:30 p.m. 401 Gordon Drive tysoncenter.com 800-593-2228
Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic FIND YOUR FOOTBALL FIX Cedar Falls, UNI-Dome Saturday, July 25, 4 p.m. 2401 Hudson Road iowashrinebowl.org 515-276-6281 $10 in advance, $20 at the gate It’s North vs. South in the annual battle of Iowa’s high school football elite. Select college-bound athletes from across the state play to raise funds for the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Trail Grand Opening TRY A NEW TRAIL Coon Rapids, Whiterock Conservancy Saturday–Sunday, August 7–9 1390 Highway 141 whiterockconservancy.org 712-684-2697 Check website for details Celebrate the grand opening of 35 miles of new trails in Whiterock’s 7 square miles of savanna, restored prairie, forests, pastures, and sustainably farmed land. Walkers and runners have 40 miles of trails; mountain bikers 16 miles;
That’s reason to cheer!
equestrians 7 miles. Twelve miles are
Colonies in Bloom
impaired. See the website for the
TAKE THE TOUR
most impressive preserves.
Amana Colonies Saturday, August 1. Tour is self-guided, activity times vary 622 46th Ave., Visitors Center amanacolonies.com 319-622-7622 Tour is free Tours of Amana attractions, painting classes, and children’s activities add to the sights of the Amanas in bloom (opposite, right). Grab a tour brochure at the Visitors Center in Amana, then explore the seven colonies’ flora to your heart’s content. Don’t miss the water lilies on Lily Lake between Amana and Middle Amana.
Ghost Hunter University
accessible to all, including the mobility weekend’s special events at one of Iowa’s
40th Annual National Old Time Music Festival SING A COUNTRY SONG Le Mars, Plymouth County Fairgrounds Monday–Sunday, August 31–September 6, Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–midnight 251 12th Street SE ntcma.net 712-762-4363 $15 per day Monday–Thursday, $20 per day Friday–Sunday, $75 seven-day pass, free under 17 Described as a “parade of some of the best traditional old-time, classic country, folk, and bluegrass music,” this acoustic festival features 10 stages and 650
GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
performers, including Roni & Donna
Bentonsport/Keosuaqua, Mason House Inn
Stoneman, Don King, Jerre Haskew, Red
Saturday–Sunday, August 1–2, 2 p.m.
Johnson, and Glenn Tubb. Camp out
21982 Hawk Drive masonhouseinn.com 319-592-3133
and make a week of it. Visit the Pioneer Expo of Arts & Crafts and Rural Lifestyle. There's lots of great food on-site.
$20 general admission, free for registered RAGBRAI riders
$75 for each day’s class Dinner included; lodging extra See website for details
Sioux City kicks off RAGBRAI XLIII with
The Today Show called the 167-year-
GET LISTED!
an outdoor Saturday night concert
old Mason House Inn “one of the
featuring Huey Lewis & the News, the
most haunted places in America.”
36-year-old pop band that brought you
Intrigued? Join professional ghost
such hits as “Power of Love,” “Hip to Be
hunter Christopher Moon for an on-site
Square,” Back to the Future’s “Back in
ghost hunting class and group sessions
Time,” and many more. Don’t miss it!
featuring Alexander Graham Bell’s
Does your organization put on an event worthy of an excursion? We’d love to consider it for inclusion in Day Trips. For more information, email calendar@iowan.com.
“telephone to the dead” machine. Hello — is anybody there?
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
9
COURTESY ADVENTURELAND
iowatravels
Iowa’s Waterparks These attractions are a great way to have fun and stay cool. Check the weather first — outdoor parks close during storms.
AMUSEMENT WATERPARKS
Arnolds Park
Feel the power of 350 gallons of water
’BOJI SPLASH INDOOR WATER PARK
cascading from Huck Finn’s four-story
Bridges Bay Resort
tree house. With 25,000 square feet of
630 Linden Drive bridgesbayresort.com 712-332-6474
water fun for all ages, Grand Harbor has
Daily Memorial Day–Labor Day, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. $15 daily pass before 4 p.m. and $10 after 4 p.m., $6 seniors, free kids under 1, $5 nonswimmer pass bucket, ride the pirate ship (but watch out for the water cannons!), try the lily pad water walk, play triple-hoop
resort, these places feature everything
basketball, and watch your kids enjoy the
from thrilling water rides to kiddie-
Lil’ Squirt play features.
ADVENTURELAND ADVENTURE BAY Adventureland Park 305 34th Avenue NW adventurelandpark.com 515-266-2121 Daily through August 17, then weekends through Labor Day, 10 a.m.–varied closing times $35–$40 daily includes Adventureland Park and Adventure Bay, $120 season pass
water cannons, a lazy river, activity pools, and two giant hot tub whirlpools. You can even grab a snack at the River’s Edge Cafe.
Ottumwa BEACH OTTUMWA 101 Church Street beachottumwa.com 641-682-7873 Daily, noon–8 p.m.
friendly wading pools to private cabanas.
Altoona
waterspouts, water chutes, squirt guns,
Get dowsed under the 500-gallon dump
Half amusement park, half poolside
They’re a great place to make a splash!
waterslides, tube rides, rope ladders,
Burlington HUCK’S HARBOR PZAZZ! Resort Hotel 3001 Winegard Drive thepzazz.com 866-792-9948
$5 daily, $75 season pass, free kids under 3 Catch a wave at the Wave Pool. Plummet nearly 200 feet down the Speed Slide. Ride the Curly Slides, play sand volleyball, and try the 100-foot tube
Daily, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
slide. Beach Ottumwa has all that and
$6 Monday–Thursday, $8 Friday–Sunday
more (including a new children’s play
Outdoor water fun includes body slides,
area) spread over 13 acres near the
tube slides, speed slides, and a trip down
banks of the Des Moines River. Beach
the lazy river. Indoors are an activity pool
bum it Iowa style.
and a climbing wall. If you’re still game for some fun when the day is through,
Storm Lake
Iowa’s largest wave pool and longest lazy
you’re close to Catfish Bend Casino,
KING’S POINTE WATERPARK
river highlight a pirate’s paradise, above.
Lazertown, and Kingpins bowling.
King’s Pointe Resort
swim-up sand bar, a two-person raft
Dubuque
water slide, a high-speed body slide, a
GRAND HARBOR INDOOR WATERPARK
1520 E. Lakeshore Drive kingspointeresort.com 866-552-5960
four-plex of inner tube slides known as
Grand Harbor Resort
the Bermuda Quadrangle, Kokomo Kove,
Daily, opens at 11 a.m., closing times vary, check website for black-out dates
350 Bell Street grandharborresort.com 866-690-4006
$15 adults, $12 ages 4–11, free kids under 3, $5 nonswimmers. Inner tubes are free.
Daily, opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, closing times 9–10 p.m. depending on the day
Pick your adrenaline rush: the corkscrew-
Check out a 6,000-square-foot pool and
a “virtual splash factory,” and more.
$10–$25
10
iowan.com
shape Twisted Tornado, the open-flume Howling Hurricane, the dual speed slides
NATURAL WATERPARKS These new and increasingly popular river features channel the water flow to create rapids and standing waves for kayakers, canoeists, rafters, tubers, swimmers, stand-up paddleboarders, and boogie board surfers. Check each park’s website for Mighty Mustang & Raging Panther, or the
maps, directions, and river conditions before you go.
Discovery Plunge — an enclosed raft ride
Charles City
Visitors play on three features here: the
board, and lots of poolside lounge chairs
CHARLES CITY WHITEWATER AT RIVERFRONT PARK
a Boulder Island that provides a resting
for relaxing.
Downtown Charles City
spot at low water and a high-flow
ccwhitewater.com 641-228-4234
wave at high water, and a Fish/Canoe
Always open
whitewater paddlers. Built in 2013, the
Free
park in downtown Elkader also includes
A three-quarter-mile-long whitewater
Turkey River access, a picturesque
course (below) with three drops,
riverbank park, and nearby parking.
with a 420-foot descent. Also available are a water playground, 3-meter diving
Waterloo LOST ISLAND WATER PARK 2225 E. Shaulis Road thelostisland.com 319-233-8414 Daily, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
including the “Dam Drop,” a glassy
$24 daily pass, $150 season pass, free tubes and parking
standing wave that’s a favorite
You can rent your own private cabana at Lost Island, complete with comfy furniture, refrigerator, and on-duty attendant. Meanwhile, the kids can swim, dive, and play on 15 water features — including nine major slides. Lost Soul Falls drops you at free-fall speeds. Another, brand new this summer, is
surfing spot. There are two put-in points, a paved walking path, and an accessible, park-like riverbank. This
22-foot-wide Gobbler Wave for surfing,
Passage that’s popular with beginning
Manchester MANCHESTER WHITEWATER PARK Downtown Manchester
park, a national award winner for
manchesterwhitewater.com 563-927-4141
river restoration, is a favorite of
Opening summer 2015
paddlesports enthusiasts.
Free
Elkader
The 800-foot-long whitewater course on the Maquoketa River in downtown
ELKADER WHITEWATER PARK
Manchester includes a half-dozen 18-inch stream drops, restored river-
Tamer features include a lazy river, wave
211 S. Main Street 563-245-2098 elkader-iowa.com/whitewater.html
pool, and three areas scaled for kids.
Always open
new park is scheduled to open in early
billed as the world’s longest water slide — one of only four in the United States.
Williamsburg
Free
banks with terracing for spectators and picnickers, and river access. This brandsummer 2015.
WASSERBAHN WATERPARK RESORT Ramada Inn 209 S. Gaines St. wasserbahnwaterpark.com 319-668-1175 Waterpark open daily, times vary; slides closed Monday–Thursday $10 Friday–Sunday, $8 Monday– Thursday, free kids under 2, guest and party packages available A 2014 remodel includes a new twostory water slide that weaves in and out of the building, a swirling Vortex for basketball. Younger children can entertain themselves on slides, climbing areas, and in the wading pool; adults often choose the hot tubs and saunas.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
11
COURTESY CHARLES CITY WHITEWATER
pool — even an activity pool big enough
AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION
• Explore our agricultural heritage • See farm implements & tractors • Hands-on exhibits • Classic Cars too! Call for School, Bus or Small Group Tours
Year Round Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–4:30pm
Open additional hours Memorial Day–Labor Day weekends: Sat 9am-4:30pm Sun noon-4:30pm
Congratulations to The Iowa Dairy Center for winning this year’s Silos and Smokestacks “People’s Choice” Award!
Bring in this ad & receive $2 OFF each adult admission!
Hwy 20, Exit 252 Independence, IA HeartlandAcres_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
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319-332-0123
heartlandacresusa.com 5/15/15 9:21 AM
Figge Art MuseuM eXHiBitiON
American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art June 20-September 20, 2015 This exhibition provides an opportunity to see the evolution of American art during perhaps its most dynamic period through a priceless collection of personal and spontaneous works—those done on paper. 87 works by 44 artists, created between 1902 and 1962, and ranging in style from the urban realism of John Sloan to the pioneering abstractions of Arthur Dove will be featured.
This exhibition was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and the Henry Luce Foundation.
