It will be a fantastic fair this year at the Ida County Fairgrounds! The fair will start off on Tuesday, July 18 and keep going through Sunday, July 23. Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, there will be 4-H Exhibit Hall judging and Clover Kids Exhibit Hall judging. Rabbit Check-in will start at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m., so get your bunnies in there. Enter Open Class is from 4 to 7:15 p.m. sponsored by Ida Grove Food Pride. Also at 4 p.m., you may choose to see the Horse Show in the Grandstand.
Does anyone remember Teko who worked at the Ida Grove Conoco station in the 1940s? Teko is the nickname for Francis Wood, a white-haired boy who grew up in the Conoco station back then. His father Kenneth Wood bought the station in 1940. He owned it for 31 years. Teko’s two brothers and four sisters, along with him, worked in the station. One sister did the books, the other sisters cleaned the bathroom, as their father wanted everything spic and span. The boys pumped the gas and worked in the grease and wash room.
A Fireside Chat was conducted with the 48th Vice President Mike Pence and Mrs. Karen Pence Thursday at Cobblestone Inn in Holstein. One of the first things Pence said to the crowd was that if he had known about Ida County, he would have been here a lot sooner. He then said that Teresa Paulsrud, Chair, Ida County GOP, had forgotten her questions and he felt a sense of relief. But after all, she did have her questions and the show went on.
“It is the greatest honor of our lives to serve as Vice President and we thank you for that,” said Pence.
POET Bioprocessing of Arthur, had its POET Day for the second year June 29. Jake Bradley, General Manager, and Gabby Marti, Merchandiser, led a tour through the ethanol plant explaining the functions of the small city of workers and facilities.
We entered the first pathway through the plant where the corn trucks come in through this way (599). The plant serves over 600 farmers. There are three receiving pits, which accept approximately 60,000 bushels an hour when at full capacity. It amounts to four million bushels of corn a year in Arthur, Iowa. Jake Bradley comments,
Doug Schwaller, often called Dugan by his friends at Beckman’s Auto in Odebolt, made a replica of the Cracker Jack Corn Crib, a jaywalk to Cubby’s in Odebolt. He crafted it as much like the one still standing. It took him merely a couple weeks to build this piece of art. The Cracker Jack Corn Crib has been part of Odebolt’s history since Cracker Jack popcorn was stored and the business was born here. It is awesome that Schwaller saved this part of our history in the form of his craft, because the corn cribs will be torn down to make room for a Dollar General coming to town.
Vetter Equipment, located east of Ida Grove at the intersection of Highways 59 and 175, is your local CASE IH dealer. Doug Baird, the new store manager, talked about some of the products and services at the dealership.
“The main product we sell is CASE IH agriculture equipment, plus others including CASE Industrial skid loaders, Cub Cadet® lawn equipment, and over 100 other brands of smaller equipment. We have a fully equipped service department for everything we sell. We also carry STIHL® chainsaws and attachments.”
Ahead of a big election cycle, Ida County is getting a bit of exposure with what is believed to be the first visit to Holstein ever by a United States Vice President.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is slated to stop in Holstein July 6 along with his wife Karen for a tour and a luncheon at Cobblestone Inn.
Mark and Pam Hansen are the owners and third generation dealers at Mark Hansen’s Rex Chevrolet-GMC Trucks in Odebolt. Mark shared a brief history of how the dealership got its start.
Ryssa Todd of Holstein has run her own cake decorating business since 2008. Todd enjoys seeing happy customers, especially children. She listed some of the main cakes that she makes.
“The majority of what I bake is birthday cakes, graduation cakes, wedding cakes, and cupcakes,” said Todd. I had a few graduation orders this year that were for over 300 cupcakes.”
