Fort Dodge has been in a Sister City relationship with Gjakova in Kosovo since 2016, so Wednesday’s visit was not the first time representatives of that Balkan nation were in Fort Dodge and it will not be the last.

The group of visitors consisted of five youth program coordinators who spent the week touring Iowa.

During their stop in Fort Dodge, they learned about the International 4-H Club, which is a key partner in the exchange student program between Fort Dodge and Kosovo. With the exception of the pandemic years, youths from Fort Dodge traveled to Gjakova and youth from Kosovo have come to Iowa.

The Kosovo delegation met with Fort Dodge city leaders, learned about the Iowa Central Community College student government and were briefed on the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

The delegation also visited Clarion Wednesday.

Other stops during the week were the state Capitol in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, the Loess Hills, and Iowa City.