American Moderns on Paper is presented with the generous support of the Riverboat Development Authority in celebration of the Figge’s 10th Anniversary, with additional support from Per Mar Security Services and Genesis Health System. Edward Hopper, Captain Strout’s House, Portland Head, 1927, opaque and transparent watercolor over graphite on wove paper, The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1928.3
Davenport, IA • 563.326.7804 www.figgeartmuseum.org
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
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iowagrows
Some Like It HOT 9 Garden Plants That Beat the Heat
PHOTOS COURTESY WALTERS GARDENS, INC.
by DEB WILEY
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An Iowa summer day can be a mess of almost solid humidity or
6. Mullein You’ve probably seen
of blue-sky searing. During the hottest of our dog days, Iowa’s
mullein (Verbascum species)
native plants such as coneflowers, catmints, sages, yarrows,
with fuzzy gray-green leaves
and goldenrods are great garden choices because they’ve
and tall spires covered with
adapted to our weather extremes.
small blooms thriving in Iowa ditches. “Mullein takes me
But there’s a wide range of other drought- and heattolerant perennials to consider. Edward Lyon, the new director
back to my childhood in New
of Reiman Gardens in Ames and author of a just-released book
York State,” Lyon says. “Its big,
Growing the Midwest Garden, writes about and grows other
soft silver-gray foliage was so
great plants that won’t melt in high summer — even if you do.
intriguing, and the dried flower stalks made excellent spears,
1. Globe thistle Spiky spheres of
batons, and other toys for farm
globe thistle and
boys.” Verbascum prefers well-drained rocky or sandy soil and
great globe thistle
full sun. Cultivated varieties come in white, yellow, gold, tan,
(Echinops ritro, E.
purple, pink, and red. “Few plants make such a unique vertical
sphaerocephalus)
accent and exotic statement in the perennial garden,” he adds.
add texture and an
7. Blue moor grass Many ornamental
unusual color to
grasses display gorgeous plumes at
the garden and to
this time of year. Lyon would like to
bouquets. “Globe
see autumn moor grass or its cousin,
thistle may not appeal to everyone, but I love its unique,
blue moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis,
strongly architectural structure and steel-blue color,” Lyon says.
S. caerulea), used more often. It’s a
2. Sea holly Similar to globe thistle, sea holly (Eryngium species)
great garden partner, reaching only
has silver-blue orbs atop petal-like rosettes (opposite left). Both
about 2 feet tall. “This is possibly the
globe thistle and sea holly are deer-resistant and grow full sun
most underused of the ornamental
to part shade in a variety of sizes.
grasses,” he says. “It thrives in full
3. Butterfly weed Bright orange or yellow blooms of butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) please both gardeners and monarch butterflies.
sun but tolerates a great deal of shade and drought. I had a planting massed under a dense white ash that robs the area of moisture and sun and another perched above a stone retention wall in glaring sun and heat.”
“I have never understand the folks
8. Solomon’s seal For gardeners
who claim they will never have
with dry shade, there’s hope.
orange in the garden and wonder
Epimediums and variegated
if they would change their mind
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum
with the vibrant accent of glowing
odoratum ‘Variegatum’) both
color that butterfly weed provides,”
thrive in shade, although they
Lyon says.
need extra moisture in their
4. Poppy mallow This native wildflower (Callirhoe involucrata), little used in Iowa gardens, almost shines with magenta or white blooms. “Some people feel it is aggressive, but I love the way it winds through and around other plants, providing bright splashes of color,” Lyon says. “Its long taproot makes it difficult to transplant once established but gives the plant excellent heat and drought tolerance.” 5. Baptisia Breeders keep releasing new forms of baptisia with chocolate, cream, apricot, lemon, bicolor, blue, and violet flowers (opposite right, Brownie Points and Blueberry Sundae versions). Most grow large, at least 3 feet tall and wide, and act like shrubs. They thrive in full sun. “Baptisia is finally getting its due recognition,” Lyon says. “I’m pleased because this is a long-lived, durable plant that deserves a place in the Midwest garden.”
first two to three years. Once established, they cruise through summer’s heat unscathed. The small, spurred blooms of epimediums are long gone by summer, but their heart-shape green to reddish purple leaves remain pristine. “During a recent severe drought when other perennials were drooping or dying, the foliage of this plant looked untouched by stress,” Lyon says. 9. Variegated Solomon’s seal This plant is less aggressive than the native green version. “I have seen it effectively bordering driveways, difficult sites for most plants,” Lyon says. “The upright arching stems multiply moderately by thick rhizomes and are easy to divide and share.” Deb Wiley is a Des Moines-based garden writer and regular contributor to The Iowan.
July/August 2015
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15
The Handcrafted Escape
Willkommen to the Amana Colonies! Seven charming villages where you’ll experience our unique German culture, savor our cuisine, sip our locally crafted wines and beers, and marvel at our handcrafted products.
Plan your escape to the Amana Colonies.
1(800) 579-2294 www.amanacolonies.com
AmanaColonies_MAIowan_2015.indd 1 ACCVB_1.13.indd 1
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1/26/15 1/13/14 12:09 12:39PM PM
Visit www.TriCityBBQ .com Welcome to Onawa, Iowa
Join us for the Onabike 23nd Annual Bike Ride! “Western Iowa’s Largest 1-Day Bike Ride Through The Loess Hills”
2014 Calendar of Events Monona County Fair July 14–19 Classic Car Swap Meet August 16 Onabike August 22
For more information visit
www.onawachamber.com
Onawa Chamber of Commerce Email chamber@onawa.com | 712.423.1801
OnawaChamber_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
2/10/15 12:28 PM
claycountyfair.com July/August 2015
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iowatastes
Hello, Mr. Chips!
Sterzing’s salty, savory potato snacks keep customers coming back for more by CAROLE GIESEKE | photography by JIM HEEMSTRA
What started as a candy company in the 1930s in Burlington is now a business that produces potato chips that have been beloved for generations. Sterzing’s Potato Chips — can’tforget-them-once-you’ve-tried-them, salty, addictive — are still made the old-fashioned way every day, in small batches of hand-stirred, hand-sorted deliciousness. Barney Sterzing started Sterzing Food Company back in 1933 making molded chocolates, and the image of the cottage candy company is still emblazoned on every bag of Sterzing’s Potato Chips. The company expanded into chip production during the heat of summer, when chocolates tended to melt. By World War II, he abandoned the candy business altogether and focused entirely on making potato chips — the best chips around. Over the years, the company changed hands within the family. Barney Sterzing’s cousin Warren “Dutch” Duttweiler bought the business in 1959, and his two daughters ran the company for many years. Sterzing Food Company’s original building was located on Burlington’s Main Street; the company moved to a building on North 6th before relocating to its current location on Charles Street in 1968. In 2011 the sisters sold the business to two longtime employees, Craig Smith and Gary Schmeiser, who jointly own the company today.
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The process for making potato chips is simple, really. You start with potatoes specially bred for the chipping business, purchased primarily from farmers in North Dakota. The potatoes — 45,000–50,000 pounds of them every week — are mechanically peeled and sliced, but that’s where the automation ends. The thinly sliced spuds are dropped in small batches into a kettle of hot oil and paddle-stirred by hand for about 4 minutes until they are just the right color and texture. Then they’re sent off to cool slightly before they pass through a salting station. Once salted, they’re meticulously sorted by hand so that only the best chips end up in Sterzing’s bags. So that’s it: potatoes, oil, salt. Three ingredients for one amazing product. Craig Smith can’t explain why Sterzing’s chips are so popular with people in southeast Iowa. But he knows this: His customers can’t get enough. “We get a lot of quirky customer calls,” he says. “People
Sterzing’s co-owners Craig Smith and Gary Schmeiser. “The oldfashioned slow cooking makes our chips unique,” says Smith.
buy cases of chips for birthdays, holidays, weddings. People say, ‘I grew up in Keokuk and I want a taste of home for the holidays.’ We enjoy hearing those stories.” Sterzing’s aficionados passing through Iowa have been known to load their vehicles with cases of chips produced by the only potato chip manufacturer in Iowa. “It must be the unique combination of taste and texture,” Smith says. “For the national brands, the goal is consistency. With Sterzing’s, you get variety in every bag. The old-fashioned slow cooking makes our chips unique.” Freshness is also key. Chips made today are sold in stores tomorrow. Sometimes, Smith says, the chips are so fresh that they’re still warm on the shelves. Sterzing’s is still run like a family business. The company employs just 25 people, and it continues to focus on just one kind of potato chip: plain. No ridges, no fancy flavors. The company’s bag design is essentially the same as the one used by Barney Sterzing in WWII; the unique “Tri-Some” slogan still appears on each bag. Last fall a Quad Cities TV station sponsored an Iowa-
Chips are sorted by hand, then bagged while they’re still warm. “Quality is everything,” says Smith.
Illinois Potato Chip War between Sterzing’s and Illinois rival Kitchen Cooked Chips. Both chips have their fans, but Sterzing’s beat out the larger Kitchen Cooked brand with 56
WHERE TO FIND THEM
percent of the votes.
Sterzing’s Potato Chips are available at most Hy-Vee
“Quality is everything,” Smith says. “There’s just something special about our chips.”
stores throughout Iowa and in a few other grocery and convenience stores statewide. However, the brand is most easily spotted in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and in a 60-mile radius
Carole Gieseke is a regular contributor to The Iowan. Jim Heemstra is a freelance photographer based in Des Moines.
of Burlington. You can also order chips online at sterzingchips.com. A two-pound pack costs $22.00, including shipping and handling.
July/August 2015
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home iniowa
Living Aloft Do you dream of penthouse views and bustling nightlife? A downtown loft may be a great place to call home. by AMBER BARZ | photography by DAN WEEKS
Moving from a five-bedroom, two-story home to a three-bedroom penthouse loft was a challenge, but Carol and Craig Faber are glad they did. “Des Moines is a very progressive city, and the downtown area is dynamic and alive,” Craig says. “It’s a wonderful place to be at this time in our lives.”
From Sioux City to Davenport,
Open floor plans and industrial details
downtown lofts, condominiums, and penthouses are
In most lofts, including the Fabers’, the kitchen, dining area,
increasingly popular. The open floor plans offer extensive
and living room are open to one another. Beams and conduits
opportunities — and unique challenges — for creating a
are exposed. Floors and exterior walls are concrete.
comfortable, convenient, attractive living space. If you’re considering moving downtown, here’s what you’re likely to find.
Craig and Carol love the open plan because the views enhance every gathering space, and they are able to spend time together cooking, dining, and entertaining. To lend
High ceilings and expansive windows
warmth and reduce echoing, the couple added thick rugs,
Most residential lofts are in retrofitted industrial buildings,
fabric blinds, and lots of cushy upholstered furnishings and
so soaring ceilings and tall windows are common. Craig and
throw pillows. Floors throughout are heated.
Carol Faber’s Des Moines loft in the 100-year-old Whiteline
Open layouts limit opportunities for closets and cabinetry,
Transfer and Storage Building features 11-foot ceilings; floor-
so if you make the move, you may have to sell, stow, or give
to-ceiling windows wrap three sides.
away some belongings, Carol says. To gain additional storage,
“The panoramic views sold us,” Craig says. “The Des
choose side tables with drawers and ottomans with hidden
Moines skyline at night is spectacular, and sunrise over the
storage and bring in chests that can double as coffee tables
Capitol is breathtaking.”
or bench seating. If you are able to make changes to a loft’s
The Whiteline Lofts have new, insulated windows. In some lofts expanses of vintage glass can mean higher heating and cooling costs. Adding insulated window treatments can help.
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layout, as the Fabers did, opt for extra kitchen cabinets and fill the island with drawers.
Close proximity to city attractions and events For the Fabers, moving downtown from suburban West Des Moines was a big step. “We loved our home and our neighborhood,” Carol says. “Craig was more hesitant than I. But when our youngest headed off to college, I was ready for a change and he conceded. From our new home we can walk to restaurants, church, the library, the new Y, and Principal Park. Bike trails surround us. On Saturdays we venture out to the farmers’ market. It’s an exciting change.” For Craig, a commercial contractor, the move reduced commute time. “It’s a short drive to nearly any jobsite in the metro, and I can make it to our Johnston office in 15 to 20 minutes because I’m traveling opposite most traffic,” he says. “Because we live downtown, we entertain more than ever. Friends call us when they are heading our way, and we meet regularly, often here. It’s a perk we didn’t consider.”
