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Home & Lifestyle Show welcomes warmer seasons

At Iowa Central’s East Campus, there is a glimpse of spring

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Henry Gunderson, 2, of Fort Dodge, takes his lawnmower testing seriously Saturday as he tries out one of the offerings from Weisberg Impliment of Webster City during the Home & Lifestyle Show at the Iowa Central Community College East Campus.

It’s possible for a visitor to the Home & Lifestyle Show on the Iowa Central Community College East Campus to take something home from almost every vendor’s booth at the show.

It might be a piece of candy, a yardstick, pen, toy hard hat or, at the very least, a business card or brochure.

Of course, that’s just the free stuff.

There’s also plenty of interesting items that the visitor can purchase, including, “The last glue you’ll ever need.”

Jamie Tunney, of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been on the road for the past 20 years selling a German-made glue that “sticks anything to anything.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Adam Knowles, at left, along with Lyndsay Bennett, both retail wireless consultants with U.S. Cellular, show off some of the free goodies they collected Saturday during a tour of the Home & Lifestyle Show on the Iowa Central Community College East Campus.

“Want to see something?” he asks as people walk by. “I’ll impress you.”

Tunney has dozens of objects on his display table that he’s glued together, including several sheets of engineering plastic, shoes, toys, coins on a slab of rock, water pipes and even a pair of partial dentures.

Shirley Echelberger, of Otho, was among those who stopped and watched him demonstrate by gluing a pulley belt back together after he cut it in half. So far, nobody’s been able to break it.

She won’t need the glue for dentures, though.

“I’m not ready for those,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Albert, a nine year-old standard poodle who’s human, Becky Hanson, of Fort Dodge, brought him along as a doggie ambassador for the Fort Dodge Kennel Club enjoys a nap on the floor at the Home & Lifestyle Show Saturday on the Iowa Central Community College East Campus.

Echelberger was enjoying the show and was among the many who brought along food items that will be donated to local food pantries after the show.

“It’s nice to be able to help those in need,” she said.

For visitors to the Fort Dodge Kennel Club booth, some quality time with one of several canine ambassadors was on the menu.

Albert, a 9-year-old standard poodle brought his human, club member Becky Hanson, of Fort Dodge.

“He’s a very good dog,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Surrounded by a table full of items he’s repaired with the glue he sells, Jamie Tunney, of Edmond, Oklahoma, challanges Shirley Echelberger, of Otho, to break the bond on a belt he just glued together at the Home & Lifestyle Show on the Iowa Central Community College East Campus Saturday.

He was also a very tired dog. After several hours of getting petted, Albert laid down on the floor and took a nap.

He and the other canines had an important job.

“It draws people in to see what we’re all about,” she said. “Albert shakes. The kids love it.”

It’s also a chance for Albert’s human to talk to people not only about his breed, but other breeds. Hanson said that before getting a dog, people need to make sure the breed’s characteristics are compatible with their lifestyle.

Adam Knowles and his fellow U.S. Cellular retail wireless consultant Lyndsay Bennett got to take a break from their own booth in the afternoon and that gave them a chance to visit with the other vendors.

They returned loaded down with loot, including a yardstick, pens, a notepad and colorful toy hard hats.

While not exactly OSHA-approved, the hat will still be handy.

“For any work around the house,” Knowles joked.

They were both enjoying their time at the show.

“Not only is it fun,” he said, “but you get cool free stuff.”

Walking around the show also gave them both an opportunity to meet people who might not have had a chance to talk to them in their booth.

“You got to go out and put the feet on the street,” Knowles said.

Henry Gunderson, 2, of Fort Dodge, in addition to his feet on the floor, also got to put his feet on the deck of a riding lawnmower at the display of Weisberg Implement of Webster City.

Once seated on the machine, where his feet could not quite reach the pedals, he surveyed the show, looking very serious and, perhaps, contemplating the day when he would riding a similar mower and cutting the grass.

The Messenger’s Home & Lifestyle Show continues today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and sponsored by Hy-Vee Market Grill Express. Nonperishable food items are accepted at the door.

The East Campus is at 2031 Quail Ave.

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