Kinney developed the idea for an athletic band during his time with the Fort Dodge college.

“He had seen the growth of all athletics, activities and extracurricular avenues for the student body,” said Jeremy Smith, current director of athletic bands.

What Kinney started, Smith, and many musically talented students have brought to life. It includes a marching band at home football games, a pep band for basketball and wrestling, and options for performances near and far.

“I think our athletic bands are really one of the items that separate us from all the other community colleges,” said current college President Dr. Jesse Ulrich. “They create an atmosphere that is unparalleled.”

“There’s plenty of excitement for what we’re doing,” Smith added. “We have had as many as 56 students be part of this.

“I feel like prospective students see what we have to offer and still have that ‘want’ to be in the marching band and be playing for athletic events,” he added. “We have band members from larger class school districts, but also draw smaller school students who may not have had the chance to be part of something like this due to small enrollment.”

Smith has the program perform a dozen or so times an academic year.

“We do all of the home football games and also have the thrill of traveling for postseason bowl games, which has occurred seven of the 14 years I’ve been here,” he said. “We also perform at one wrestling meet and all home conference basketball games.

“It does not stop there,” he added. “We march in parades, do daily runouts to schools in the area and also perform at nearby band days.”

Smith’s connection and devotion to the athletic band program comes honestly. He attended Morningside College in the 1990s. He and his fellow band mates saw that program go from a marching band to just a pep band due to enrollment issues.

“We loved what we did so much,” he said. “At the final football game of our senior year, we wore our marching band uniforms.”

Iowa Central’s athletic band idea, while a new one for junior colleges, does continue to grow as students transfer to places such as the University of Northern Iowa, Pittsburg State University, and other four-year institutions. However, even if a student decides to conclude their collegiate career with an associate’s degree, something is still gained.

“We’ve given them two more years of being a part of something they truly enjoy,” he said. “It may be just one last hurrah, but it’s worth it to them.”