Minimal exterior maintenance Private gardens maintained by Whiteline surround the building, and Carol and Craig don’t miss yardwork. A few flowerpots on each of their unit’s three terraces allow Carol to plant as many
The Fabers changed the loft’s layout, moving the kitchen from the interior to the exterior. “I enjoy the light and the views from the kitchen,” Carol says.
annuals as she likes. Underground parking is also provided, so finding a space on the street is never an issue. Gated, open-air parking is available for guests. The couple owns a cabin 60 miles south of Des Moines, so when they want to get back to nature, they can. “There is always something fun to do outside our door, and when we want to get away, we can,” Carol says. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
BLENDING OLD AND NEW “The Fabers’ loft offers wonderful city views, something that many people don’t associate with Iowa,” says interior designer Angela Dontje of by Design. “It was important that the interior design focus on the view while making the home warm and inviting. Many furnishings and accessories came from the couple’s previous home, but key furnishings were chosen specifically for the loft.” A deep turquoise contemporary sofa, a warm gray side chair, and an L-shape pale gray ottoman provide flexible seating options. “The horizontal lines of the furnishings complement the horizontal lines of the fireplace and built-ins,” Dontje says. A thick frieze rug feels warm and cushy underfoot
The Fabers’ apartment offers some of the best views of the city and makes coming home a treat. “It’s an experience we never had in the suburbs, and it makes entertaining even more fun,” Craig says.
and visually defines the primary seating area. Additional rugs of the same color delineate additional activity centers and reduce echoes.
Amber Dawn Barz is a Des Moines-based freelance magazine and book writer.
“In the master suite the Fabers opted to create a more romantic look with a crystal chandelier and a 7-foot-
Dan Weeks is editor of The Iowan.
tall padded headboard,” Dontje says. “The headboard provides another sound barrier and combines with the chandelier to draw attention to the ceiling height.”
July/August 2015
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Greater Des Moines
Botanical Garden Exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants
New Outdoor Gardens Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 515.323.6290 dmbotanicalgarden.com
EXPERIENCE
Saturday, August 8
• Dash to Splash 5k/10k • Sand Volleyball • Kids activities galore • “The Zone” Zip Line, Rock Wall, Sumo Suits, Laser Tag • Basketball Hot Shots
• Skateboard Competition • Bingo • Beer Garden • Bean Bag Tournament • FREE Pool Party • Live Music: Decoy & Black Diamond
www.carrollfestival.com
Check the Chamber website for Calendar of Events & Businesses! Carroll Chamber of Commerce 712-792-4383
www.carrolliowa.com
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CarrollChamber_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
5/14/15 11:42 AM
Nobody works harder (or smarter)
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“Our people make the difference” Excellent Service! Competitive Costs! INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS 300 Walnut Street Suite 200 Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2262 800-767-1724
www.reynolds-reynolds.com July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
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Fairathon!
540 miles. 17 hours. 7 stops. 1 GREAT ROAD TRIP. by DAN WEEKS | photography by MEGAN JOHANSEN and DAN WEEKS
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July/August 2015
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HOW MANY IOWA COUNTY FAIRS CAN YOU VISIT IN ONE DAY?
OUR METHOD
Last July the staff of The Iowan decided to find out. It was the ultimate Iowa day trip: interstates, state highways, county roads. Livestock shows, tractor pulls, corn dogs. Pancakes, antique engine displays, lemur races. (Wait — lemur races?) We came, we marveled, we ate, we moved on. Then we did it all over again. Seven times. We left Des Moines at 6:06 a.m., returned at 11:09 p.m., and expected to be exhausted, spent, faired out. We weren’t. “You mean it’s over?” we said to one another at day’s end. “It seems like we just left!” Maybe it was the constant change of scenery, the different personality of each fair, the nonstop entertainment, or the great food, but all of us were ready to do it again.
THE PLAN
Spontaneous we weren’t. There were spreadsheets involved and lots of math. Iowa has 99 counties (and 100 county fairs, but that’s another story). Clearly, we’d only be able to see a handful. But how many exactly? Where? On what day?
OUR CRITERIA
• See as many fairs in the shortest distance possible. • Spend at least an hour at each fair. • Visit the biggest fairs we could to see the most people, animals, and exhibits. • Go on a Saturday, when attendance is greatest. • Avoid closing days, when activities wind down.
Webster Co. Fair, Fort Dodge 1
We looked up the schedule of Iowa’s county fairs at iowafairs.com. We decided to concentrate on fairs with 20,000+ annual visitors whenever possible. We logged the dates of the fairs on a calendar to see which Saturday of fair season had the most. Then we plotted fair locations on the map, looking for the Saturday with fairs in the tightest geographical grouping, and calculated driving times. The winner: July 12, 2014, when seven fairs in central and eastern Iowa were going strong. Finally we consulted each fair’s website to generate a spreadsheet of what activities were taking place at each fair at what hour of the day so we could plan our route.
OUR ROUTE
1. Webster County Fair, Fort Dodge 2. Hardin County Fair, Eldora 3. Marshall County Fair, Marshalltown 4. Delaware County Fair, Manchester 5. Jones County Fair, Wyoming 6. Cedar County Fair, Tipton 7. Marion County Fair, Knoxville
Our research told us folks get up early in Webster County and start cooking pancakes first thing and that they race sprint cars late into the night in Knoxville. So we plotted a clockwise tour, starting from The Iowan’s offices in downtown Des Moines. When we connected the dots between fairs, we ended up with a route that looked a little bit like a smaller outline of Iowa, below. We took that as a good omen.
Hardin Co. Fair, Eldora 2
Delaware Co. Fair, Manchester 4
3 Marshall Co. Fair, Marshalltown Des Moines 7 Marion Co. Fair, Knoxville
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Jones Co. Fair, 5 Wyoming Cedar Co. Fair, 6 Tipton
STOP 1: WEBSTER COUNTY FAIR
Loaded with six people and as much The Iowan swag as we could cram in (to distribute along the way), we left downtown Des Moines at dawn. Several of us immediately fell asleep. Sometime autocross racer Erik Johansen piloted us north toward Fort Dodge while his wife, Megan Johansen, The Iowan’s senior graphic designer, navigated. The rumors of early-morning flapjacks were true. While exhibitors staggered out of RVs in the fair’s campground to feed and water their stock, we chowed down on the all-youcan-eat breakfast, with a side of sausage, for $5 per person. We regretted that we couldn’t stay long enough to root for Pork Chop, a “swinemobile,” in the demolition derby slated for later in the day, but we enjoyed looking at the rabbits, miniature horses, and antique tractors on display as well as an impressive photo contest and flower show.
Clockwise from left: Pancake breakfast; tractor display; Pork Chop the swinemobile gets its portrait taken; sunflowers and The Iowan staffers Meghan Keller (account executive), Polly Clark (publisher), and Megan Johansen (senior graphic designer); prizewinning photography; editor Dan Weeks chows down.
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STOP 2: HARDIN COUNTY FAIR
From there it was west to Eldora’s Hardin County Fairgrounds — or as we came to call it, “the llama stop.” There are two llama farms in the county, and 4-H kids can rent a llama for three months to learn how to show the animals. The fair had an obstacle class and a costume class in which llama and handler dress alike. Lauren Steinfeldt posed for us with her llama, Zuko. “They’re such a neat animal, and they’re different from what other people work with,” says Lauren’s mother, Libby. The llamas seemed to enjoy the attention. But at least one balky bovine calf took two kids pulling and one pushing to move. Older cattle seemed used to the routine and lined up to get bathed. Also at the fairgrounds: the best pie of the day (blueberry, raspberry, and apple — with ice cream!) and a World War II Prisoner of War Museum in an old Civilian Conservation Corps barracks featuring lots of uniforms and memorabilia.
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Clockwise from top left: A stubborn calf gets some directional encouragement; an attentive exhibitor and her calf in the show ring; vintage ladybug midway rides await passengers; Lauren Steinfeldt and Zuko, the llama; I’ve got the boots, I’ve got the hose, bring on the livestock!
STOP 3: MARSHALL COUNTY FAIR
We’d already been on the road for 5 hours and 200 miles by the time we arrived at the fairgrounds in Marshalltown shortly after 11 a.m. Appetites undiminished by the earlier flapjacks and pie, we quickly downed a collective $36.50 worth of corn dogs, funnel cakes, mini donuts, tamales, pulled-pork sandwiches, and jumbo dogs. Meghan Keller, a The Iowan sales representative and lifelong fair food aficionado, showed us how. Then it was time for the Rabbit Olympics featuring a long jump, high jump, tunnel crawl, race, and pyramid climb, similar to dog trials. The rabbits ranged from highly competitive to, well, a bit reluctant. Meanwhile, cloggers clogged, remote-control model race cars zipped around one of only three tracks like it in Iowa, and a family sold handwoven items from llama wool. We wanted to stay for the hog judging, but we had to move on.
Clockwise from above: Cloggers take the stage; chatting with the mini donut gals; handwoven llama-wool rugs, Meghan Keller demonstrates the proper way to eat a corn dog; showing swine; catching some air on the inflatable slide.
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STOP 4: FELIX GRUNDY FESTIVAL
Did I say we weren’t spontaneous? I was wrong. This event wasn’t on our agenda — or even on our radar — but when we came across what amounted to a mini fair in the Grundy County Courthouse square, we couldn’t help making a 15-minute pit stop. (Brief, yet Polly Clark, our speedshopping publisher, managed to buy $10.50 worth of cookies and kettle corn for the crew.) We found a petting zoo with a baby bison, games and balloon hats for the kids, and an engineering marvel: a 148-mile-per-gallon car built and driven in an ultimate mileage challenge by the students in Grundy Center High School’s industrial technology class.
Clockwise from top: A hands-on encounter with a baby bison that liked to be petted; Polly Clark stocks up on food for the road; the lion greets tonight; a visitor with a new hat; ultimate mileage contestants.
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Clockwise from left: Throttling down after a hard pull; you didn’t get my good side; not the fastest but perhaps the cutest lemur in the race; nobody leaves the midway hungry; Megan Johansen shows off her fair loot.
STEP 5: DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR
By 2:34 p.m. we’d driven 316 miles and were at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester. With about 100,000 visitors per year, this is one of Iowa’s largest county fairs — and the joint was jumping. We were greeted by the turbocharged roar of a tractor pull — an event that puts the “drag” in drag racing — and a huge midway where all the rides are free. Fair organizers say they try to literally offer something for everyone, from beer and wine tastings and an open-class classical piano competition to a mud pit run and concert by rock legend George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Plus, the fair has all the usual livestock classes, a duct-tape fashion show for teens, and perhaps the most esoteric event we encountered: lemur races. To keep up our strength, we continued to invest in calories: Together we consumed 3 ears of corn, 5 deep-fried peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, 3 beef burgers, and my personal favorite, an elk burger. It looked like a charred hockey puck, but inside was pink and delicious — the best burger in recent memory. In addition, Megan Johansen walked off with an “air hammer” — testament to her prowess at the carnival games — and a stuffed lemur. (After watching the real ones, she just couldn’t resist.)
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STOP 6: JONES COUNTY FAIR
It was nearly 4 p.m. when we left Manchester to take a beautiful ride down highway 38 toward Wyoming. “You’re lost — you know that, don’t cha?” grinned one of the fair organizers as we pulled into the fairgrounds. Apparently we were easier to corral than a steer had been earlier. It got loose and acted like it was going to make a break for the ballpark, then did a fake and a twist and ran back into the barn. We arrived in the calm between the steer show and the tractor pull, and most fairgoers were exploring the craft pavilion, having picnic dinners on the bleachers, or watching children playing in the inflatable bounce houses.
Clockwise from top left: Conquering Mount Inflatable; pretty in pink; the spot-free final rinse; I made it!; this way, critter!
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STOP 7: CEDAR COUNTY FAIR
This fair won the prize for the prettiest approach — a gorgeous cruise through rolling hills and in and out of the Wapsipinicon River and Rock Creek valleys to Tipton. The fairgrounds was just as attractive. It’s situated on a hilltop with lots of shade and a vintage grandstand. Still, the most dramatic sight as we arrived was the weather. As a line of severe thunderstorms swept toward and quickly over us, carnival workers scrambled to disassemble a midway full of wind-vulnerable rides. Good-natured fairgoers retreated to an historic 1895 round barn, now restored and housing exhibits of quilting, flower arranging, and antiques, and to food vendor buildings. It was now past suppertime, and feeling duty-bound to sample as much fair food as possible, we consumed another $32 worth: smoked butterfly chops (excellent!), a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, a loose meat cheeseburger, and crinkle fries. Polly bought us all a round of David’s Famous Gourmet Frozen Custard, a Tipton hometown favorite and one that more than lives up to its ambitious name. We got back to our van just as a blinding downpour struck and headed for I-80 at 45 miles per hour — as fast as we dared go — with our flashers on for good measure. Our next stop was to be the sprint car races at the Marion County Fair in Knoxville. But we got word they’d been canceled due to storms, so we headed back to Des Moines.
Clockwise from left: An aspiring cowboy ready for action; hanging out with a carnival prize; group selfie at the last stop with (left to right) Dan Weeks, Erik Johansen, Megan Johansen, former circulation manager Katrina Brocka, and Polly Clark; barn with barn quilt blocks at the Cedar County Fairgrounds.
WHAT WE LEARNED
We’d imagined this trip as a manic, gut-busting endurance test that would likely leave us all with heat exhaustion and tummy aches as well as great memories. In fact, it was altogether delightful: The pleasant rides between fairs gave us a chance to compare notes on what we’d seen and rest up for the next sprint. And spacing out the food seemed to increase our capacity and appreciation for fair cuisine. Most important, we learned that Iowa’s county fairs are as varied as their locations. We’d do it again in a minute. There are two essential ingredients, though: someone who REALLY likes to drive — and, for the passengers, reclining seats!
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Partners in Progress for Thirty Years IADG Sponsors Celebrate Three Decades of Economic Development Leadership The mid-1980s was a time when both our state and nation were in the grips of a terrible recession. The toll was particularly heavy in Iowa, where agriculture and manufacturing sectors of the economy were being severely impacted. Proactively, leaders from Iowa’s Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) came together to establish Iowa Area Development Group (IADG). Their vision was an economic development organization to serve the business and community development needs of Iowa’s cooperatives. Today, IADG remains a national model and a unique example of economic development collaboration and partnership.
30th Anniversary Recognition IADG was honored when Governor Branstad signed a proclamation recognizing IADG’s 30th anniversary and the economic development accomplishments and contributions of its sponsors. Over three decades, IADG and its utility partners have amassed impressive results. Working together, Iowa rural utilities have • assisted over 2,000 major economic development projects, • helped foster and finance over $10 billion in new investment, and • had a hand in creating and retaining over 50,000 jobs. In recognition of its 30th anniversary, IADG commissioned a special piece of art (opposite top), which was created to illustrate the business growth and community vitality that its sponsors have fostered.
IADG salutes the nearly 250 rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and telecommunications companies who support and are actively engaged in economic development in Iowa and the IADG mission.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THREE DECADES OF PARTNERSHIP
Farm Bureau and IADG initiate value-added agriculture initiative
INS partners with IADG creating the Ripple Effect program
IADG establishes statewide community foundation
1985
2015
IADG honors partners and sponsors, thanking them for 30 years of support
IADG launches an Energy Bank for renewable energy projects
Delta Dental and IADG collaborate on rural placement program
Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) forms partnership to support Iowa manufacturing
Iowa RECs establish IADG
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IADG Partners: Seizing Opportunity and Building Communities Financial Assistance
Industrial Property Development
IADG has assisted its sponsors in securing more rural economic development loans and grants than any other state. Our IADG sponsors have been awarded over 200 grants and loans totaling over $75 million from USDA Rural Economic Development to support business and community projects. These awards have helped capitalize over 40 rural Revolving Loan Funds for on-going project support. IADG also identifies and assembles resources at the local, regional, and state level to support projects throughout Iowa.
As Iowa businesses grow and expand, and new businesses consider Iowa, there is a need for industrial ground. Iowa RECs realize that industrial-ready property is vital to economic development in the communities they serve. IADG sponsors have designated, designed and developed 95 industrial parks totaling over 7,200 acres of shovel-ready industrial and commercial property.
Menards Distribution Center – Shelby
ELPLAST America Inc. groundbreaking – Marion
Puck Custom Enterprises – Manning
Forest City Rail Project
Sponsors:
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Speculative Building Construction
Business Recognition
In most cases, growing businesses look for existing buildings. Iowa’s RECs are doing their part to create opportunity in Iowa. Collectively, IADG’s REC partners have supported 75 speculative buildings providing 2.4 million square feet of industrial space for business growth in rural Iowa. IADG is a ready source for building and site searches.
The Iowa Venture Award was established by IADG partners to honor Iowa companies for their entrepreneurial leadership, innovation and job creation. A listing of all 233 award recipients is available in the IADG Venture Award Hall of Fame at www.IADG.com.
Times-Citizen Communications – Iowa Falls
West Liberty Foods – Mount Pleasant
IADG Venture Awards
IADG Services: • Site & Building Location Assistance • Financial Incentive Packaging • Project Management & Technical Expertise • Marketing & Communication Support • Community Data • Entrepreneurial Recognition
800-888-4743 www.iadg.com
July/August 2015
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Iowa’s
WACKY
Summer Weather
Droughts and floods, heat and storms — what’s going on here? Iowa experts explain what’s happening and why — and what we can do about it.
Iowa has traditionally experienced dramatic summer thunderstorms. But it’s not your imagination — they’re dropping significantly more rainfall on Iowa than they did even 60 years ago.
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Y
ou know what they say about Iowa weather: If you don’t like it, wait a minute. That line has seemed less amusing and more prophetic in the past few decades as catastrophic floods and record droughts have ravaged the state — sometimes in the same season. But is Iowa’s weather really getting more volatile? Are there any underlying trends? We decided to try to find out.
Elwynn explains First we talked to Elwynn Taylor, an agricultural meteorologist, professor, and Iowa State University Extension climatologist. Taylor has studied and interpreted Iowa’s weather and climate for decades. He’s earned a fistful of awards for his work — and has the status of a weather oracle among Iowa’s farmers. He’s also very good at explaining something as complicated as climate in plain, commonsense English. Here’s what he had to say. We Iowans may pay more attention to weather than folks in other places, given how intensively farmed our state is. “Weather is the single most important uncontrollable factor that affects our agriculture production,”
PHOTO BY BRENNAN JONTZ — IOWA STORM CHASING NETWORK
“We have about 20 percent more average annual precipitation than we had in 1900.” — climatologist Elwynn Taylor Taylor says. “The impacts can be managed, but we can’t manage the weather.” But we sure can forecast it and talk about it. And extremes that can make or break fortunes overnight make for the best conversations.
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Iowa is where two huge weather systems meet. “We’re at about the place where the effects from Canada meet the influence of the Gulf of Mexico during the summer. Eighty percent of the moisture that falls in Iowa originates from a flow of warm, moist air from the Gulf. When it meets a disturbance coming either from the Rocky Mountains or from Canada, this often results in precipitation. June, July, and August are usually months of highest moisture.” We don’t know that weather is getting more extreme. This clash of titanic weather systems has historically taken place here. It may seem like there are more extreme weather events such as tornadoes, says Taylor, but that may be because we’re better at finding them. Doppler radar, for instance, can visualize a forming tornado to viewers statewide — and smartphones that can capture and share funnel cloud videos instantly are everywhere. “We’re better at observing now,” says Taylor. “If we look at the number of tornadoes per person watching, reported by a person, not a radar, it works out about the same” as historical norms. “We really can’t see a 100-year change,” he says. We’ve been worried about human-caused climate change for more than a century. “Well before 1900, people were convinced that the climate was changing and people were having a big effect on causing it, either by removing the forests or changing the nature of the vegetation from the prairie to cropland.” There is some basis for this: “We’re staying green longer, putting a lot of water in the air from soybeans and corn later in the year than the native prairie 40
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did.” That higher humidity can make late-season heat waves more stressful. Precipitation is up significantly. Some aspects of Iowa’s climate may be debatable, but there’s one hard fact that’s unambiguous and well documented: “We have about 20 percent more average annual precipitation than we had in 1900 — and we have almost twice as many days of precipitation,” says Taylor. Half that gain has come since 1950. That makes it harder to cure alfalfa and hay because three sequential dry days are harder to come by. But that’s the least of the problems. Flooding is up dramatically. That’s because an increase in flooding is disproportional to an increase in precipitation. Think about it this way: If your cup is half full, you can add another half cup before it runs over. But if your cup is already full, a few more drops can cause it to overflow. So it is with Iowa’s streams and rivers.
A 20 percent increase in precipitation produces a six-fold increase in flooding. A full cup, for Iowa, is 25 inches of moisture. “If the precipitation for the year is 25 inches and it is well distributed through the season, we get optimal plant growth and the plants can use all that 25 inches of water,” Taylor says. “But
PHOTO BY BRIAN ABELING
Storms affect Iowa’s cities as dramatically as they do its farmland. Just ask residents of Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines (above), and Iowa City — just a few urban centers that have experienced flooding in recent years.
Taking Iowa’s temperature if we get 26 inches of water, that’s more than the plants can use. And the 10 percent increase in precipitation we have experienced since 1950 has doubled the average annual flow of Iowa’s streams and small rivers,” he adds. “With double the water going down the streams, it’s over the banks six times as often as it used to be.” So a 20 percent increase in precipitation produces a six-fold increase in flooding. That’s also why “100-year floods” are happening so frequently now. It’s all math, says Taylor: “A 100-year flood doesn’t mean once in a hundred years specifically; it means a one percent chance of water that deep in the river in a given year. So it could happen two years in a row. A one-ina-hundred chance over 1,000 years averages out to about a flood every hundred years. However, now that the streams are over the banks six times as often because of the 10 percent increase in precipitation since 1950, you can divide 6 into 100 and you get a so-called “100-year flood” about every 17 years. So when we have a serious flood and you say, ‘That was a 100-year flood that damaged our city. Should we rebuild on the floodplain or on top of the hill?’ Well, it depends: Do you want to redo it again in 17 years?” Summer storms may or may not be getting more extreme. But average precipitation is up, and flooding is way up, in ways we can track with mathematical precision.
That affects not only Iowa’s agriculture but Iowans’ health as well. Last October dozens of highly respected Iowa health, environmental, horticultural, biological, agricultural, and life scientists released Iowa Climate Statement 2014: Impacts on the Health of Iowans. It outlines the effects of the heavier rains, the increased flooding, and the longer growing season on Iowa’s health. Among the results: Heat stress: Higher humidities and increased nighttime temperatures make it harder to recover from daytime heat stress. Poor water quality: Repeated heavy rains cause increased exposures to toxic chemicals and raw sewage spread by flood waters. More algal blooms: Higher water temperatures and decreased mixing have combined with high nutrient levels to create harmful algal blooms that make water undrinkable and unswimmable, as evidenced by more-frequent beach closures at Iowa lakes. Increased respiratory and cardiovascular illness: Warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels in the air cause plants to produce more pollen, and pollen with a higher allergen content. A longer growing season extends the period of exposure to allergens, and new allergenic plants moving northward into Iowa are magnifying the range of exposures. July/August 2015
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PHOTO BY BRIAN ABELING
Iowa is first in the nation in wind power. Turbines such as these near Blairsburg are an investment in renewable energy that can help moderate the effects of a changing climate — and provide jobs and economic growth.
Respiratory problems such as childhood asthma have increased dramatically since the 1980s. In many cases, this is related to increased exposures to flood molds and to higher indoor moisture, as well as to lung-damaging ozone and fine particulate matter made worse by higher heat in urban areas. Heat stress and exposure to air pollutants also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, especially in aging adults. New infectious diseases: New species of mosquitos and ticks in Iowa are capable of transmitting diseases such as dengue fever and ehrlichiosis. Increasing temperatures, more rainfall, and longer summers allow these mosquitos and ticks to live longer and expand their range. Increased stress and violence: Stress caused by climaterelated moves and job loss due to flood or drought is well established. And research since the 1980s has associated higher temperatures with increased aggression and violence.
The way forward The scientists who signed the climate statement recommend lowering greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and clean renewable energy. They say these steps both reduce air pollution and produce jobs. They also recommend heart-healthy activities such as walking or bicycling to work 42
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to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, they urge adopting strong climate-change policies, which they say will play a vital role in diminishing human suffering and illness now and for generations to come. In fact, a study by the Risky Business Project, The Economic Risks of Climate Change in the United States, predicts that without a dramatically strong and fast-growing investment in the above activities, Iowa and the Midwest will see big changes by the end of the century. Those changes will make the havoc of recent floods seem miniscule. They include extreme heat, decreased crop yields, higher electricity demand and related higher energy costs, and a continued increase in the effects mentioned in 2014’s climate statement.
What Iowa is doing Iowa is working to meet those challenges. The state has several accomplishments to be proud of: Iowa is first in wind farming. Iowa ranks first in the nation in the percentage of our energy that we produce from wind. More than 4,000 turbines in more than 100 wind farms generate 25 percent of Iowa’s electrical power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as taking more than 1.5 million cars off the road. The Iowa wind industry also
employs more than 6,000 people and has the support of 85% of Iowans — more support than any other power source (for more information: iowawindenergy.com). Iowa ranks near the top in agricultural conservation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Iowa ranks near the top in conservation program enrollments — including first in the nation for the number of contracts in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that removes sensitive land from agricultural production and plants species that improve environmental health and quality. Other conservation programs are similarly popular here, including the Conservation Stewardship Program (Iowa ranks third), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (fourth), the Grassland Reserve Program (fifth), and the Wetlands Reserve Program (ninth).
Iowa’s cities are greening. A few examples: Dubuque was recently named a Climate Action Champion by the White House. That city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 50 percent below 2003 levels by 2030 and was also commended for its flood mitigation. Charles City installed permeable pavement in a 16-block neighborhood to reduce and filter runoff. The $39 million project was the largest of its kind in the state — and perhaps in the nation. The repaved streets can now handle a 3-inch rainfall without sending water into storm sewers. Des Moines and other Iowa cities have seen a return to living in city centers in urban lofts — a practice that’s measurably reduced commutes in the capitol city and can reduce suburban sprawl that further contributes to runoff. We have a pragmatic and resilient outlook. J. Gordon Arbuckle, an associate sociology professor at Iowa State University, surveyed 1,200 farmers in an Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll about their views on climate change. There was some disagreement on the causes of climate change, but virtually all those surveyed — 96.4 percent — agreed it was occurring. That he found encouraging. “Farmers are professional adaptors,” he told Scientific American magazine. “And they respond to the challenge of adapting to difficulty.” The rest of us can perhaps follow their lead, reach deep into our pioneering roots, and do the same.
THINKSTOCK ®
“Farmers are professional adaptors. And they respond to the challenge of adapting to difficulty.” —J. Gordon Arbuckle
WHAT ABOUT WINTER? So summers are getting increasingly long, hot, and wet. What about winters? Fortunately or unfortunately, says climatologist Elwynn Taylor, “winter has little to do with how the summer turns out.” And, says Taylor, all that talk about how much harsher winters were decades ago is true. “I don’t know how many times I told my children, ‘Quit complaining about the winter! You should have seen it when I was a kid,’ ” says Taylor. “ ‘I’d tell them, ‘Don’t “Aw, Dad” me — I have data!’ ” According to that data, “There’s about a 60-year cycle on harshness of winters,” Taylor says. “We had a harsh series of winters mostly in the ’50s and early ’60s. Then we got to the ’90s and had mild winters. Now we’re back to harsher winters. During the next 15 to 20 years, we have to expect winters to be more on the order of the ’50s.” So if you like waterskiing AND cross-country skiing, chances are you’re about to experience the best of both worlds.
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, Iowa
You’re Always Welcome! · Architectural GEODE Splendors FEST September 25–2 7 · Keokuk Geodes geodefest.org · Iowa’s only National Cemetery
Come spend July 4th where Iowa began! Red, White & Blue Art Reception
ROLLING ON THE RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL
August 14–15 Victory Park
· The Mississippi Flyway · Lock & Dam #19 · Antique Shops, Museums & Parks
(319) 524-5599
KeokukIowaTourism.org
825 Avenue G July 3, 5pm–7pm
104th Annual Charlie Korschgren 4th of July Kiddie Parade
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5/12/15 2:00 PM
Along Avenue G from 18th St.– 4th St. July 4, 10am
Independence Day @ Old Fort Madison Riverview Park July 4, 9am–5pm
JULY 29TH – AUG 2ND, 2015
Independence Day Band Concert Central Park Bandstand July 4, 7pm
Fireworks Display over the Mississippi Riverview Park July 4, Dusk
Red, White & Blue Garden Tour 825 Avenue G July 5, 12pm–4pm
BIGGER & BETTER for 2015 Montgomery Gentry
Saturday, August 1st visitfortmadison.com 1-800-210-TOUR FortMadison_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
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5/22/15 11:25 AM
Tickets still available. To order by phone call: (563) 652-4282 More information online at:
www.jacksoncountyiowafair.com Jackson County Fair 2015.indd 1
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GRAB the
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Shop, unwind and laugh with good friends. Find out why Cedar Falls is your perfect getaway!
800-845-1955
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Nordic Fest
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5/15/15 3:44 PM
JULY 23-25, 2015
DANCING TROLLS with the
3 FULL DAYS of Norwegian fun!
Live entertainment, events, activities, & food!
Nordic
FEST 2015
Dancing TROLLS With The
Decorah, Iowa
www.nordicfest.com 800-382-FESTÂ
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DECORAH, IOWA July/August 2015
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BOB DORR
For more than four decades, this award-winning radio producer and musician has been “driving the blues bus down Blue Avenue” for Iowa listeners. Here’s the man behind the music. by AVERY GREGURICH | photography by KATHRYN GAMBLE
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IOWAN
ICON
Bob Dorr in his garage studio, surrounded by the combination of vintage and state-of-the-art gear he uses to produce his three radio shows Backtracks, Beatles Medley, and Blue Avenue.
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Dorr is blues historian as well as a musician and producer. He’s studied — and in many cases interviewed — scores of musical legends. When he talks about the blues, people listen.
I
t’s well past midnight in Cedar Falls. The streets are finally quiet: Neither traffic nor lawn mower spoils the stillness. At a desk in his garage, Bob Dorr sits surrounded by a maze of recording equipment. Stacks of music publications rest in clusters on what little space is left. Floor-to-ceiling shelves of LPs, cassettes, and CDs line the walls — enough to fuel a lifetime of listening. Tonight, as for the last 25 years, he works compiling and recording material for one of three radio programs that air on Iowa Public Radio’s (IPR) weekend lineup: Backtracks, Blue Avenue, and Beatles Medley. He will work nearly to dawn. It’s not just the quiet that has him working so late. “I have a biorhythm of late night,” Dorr says, his voice smooth, rich, and deep, with a slight growl. His life and career have fueled this biorhythm, or perhaps it’s the other way around.
PROGRESSION
Dorr, 63, has been a critically acclaimed radio and television host and producer for more than 40 years. He has produced programs syndicated nationally through National Public
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Radio (NPR). He has interviewed the likes of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Ry Cooder, Luther Allison, and Tom Waits. A celebrated musician in his own right, he’s led Bob Dorr & The Blue Band for more than 30 years. He was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame (twice). Dorr was even a part of the birth of public radio station KUNI (now part of Iowa Public Radio (IPR). That station’s first broadcast was October 2, 1972. That night Dorr, then a junior at the University of Northern Iowa, hosted the first FM rock and roll program broadcast on a public radio station in Iowa. The program was called Progression, and Dorr’s music director asked him to play something a little different. “I was encouraged to be as weird as I could be,” Dorr says. “It was classic ’70s underground: I played everything from Shel Silverstein to Gregorian chants.” Progression grew mainly by word of mouth. Dorr’s material for the show came from several sources — two in particular: “Rolling Stone was my bible and Cloudburst (a record store in Cedar Falls where he became “wallpaper”) was my source,” he says.
EVERYBODY NEEDS THE BLUES Dorr is a blues historian and practitioner who prefers “traditional ’50s and ’60s Chicago-style blues.” As a member of a listening project put together by the Blues Foundation (blues.org), a Memphis nonprofit that calls itself “the international home of blues music,” Dorr has been “inundated with blues releases.” Here are four Iowa blues artists that Dorr says you should be listening to right now.
JOE AND VICKI PRICE joepriceblue.com To Dorr, Joe and Vicki Price epitomize “the real deal.” “Joe Price has been a hero of mine since the mid-’70s, when he was part of the Mother Blues Band in Iowa City,” he says. The husband and wife duo have been playing and touring together since 1982 and have shared the stage with the likes of Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, and fellow Iowan Greg Brown. Their album Rain or Shine won the Independent Music Award for Best Blues CD of PHOTO BY JIM DOROTHY
2010. They call Decorah home but are rarely there long.
His evident joy in the music, vocal talent, and professionalism on stage have won Dorr and The Blue Band generations of fans.
They tour nationally and perform often at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. “They continue to inspire my own perseverance,” Dorr says.
THE MERCURY BROTHERS BAND Made up of a host of Quad Cities blues veterans, the Mercury Brothers Band (you can find them on Facebook) is one of Iowa’s premier bands. The band represented Iowa at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis for the second time earlier this year. Lead singer and harp player Ric Burris has a voice that glides and sails smoothly
His passion for radio and music — especially American music — began much earlier. As a kid Dorr was immersed in the sounds of the British Invasion sweeping AM radio stations. “I grew up in Chicago in the ’60s with really great radio — WLS and WCFL,” he says. “A good deal of the songs I loved from the invasion bands were actually their covers of classic American rock and roll and blues songs.” At the ripe age of 22, he experienced a life change when he had a chance to talk with the man behind much of the music from which British Invasion bands were borrowing heavily: blues legend Muddy Waters. Waters was playing a show at Luther College in Decorah, and Dorr came upon a scrap of information he hoped would gain him access to the father of modern Chicago blues. “I had found out a few weeks before that Muddy was into champagne,” Dorr says, laughing. Dorr found a $10 bottle of champagne and told Waters’ manager he would share it with the musician in exchange for an interview. “There is always some key to open the door, but I never thought that $10 champagne would open that one,” Dorr says. “But it did.”
over a sound best described as Chicago-via-Texas.
BOB PACE & THE DANGEROUS BAND bobpaceband.com “Bob Pace has been a Des Moines music icon for decades,” Dorr says. “There seems to be no instrument he can’t play.” Pace has opened shows for Jimmy Vaughan, the late Johnny Winter, and John Mayall in his 40-plus-year career. Like Dorr, he is a member of both the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He and The Dangerous Band play two weekly gigs in Des Moines: at Zimm’s Food and Spirits on Wednesday and The Gas Lamp on Friday.
KEVIN BURT Dorr calls Kevin Burt “probably the most musically gifted bluesman in Iowa.” On any number of tracks, you will hear Kevin, or BF (for Big Feller), singing, playing guitar, and blowing the harp. His voice is reminiscent of Bill Withers and has been heard in bars and clubs across the nation over the course of two decades. (He can also be found on Facebook.)
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PHOTO BY RUSS RICHARDSON
Iowa-based The Blue Band has been performing blues, soul, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues since 1981 and has a national following. Left to right: Nolan Schroeder from Marion and Eddie McKinley from Iowa City on sax, Steve Hays from Iowa City on drums, Dorr, Doug Norton from Marshalltown on bass, and Jeff Petersen from Waterloo on guitar.
Dorr interviewed Waters in the women’s locker room at Luther College, the two of them sipping champagne from Styrofoam cups. “He was fantastic, the classic blues gentleman,” Dorr says. The day that Muddy Waters died — April 30, 1983 — it was Dorr’s interview that played on NPR’s All Things Considered.
THE BLUE BAND
Around the same time, Dorr’s other long-standing musical vehicle, Bob Dorr & The Blue Band, began. He formed it after his earlier The Little Red Rooster Band had broken up amid management issues. It still had three gigs scheduled, so Dorr placed an ad on a bulletin board at Stebs Bar in Cedar Falls. He found some musicians, rehearsed some songs. The new band played the dates with wild success. Thirty-three years later, The Blue Band still plays more than 70 shows a year, including an annual stint at the Iowa State Fair. At its peak popularity, it played more than 200 shows a year nationwide — including annual stops in Sun Valley, Idaho, and at B.B. King’s nightclub in Memphis. All the while, Dorr kept producing three programs each week for IPR in his garage, dropping them off at the station before heading out on the road again. 50
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For his work with The Blue Band and his dedication to the preservation of blues music, Dorr was inducted to the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in 2005, an honor he cherishes. “It’s fantastic to be recognized by people that do the same thing that you do,” Dorr says. To persevere through all the BS to where people recognize and honor your perseverance — that was really, really special.”
“I can pretty much turn a stack of records into a radio show any time.” —Bob Dorr Since 1981 Jeff Petersen has been The Blue Band’s guitarist (Dorr is the lead singer and harmonica player). Peterson first knew Dorr as “that mysterious voice coming through the radio.” Since then he has come to know Dorr as a complex personality, a fair businessman, and a loyal friend. Petersen says Dorr’s relationship with music is a sacred union. “Anything to keep the blues alive, he’d be up for it,” Petersen says. “He loves music. It’s the paramount thing in his life.”
WHERE TO HEAR HIM RADIO SHOWS: iowapublicradio.org Click on Backtracks, Blue Avenue, or Beatles Medley for show times and information.
THE BLUE BAND: theblueband.com/cal.htm The band will play more than a dozen dates in July and August alone.
RADIO INTERVIEWS: theblueband.com/bobdorr.html Dorr amiably goofing around in his studio surrounded by thousands of records, cassettes, CDs — even 8-track tapes. They’re all raw material for his Iowa Public Radio programs.
This enduring partnership with music, both on stage and behind a soundboard, has led Dorr to plenty of the same tribulations found in his favorite blues songs. “I used to be the life of the party when I was swimming in a bourbon bottle. And I could be a pretty dark, black, sarcastic, biting ass after I’d had 15 shots. I did that five to seven days a week for years,” Dorr says. “I’m not proud of the way I conducted my life in the ’70s and ’80s as far as whatever substance came by, but that was the thing to do at the time.” Things have quieted down since. He hasn’t had a drink since getting “s---faced drunk on Y2K, 1999.” He got married for the first time five years ago. “Carolyn and I had a thing for 22 years,” Dorr says. “I would run after her and she would run away and vice versa. We finally decided to get married. Had I known it would be this good, I would have gotten married way sooner, but I was a blues man on the road. I had to come around to that on my own. ”
THE REAL DEAL
Now, 40 weeks each year you can find Dorr in his garage recording material for his three programs on IPR’s weekend slate: Backtracks, a three-hour journey through obscure rock and roll music that is at least 25 years old, Beatles Medley, a half
hour of nonstop music from the Fab Four and their various side and solo projects, and Blue Avenue, a celebration of the blues in all its many forms. After 42 years, “I can pretty much turn a stack of records into a radio show any time,” he says. But it still takes time. For a three-hour show like Backtracks, Dorr will spend eight to nine hours selecting music and recording the program. It takes longer than it used to. These days, says Dorr, “Anyone can make a record with Pro Tools and GarageBand [software]. The problem is wading through the BS to get to the real deal.” That never-ending search for the “real deal,” however, doesn’t show any signs of slowing soon. As the night grows old, think of a home on a quiet street in Cedar Falls. There, sitting in his garage surrounded by walls of vinyl, cassettes, and CDs with the rest of the world asleep, music playing, and microphone held close, Bob Dorr finds his authentic self. “It’s become a part of my self-worth,” he says. “I can’t quit because then I would no longer have that self-portrait of what I am.” Avery Gregurich is a student of English and magazine journalism at Drake University in Des Moines. Kathryn Gamble (kathryngamble.com) is a freelance photographer based in Des Moines.
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A N T I Q Over 60 Vintage Trucks on Display U Trucking Memorabilia E Vintage Gas Pumps T I-80 Exit 284 Walcott, Iowa R 563.468.5500 U C K M U S E E R F MISSION E D A FOLLOW US U iowa80truckingmuseum.com M
Shelby County Historical Museum
FUN FOR ALL AGES
Iowa Association 52 Museum Iowan.com
Visit the Shelby County Historical Museum to view original 1850s log cabins, antique furniture, Native American artifacts, horse-drawn farming equipment, an extensive military collection, an inaugural gown worn by one of Iowa’s First Ladies, thousands of books and photographs, and much more! Come see our new modern storage and preservation facility. We have a genealogical research center with thousands of manuscript items and documents, combined with a knowledgeable and friendly staff to help you answer all of your research questions. 1805 Morse Avenue Harlan, Iowa 51537 (712) 755-2437
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Open M–F 8am–4pm FREE admission www.shelbycoiamuseum.org
5/19/15 11:47 AM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Special Advertising Section
Old Bradford Pioneer Village
Museum & Gift Shop OPEN: May 1– Sept 30, 2015
See the largest collection of National Bank Note issues on permanent exhibit in the U.S.
HOURS: Mon–Sat 9–5 Sun 1–5
Come see America’s commemorative paper money depicting: * Landing of Columbus * Embarkation of the Pilgrims * Signing of the Declaration of Independence * Other great events in our history
FREE ADMISSION
Open mid-May until mid-September
re happen he fun things
Visit the
5/14/15 George M. Curtis Mansion
4:26 PM
420 5th Ave S, Clinton, Iowa
The American Gothic House Center in Eldon, Iowa presents a New Exhibit
“American Gothic in Stitches:
Quilts inspired by the famous painting” Exhibit open June 1st thru October 18th
Home of the Clinton Lumber Industrialist
5/7/15 12:04 PM
Family attraction for hands-on, active learning fun, inspires every child to imagine, create, discover, and explore though the power of play.
1451 Coral Ridge Avenue Coralville, IA 52241 319.625.6255 www.theicm.org
www.brucemore.org Cedar Rapids, IA
National Balloon Museum • History of Ballooning in the U.S. from 1783 to present • Interactive displays • Participative quizzes • Family-oriented
Saturday Tours 1:30pm & 2:30pm Wednesday Tours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 1:30pm & 2:30pm Other times by appointment. 563.242.8556 Go to www.georgemcurtismansion.org to view upcoming events. Available for private rental.
Playing is learning!
&
CULTURAL CENTER
©2006 William R. Higgins Jr. Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.
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C TORI SIT IS
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www.thehigginsmuseum.org 1507 Sanborn Ave. • Okoboji, IA 51355 712-332-5859
Now Handicapped Accessible 2729 Cheyenne Ave. Nashua, IA 50658 641-435-2567
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H
Tues. - Sun., 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
American Gothic has served as an inspiration for many artists, whether through a lighthearted, or more analytical interpretation. This exhibit will feature the works of skilled quilters from around the world who have created their own masterpieces influenced by this famous painting.
• • • •
Gift Shop Kid’s Corner Video Presentations Research Library
For more information, contact the
American Gothic House Center
641-652-3353 or www.AmericanGothicHouse.net Thank you to our sponsors:
1601 Jefferson Way Indianola, IA 50125 515.961.3714 museum@NationalBalloonMuseum.com
www.NationalBalloonMuseum.com Special Advertising Section
53 THE IOWANwww.IowaMuseums.org July/August 2011
The Dollies
This unique display is now open near the 1905 Study Hall. Anatomically correct, these 81 hand-carved “Dollies,” also known as the “Firewood Floozies,” are 5/8ths human size and complete with handmade clothing, jewelry, and furniture. The artist, Robert Smith, farmed near Battle Creek and created the collection over 20 years. Visit one of the Midwest’s largest county heritage museums to see these treasures and more!
Belle Plaine Area Museum & Henry B. Tippie Annex Come experience Belle Plaine’s history along the Lincoln Highway. Visit the Belle Plaine area museum and Henry B. Tippie Annex. 901 12th Street, Belle Plaine, IA 52208 319.434.6093 info@bpiowahistory.com www.bpiowahistory.com
Plymouth County Historical Museum
335 First Avenue SW, LeMars, Iowa pchmuseum@gmail.com
Iowa Gold Star
Take a step back into small-town Iowa History!
Military Museum
Honoring Iowans’ Military Service to Our Country
We are an innovative visual art museum dedicated to imagination and learning opportunities. 920 3rd Ave S Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
OUR MISSION:
To honor and depict the military experience of Iowa Citizens in all wars, homeland defense, and Iowa service. 7105 NW 70th Avenue Johnston, IA 50131 515-252-4531 Email: goldstarmuseum@iowa.gov
www.blanden.org 515-573-2316
www.iowanationalguard.com/Museum
HUMBOLDT COUNTY5/15/15 HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
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Visit the Historic Burkard Riegel Blacksmith Shop 210 Mill St, Clermont, IA Open Memorial Day–Labor Day for self-guided tours. Guided tours by appointment. Call (563)423-5561
Open 7 Days a Week Year-Round
Iowa’s Quilt Capitol
3:16 PM ClermontHistorical_MAIowan_2014.indd 1
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Preserving the past for future generations.
OPEN June 1–September 30 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10 am–4 pm Sun 1:30 pm–4:30 pm 905 1st Ave N, Dakota City, IA 50529 515-332-5280
641-842-6176
www.humboldtiowahistory.org
www.sprintcarhof.com
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Carrie Lane5/7/15 4:11 PM Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Interpretive Center
715 D Ave, Kalona 319-656-2519 kalonaiowa.org
3/17/15 11:10 AM
Visit Heritage Square Park in Odebolt �
Leave the top paragraph the same
After you explore our museums take a leisurely stroll down our tree lined
Middle paragraph will read
Key coordinator of the woman suffrage movement, Catt played a leading role in the successful campaign to win voting rights for women. Open Memorial Day–Labor Day, 10–4; Sunday 12–4; and by appointment. 2379 Timber Avenue Charles City, IA 50616 641.228.3336 www.catt.org
Iowa Association 54 Museum Iowan.com
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After your visit take a leisurely stroll down Our tree lined
MEMORIAL WALK
Located along Willow Street Bottom paragraph change the web pages around Will look forward to hearing if you have any questions. Deb Reinhart
MEMORIAL WALK
Located along Willow Street
Find us at: www.odebolt.net www.iowaruralschoolsmuseum.net 712-668-2231
SPECIAL Special AdvertisingSECTION Section OdeboltMuseums_JAIowan_2015.indd 1ADVERTISING 5/6/15 4:12 PM
Logo Usage
Full-Color Logos The primary logo, with the tagline ”IOWA GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE – NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK” stacked, should be used whenever possible for four-color printing and web application.
Proudly telling the town’s story of becoming the Pearl Button Capital of the World
The Figge Art Museum
Put a little art in your life and visit today. The When the full-color logo is used on a Figge is known for art exhibitions, education dark background, grayofisthe used. andno some Midwest’s finest collections. Discover the History Instead, fonts and accents areWest white.2nd Street 225 Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–4pm & Industry Center in Davenport, IA 52801 117 W. 2nd Street, Muscatine, IA 52761 563.326.7804 Muscatine, Iowa. 563.263.1052 www.FiggeArtMuseum.org
Discover Discover thethe History History & Industry & Industry Center Center in in www.muscatinehistory.org Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa. Iowa.
Optional Logos When it is not possible to use the 5/12/15 4:35 PM primary Terrace Hill logo, these five other versions of the logo are Date: 7-10-2013 acceptable.
Now featuring Ford and New Holland
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2300 Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50312 515-281-7205 terracehilliowa.org
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This 9-acre site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, celebrates the role of the draft horse during the Golden Age of Iowa Agriculture. OPEN MAY TO NOVEMBER. Tue & Thur 1–4 pm and Sat 10–4 pm Located at the intersection of Hwy 1 & US 34 www.JeffersonCountyIowa.com/barns 641-919-8262
Open everyday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dyersville, IA • 1-877-475-2727 www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com One-Color Logos Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County When printing in one color, a solid black logo with 30% black accents is used for light backgrounds. For dark backgrounds, a solid white logo is used.
gives “Beauty you peace
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wherever you encounter it in the world.
Amana Heritage Museum Exhibits in three 19th century communal buildings tell the story of the Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark. Introductory video. Museum Store.
319-622-3567 www.amanaheritage.org
JENS JENSEN |
Highway 2 East, P.O. Box 104 Corydon, Iowa 50060 641-872-2211 | ptmuseum@grm.net
www.prairietrailsmuseum.org
Listed on Iowa Scenic Byway and National Register Historic Places 563.926.2639 www.delcoiowahistory.org
DelawareCoHist_JAIowan_2015.indd 1 Special Advertising Section
”
Danish-American Landscape Architect
EXPLORE OUR JENS JENSEN PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE PARK SOON ELK HORN, IA | DANISHMUSEUM.ORG
in Coolest isCedar MuseumFalls! The
Delaware County Historical Society Nine Buildings on Restored Lenox College Campus: Civil War Memorabilia. Local, School, Farm, Railroad, Pharmacy and Natural History. Radio/ Dinner Theater 10/17
2/4/14 3:53 PM
Buffalo Bill Museum and River Pilot's Pier Exhibits on Buffalo Bill Cody, river history, regional history and the Lone Star, the last wooden hulled steamboat in the U.S. 199 N. Front St., LeClaire, IA open year round Mon–Sat 9am–5pm Sun Noon–5pm
buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com 563-289-5580
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1/29/15 11:13 AM
121 Center St. May to mid-October
319-266-5149
cfhistory.org
Plan your trip:
CedarFallsTourism.org 55 THE IOWANwww.IowaMuseums.org July/August 2011
from thearchives
Adventures in Frontier Newspapering Real accounts of Iowa life in the 1800s taken from newspapers of the time
THE EAGLE IS SOLD
The Eagle has been published
everybody knows to be untrue. The
(Sioux City) — “We this week say
something over two years. We are
Good Book tells us to love our enemies:
Goodbye to the numerous readers of
vain enough to believe that we have
we love our friends.
the Sioux City Eagle. We have sold our
published a good paper and we have
office to Wm. Freeney, Esq., a young man
no doubt those who have refused
treading on a pathway of flowers since
at present engaged in the office of the
to patronize us, but yet have been
we commenced the Eagle are somewhat
Sioux City Register. What he purposes
constant readers of our paper, will now
mistaken. People who think editing a
doing with it we are not fully advised,
do us justice.
paper is a pleasanter diversion than
but believe it is his intention to unite it
But for their approval or
Those who imagine we have been
digging a cellar by moonlight are laboring under a delusion.
with the Register, and thus leave Sioux
condemnation we care nothing. We
City with but one paper — which, by
care only for the expressions of those
the way, is quite enough. Next week’s
who have so nobly and constantly
expect an editor to know everything, and
Register will doubtless contain Mr.
stood up for us. To say that we have
if he does not, they set him down as an
Freeney’s announcement.
pleased everybody would be telling what
ass. He must also tell all he knows, and
56
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We are aware that some people
guess at the rest, he must make oath to
after the concert and while near the
when we
his own good character, and establish
foot of the stairs, was dealt a severe
saw this big man
the reputation of his neighbor’s; elect
blow in the face by Dr. Risley, [editor
coming at us. We forthwith
all candidates; blow up everybody; suit
of the Journal] which felled him to
drew our sword from our cane
everybody; reform the world and preach
the pavement.
and stood in an attitude of defense,
to the rest of mankind; in a word he is
The attack was followed up by the
when the big man stepped back, drew
a locomotive running on the track of
Doctor who was backed and encouraged
a pistol, and presented it at us. Mason
public notoriety. His lever is his pen, his
by a rowdy named Tyler Mason. Weapons
then shouted “Shoot him, God d__n
boiler is filled with ink, his tender is his
were drawn, but the timely interference
him,” and on looking around we found
scissors. But he sometimes explodes,
of the Marshal and crowd may have
Mason also had a pistol presented at us.
and that is caused by the non-payment
prevented a more serious result.
of subscriptions & c.
We know of no cause to provoke
From the stunning effects of the first blow and a subsequent one from
this cowardly attack. Since the Journal
Mason our head was not very clear,
at our reception here, or the extent
made a gross misstatement in regard
but sufficient reason was left to see
to which we have been patronized. In
to the conspiracy against our life by
that we were in a pretty tight place. We
bidding our patrons farewell, we tender
Dr. Risley, Tyler Mason, and others, we
then demanded an explanation of the
them hearty thanks for their generous
deem it due that we should make a true
big man who seemed to be the chief
support. At the same time we think we
statement, to the best of our knowledge
aggressor. He answered, with pistol
have given value in return for all we
and belief.
still under our nose, something about a
But we are not disposed to grumble
have received. Wishing our friends and patrons,
About two months ago and during the newspaper war between two
communication “Live and Let Live.” Mr. William Keeler then stepped in
individually and collectively, a long and
doctors, a communication appeared in
between us and kept the mob at bay,
a happy life, we bid them all ADIEU.
our paper accusing Dr. Risley of being
until the Marshal arrived. By this time our
jealous and some other silly nonsense,
vision was considerably bedimmed, and
THE REPUBLICAN IS BROKE
which we took no notice of at the time,
some of our friends escorted us home.
more, we had really forgotten that a
complaint of the Marshal, Dr. Risley was
(Montezuma) — As our readers are
communication signed “Live and Let
fined $15 and costs, and, on complaint
already aware, The Weekly Republican
Live” had ever appeared in our paper.
of Mr. Keeler, Mason was fined $3 and
has not been issued for the last 3 weeks.
We had never made the acquaintance
costs, for a breach of the peace. Risley
of Dr. Risley, nor did we even know
paid his own and Mason’s fine, and
suspension was the want of money to
him when we met him, and as for Tyler
how much more for Mason’s assistance
procure material. Paper is an article
Mason, there never was an unfriendly
in aiding in an attack on a defenseless
that has to be paid for in advance, and
word passed between us; so our
man, we know not. We have as yet made
being unable to raise the needful with
astonishment may well be imagined
no complaint.
which to purchase paper, there was no
when we were assaulted by these
The cause of our temporary
other course left us to pursue, and we were compelled to submit.
In fact, it never cost us a thought; and
individuals on Thursday night last. We went up to see the Briggs Boys
We learned yesterday that on
Some of our friends were confident of an intended attack and tried to give us notice but were watched too closely.
We will take wood, coal, flour,
perform at Fremont Hall in company
They, however, are willing to testify that a
potatoes, provisions, anything we can
with our foreman and brother-in-law
premeditated attack on our life was duly
eat or use, in
(a boy). During the performance we
considered and decided upon in caucus.
payment of
noticed Tyler Mason and a large well-
subscriptions
dressed man, eyeing us pretty closely,
present but will simply say, that an
or bills due
but never suspected an attempt to
honorable foe would have at least
this office.
be made on our life by them, for we
given us some chance at defense, or
knew or supposed Mason to be friendly
would have come to our office and
to us.
demanded a retraction or the name of
THE EDITOR IS ASSAULTED
When the performance was over, we came down to the front stairs and
We forbear further remarks at
our correspondent long ere this. If we judge rightly of the citizens
(Muscatine) — Mr. King, editor of
were struck a powerful blow on the
of Muscatine — the law abiding citizens
this paper [the Review], while coming
right check, by whom we know not,
— they will point the finger of scorn at
out of the Fremont Hall last evening
until we recovered an upright position,
the perpetrators.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
57
Visit Tassel Ridge Winery ®
and Vineyards
Enjoy a day in the Wine Country in Iowa!
AND
Tour the Winery and discover Iowa wine making.
.COM
Taste a wide range of award-winning wines. Shop for wine-related items,
SAVOR UNEXPECTED FLAVORS
local cheese, and more….
Visit www.tasselridge.com for a schedule of events. 1681 220th St • Leighton, IA 50143 641.672.WINE (9463) Open 7 days a week year round M–F, 9–6; Sat, 10–6; Sun, Noon–6 Tassel Ridge Winery … Simply Extraordinary®
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5/14/15 3:11 PM
AWARD WINNING WINES Wed & Thurs: 3–9pm Fri: 3–10pm, Sat: 1–10pm CLOSED Sun–Tues 17 North Vine Street Glenwood, Iowa 51534 (712) 525-WINE (9463)
Join us this summer for Music at the Winery. See our web site for a complete schedule of events.
www.vinestreetcellars.com
515-729-9463 | coveredbridgeswinery.com | Winterset, IA CoveredBridge_MJIowan_2015.indd 1
3/13/15 9:45 AM VineStCellars_MJIowan_2015.indd 1
Located in the Southern hills of Guttenberg on the Great River Road. Taste the award-winning wines, enjoy a delicious pizza, browse our boutiques and listen to live music in the courtyard.
39053 Great River Road Guttenberg, IA 563-252-2665 www.promiselandwinery.com
OPEN: Lunch Wed–Fri 11–2 Wed–Thurs 5–9pm Fri 5–close & Sat noon–close 11 Benton Ave. E Albia, IA 52531 641-932-4085
3/17/15 12:58 PM AlbiaBrew_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
CANTINA, WINERY AND GUEST SUITES Seasonal menu, Iowa made Wine & Craft Beer 119 North Washington St. Edgewood, Iowa 563-928-6908
albiabrewingcompany.blogspot.com
58 IOWAWINEANDBEER.COM iowan.com
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3/30/15 1:32 PM
www.caferoseiowa.com
CafeRose_MJIowan_2015.indd 1 3/23/15 11:52 AM 5/8/15 11:14 AM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
It’s always
A Party
Complimentary Wine Tasting & Tours
at Summerset!
Wednesday Wood-Fired Pizza Specials
OPEN: Tues–Sun 10am–5pm
Friday Live Music
Sunday tunes, weddings, tasting room, The Inn, group tours, special events 15101 Fairfax, Indianola, IA 515-961-3545 www.summersetwine.com Summerset_JAIowan_2015.indd 1
Sunday Celebration Brunch Swisher, IA (319)857-4300 | crwine.com1 TaborHomeWinery.pdf
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TAP ROOM HOURS: Wed & Thurs: 5–9 pm Fri: 5–11 pm Sat: noon–11 pm Central Ave. Historic District Northwood, Iowa
vineyards
• Breathtaking scenery, engaging tours • Sunday “Music in the Vineyards” series • OPEN EVERY DAY: 563-673-3131
AVAILABLE NOW Linda Betsinger McCann’s
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B PROHIin ITION
Empty Nest Winery
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We use locally grown berries & ferment whole fruit for the best tasting “TRUE TO THE FRUIT” unfiltered wines! Come and taste the difference! Sat: 10–5 pm / Sun: 1–5 pm
R ···
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This book looks at the 13 year span of time known popularly as “Prohibition” through the lens of Eastern Iowa townspeople and others. From the farmers who grew the corn used in making illegal liquor, to the bootleggers who trafficked it and the gangsters who sold it, Eastern Iowa saw its fair share! Read excerpts of interviews with regular people who were swept up in the craziness, and about gun battles on two lane highways. Even if you know something about Prohibition, you will be surprised to read how this period in our national history transpired in, and impacted, Iowa.
books
®
Order all Linda McCann’s books at www.iowan.com
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Firetrucker Brewery Ad.pdf peacetreebrewing.com
1352 Apple Rd Waukon, IA (563) 568-2758
EASTERN IOWA L INDA B ETSINGER M CC ANN
Enjoy our fine beers at the taproom in Knoxville or look for them at you favorite store or restaurant. 641-842-2739
• Distinctive wines from Iowa’s oldest
NEW SE! EA REL
···
PROUD TO BE IOWAN.
THE WINERY EXPERIENCE CAPTIVATING IOWANS FOR 20 YEARS
worthbrewing.com
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3:04 PM
Stay in Touch:
5/8/15 9:41 AM
Hand-crafted beers since 2007
5/19/15
3/27/15 2:06 PM
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Soldier Creek Winery Award-winning Wines from Iowa’s Prairie
Tastings | Vineyards | Tours | Events
1584 Paragon Ave. Fort Dodge, IA 515-216-0987 www.soldiercreekwinery.com
59 IOWAWINEANDBEER.COM May/June 2015 THE IOWAN SoldierCreek_MJIowan_2015.indd 1
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3:17
portfolio
Eat Me
Oh, Alice. Imagine if your rabbit hole led to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. story and photography by DAN WEEKS
Funnel cakes. Pork tips. Caramel corn. Lemonade. Beer. Turkey legs. Ice cream bars. Candied apples. Walking tacos. Tenderloins. Saltwater taffy. Foot-longs. Corn dogs. Cotton candy. Brats. Onion rings. Curly fries. Ribs. Steaks. Chicken strips. Iowa chops. Hot meat loaf sandwiches. Turkey dinners. Deep-fried everything. You-name-it on a stick. Deep-fried you-name-it on a stick. Drink me. Eat me. You’re in Wonderland. Like Alice, you may well get bigger. But it’ll be worth every bite.
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The Iowa State Fairgrounds’ Grand Avenue Concourse is lined with food vendors. It’s a gauntlet few can resist.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
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portfolio iowaxxx
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What’s the scoop? Fairgoers down thousands of pounds of ice cream annually.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
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All stainless steel and neon, this vintage caramel corn trailer is an annual fixture by the Sky Glider East and Ye Old Mill.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
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portfolio iowaxxx
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At the foot of the Heritage Village Hill, late-night fairgoers can choose between an old-fashioned soda fountain and a brightly lit ice cream stand.
Dan Weeks is editor of The Iowan.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
67
WTJ Iowan 030615_2003 wtj flyer 3/6/15 11:45 AM Page 1
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July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
69
iowacelebrates
IOWA’S
Practical Farmers For 30 years Practical Farmers of Iowa has welcomed all as it helps farmers grow healthful food, diverse farms, and vibrant communities. by DAN WEEKS
Two future farmers examine pigs during a field day at Dan and Lorna Wilson’s Seven W Farm in Paullina.
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John Bakehouse shows off cover crops during a field day at Maple Edge Farm in Hastings. The land was originally homesteaded by his great-greatgrandfather.
What PFI is “It is a highly unusual group,” says Teresa Opheim, who grew up spending time on her grandparents’ farm near Rolfe in Pocohantas County and has been PFI’s director for nearly a decade. “We have farmers and nonfarmers, large corn-soybean operators, small vegetable operations, and everything in between. Many still have livestock. And that’s just the enterprise diversity. We include folks with an extreme
variety of political and religious views. “But our farmer members have two things in common,” Opheim says. “They want to learn more and improve their farms, and they prefer to talk to folks that don’t have a system like theirs because each can learn from the other. Conventional farmers have often mastered finances, for instance, in ways veggie and grass-based farmers could use to know. “Then there are our nonfarming members. Some are avid gardeners; others are people who just want to hang out with farmers, know the people who grow their food, or are interested in our vision of an Iowa landscape with diverse types of farms and clean water, clean air,” she says. She realizes it’s a long description, but “I can no longer put our members in a box,” she says. “They just don’t fit. The only ones who tend not to join are those who are not open-minded enough to accept others’ ways of farming or to share their own.” What organization was born of a farm crisis and hosts field days that are open to all, generally free, and feel like a cross between a family reunion at the farm and a fascinating
PFI is headquartered in Ames, and the vast majority of its members are Iowans. Thirteen percent are from around the United States now that PFI produces online webinars.
course in agriculture? Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) — an
What PFI does
organization like no other.
What PFI specializes in is easier to describe, says Opheim:
In 1985 a few creative, open-minded farmers got together
“Farmers teaching other farmers and doing research that’s
to brainstorm ways to reduce farming cost inputs and
not being done elsewhere.” Farmers — not the government,
increase financial viability. They called themselves Practical
large research universities, and big agricultural corporations
Farmers of Iowa. They dedicated themselves to two activities:
— set PFI’s research agenda and do the research. Currently
rigorous, farmer-designed, farmer-executed on-farm research
that includes projects on cover cropping, adding crops to
into a wide variety of crops and practices; and sharing the
the traditional corn-soy rotation, and the economics of
results with their fellow farmers through field days and
vegetable farming.
demonstrations. Three decades later the nonprofit organization has
But look through the organization’s field day catalog and you’ll see all kinds of interesting research projects — from
outlived the crisis that spawned it and has seen alternatives
Compost Heat Capture for High Tunnel Season Extension to
to conventional agriculture such as certified organic farms,
Farming Across Generations. Field days are open to everyone,
grass-based farming, fruit and vegetable farming, and much
and most are free.
more take root and thrive in Iowa. Meanwhile, PFI is growing faster than ever. Its field days
Because the group’s membership is so varied, it doesn’t do a huge amount of policy work, but it does get involved in
— more than 40 are scheduled for this year, all open to the
advocating funding for conservation programs, for instance.
public — sometimes draw hundreds of participants.
Although PFI doesn’t administer government programs or offer insurance, it often acts as a catalyst for developing programs and products of value to farmers.
July/August 2015
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Jennifer Miller, Thomas Burkhead, Jordan Clasen, John Whitson, and Cody Kilgore with some blueblonde heirloom sweet corn developed by PFI member Dan Specht.
Currently PFI members are doing research on vegetable production systems. They collect yield and financial data,
THERE’S MORE!
and share it with the United States Department of Agriculture
In addition to farmer-led research and field days that
and private insurance companies so that those organizations
are open to all, PFI has programs and resources that:
have baseline data about what crop insurance — currently not
HELP BEGINNING FARMERS GET STARTED with a
available to vegetable farmers — might cost.
savings program, by matching them with mentor
“There’s a lot of information from extension programs and on the internet,” Opheim says. “But we are ‘I tried this and this is what worked and didn’t work on the ground.’”
AgriCULTURAL Beyond that, Opheim says, the benefit of the organization is as much cultural as it is agricultural. She first became a PFI member, then its director, because “I was concerned about what was happening to the Iowa I knew,” she says. “The barns, the livestock, the diversity in the landscape. I don’t
farmers, and by helping them find farmland. HELP FARM FAMILIES NEGOTIATE FARMLAND TRANSFER so the land is owned and used according to their wishes after the older generation passes it on. OFFER MEMBER BENEFITS that include a quarterly newsletter, email discussion groups, an annual conference, webinars, landowner services, and more. For more information: practicalfarmers.org
think wanting some of that back is nostalgia. It’s ‘what do we want our state to be?’
sustainability, including financial sustainability. PFI is here to help them serve those goals together. “Plus,” she smiles, “we always serve our farmers’ food. We have lots of potlucks at field days, and the food is fantastic.”
Dan Weeks is editor of The Iowan.
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their operations: land stewardship, a sense of community, and
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decisions by looking at three perspectives when they shape
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198 1985 19 198 985 - 2 2015 015
PRACTICAL farmers of Iowa Strengthening Farms and Communities
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July/August 2015
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THE IOWAN
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flashback
60 Years Ago in The Iowan
The July 1955 issue followed an established pattern: featuring an iconic Iowa image on the cover and the accomplishments of a rapidly developing state inside.
The town of Bellevue from Bellevue State Park looks much the same today as it did in 1955.
An Iowa Development Commission ad urged industry to put new plants in Iowa’s hands.
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A cutaway drawing of a J57 turbojet fighter showed the parts manufactured by Solar Aircraft Company. Its Des Moines plant closed in 1959 and is now occupied by CDS Global Co., a magazine fulfillment company.
An advertisement for our own magazine urged readers to “bring home the bacon with The Iowan.”
Steam-powered stern-wheelers still plied the Mississippi 60 years ago. This photo appeared in an Interstate Power Company ad announcing the expansion of its Lansing generating station. You’re out! A photoessay on Sac City’s Little League captured the action. Teams played without uniforms, and the coach, Father J. E. Tolan, encouraged his boys to ask for gloves, shoes, and bats for Christmas to help equip the league.
July/August 2015
THE IOWAN
75
escapades
HIGH NOON Coming of age on threshing day by DENNIS S. WILSON | illustration by DAVE TOHT Horses stomped the dusty ground. Big Jim Westfall disengaged
good at it and could pull up to the
the clutch on his John Deere tractor, and the giant McCormick
thresher’s feed hopper with no more
thresher stopped its roar. Silence descended on the barnyard
than 2 inches to spare.
like the bits of chaff and straw that floated to the ground. Big Jim, wearing a straw hat, long underwear, bib overalls, and gloves in the blistering July heat like most of the oldtimers, climbed down from his tractor and headed for the
But the best part of threshing runs wasn’t the work — it was the dinners. Work started at 7 a.m., “morning lunch” was at 9 a.m., and dinner was always at noon. Host farms provided the meat and breads, and each farm
house, followed by an army of men and boys. It was high noon
wife was known for her specialty — roast beef, pork chops,
on threshing day.
fried chicken — and lots of it. One crew could eat 20 chickens
You didn’t need a watch on the farm to know when it was time for dinner. Any farm boy could tell within 5 or 10 minutes by the slant of the sun. The horses pulling the
in a single sitting — plus perhaps 10 loaves of bread, 4 dozen biscuits, and 3 dozen rolls in a day, all baked on-site. The other farm wives provided more dishes, hot and cold:
hayracks of grain in from the field knew. If you were empty
bowls of mashed potatoes, creamery milk gravy with chunks
and noon was coming on, you’d best get loaded and back to
of fried sausage, creamed peas, string beans, candied carrots
the barnyard or they’d take off without you, anticipating their
— tables and tables full.
water and feed bags. The old men got the easy jobs — running the tractor
Mothers, grandmothers, and teenaged girls scurried from kitchen to dining room to porch to parlor with fresh platters
and oiling the thresher. In between, they’d sit in the shade
of food. It all disappeared quickly, but most sought after was
swapping yarns and chewing tobacco. Younger men “full of
the pie — especially Gloria Swanson’s sour cream raisin pie,
piss and vinegar, who needed a good wife to take them down
a three-time state fair winner. Like the field jobs, the pie was
a notch or two,” as my grandfather called them, tried to outdo
awarded by seniority. I never got any of Mrs. Swanson’s.
one another loading the wagons. Often they stacked grain so
Until I noticed Peggy Sue Meyers serving. A few years ago
high the hayracks tipped over. Sometimes they’d fight, too —
she was just another skinny, obnoxious girl. But she’d changed.
mostly over girls.
With her long blonde hair and white shorts, she was looking
Boys like me — between 8 and 12 years old, too small to load grain — drove the wagons in from the field. I was pretty
pretty good. I was beginning to realize that the food wasn’t the only thing to look forward to at a threshing dinner. That’s when I caught a whiff of lilac, and a long, suntanned arm with a silver charm bracelet at the wrist slid past me and dropped on my plate a big piece of sour cream raisin pie. I knew without even turning around who it was. Right then, I decided that I was beginning to like girls. I wondered how long it would be before they’d let me load a wagon. And I decided that if anybody on the crew ever said anything about Peggy Sue, I’d punch him in the nose.
Dennis S. Wilson is a retired railroad conductor who grew up on a Worth County farm in the 1940s. Dave Toht is a writer, illustrator, book publisher, and blogger (davetoht.tumblr.com).
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BLACKJACK BRIAN BROWN AUGUST 6-8
25th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals
JULY 4 10 11 14 16 18 25
55 Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #12 360 Twin Features Night (National Sprint League) Marion Co. Fair Entertainment – TBD in Concert Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #13 HyVee Night, Marion Co. Fair Marion Co. Fair Entertainment – Full Blown Rodeo Harris Clash Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #14 Town Crier Twin Features Night (410’s) Fill the Stands for Hospice Night Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #15 plus 305’s - 3M Night
AUGUST 1 Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #16 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 29 30
AUGUST 12-15
SEPTEMBER 24-26
12th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Caseys General Stores
410's and 360's – Candi's Flowers Night 25th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals 25th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals 25th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals Finals plus 305's 4th Annual Capitani Classic 410's, Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #17 55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store - RacingJunk.com Qualifying Night 55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store - Lucas Oil Qualifying Night 55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store - Speed Sport Knoxville World Challenge 55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Finals presented by Casey's General Store Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series Finals #18 plus 305's (National Sprint League) – Wal-Mart Night (Sept 5 Rain Date) Knoxville Enduro
SEPTEMBER 18-19 Monster Jam 24-26 12th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey's General Store
bject
Schedule su
to change.
M O C . Y A W E C A R E L L I V X O N K November/December 2013 | THE IOWAN
004
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