You could even be forgiven for asking, “Are you crazy?”

Hailey Kleinheksel, of Pocahontas, took that in stride. She was the first shopper to arrive at the Fort Dodge Menards store, pulling into the lot either late Thursday or very early Friday.

“I got here about midnight,” she said. “Then at 1:30 I got into my car to warm up.”

Her husband, Deven Kleinheksel, settled the issue.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The first shoppers through the door at the Fort Dodge Menards store grab a shopping cart Friday morning just a few seconds after the 6:00 a.m. opening of the doors.

“My wife’s crazy,” he said.

“No I’m not,” she said in her own defense.

“You sure about that?” he said, getting in the last word on the matter.

The couple were dressed for the cold; blankets, multiple layers of clothes, hats, mittens. They were after two door buster items, a gaming chair and blankets.

“It’s worth the wait,” she said. “It always is, it’s the only place we ever camp.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Karla Sonksen, of Curlew, at left, along with Kimberly Mohr, of Lake City, look through a bin of colorful stuffed animals early Friday morning at the Fort Dodge Menards store.

It took less than five minutes for the first shopper to hit the checkout register after the doors opened. While the gentleman declined to be identified, he did have a plan. He got all his big items first, then after putting them in his vehicle, came back in for round two: this time, all the small things.

That’s efficient Black Friday shopping.

Marty Price, of Webster City, had a door buster item on his cart, a red refrigerator. He was patiently waiting near the checkout lanes for his dad, Glenn Price, also of Webster City.

The two were making a day of it.

“I’ve worked every day for 26 years,” Marty Price said. “This year I decided to see what this Black Friday shopping is all about.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Fort Dodge Menards store associate Wayne Salgren, of Fort Dodge, shows his holiday spirit Friday morning while helping customers.

His plan was simple.

“This,” he said, tapping the fridge on his cart. “It’s for my mom.”

Glenn Price was getting back into the tradition.

“I quit for many years,” he said. “They didn’t seem to have decent sale prices. This time I found some deals. I needed what was on sale.”

Karla Sonksen, of Curlew, was busy going through a big bin of colorful stuffed animals.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Marty Price, of Webster City, waits for his dad, Glenn Price as they pair enjoy their early morning outing to the Fort Dodge Menards store for Black Friday.

“They’re for my grandkids for Christmas,” she said. “It’s just a tradition. We always find something.”

She had a well planned day; no standing outside in the cold.

“We went to Kohl’s, they opened at 5,” she said. “We timed it so we didn’t have to wait outside.”

Mike Donner, of Council Bluffs, had also picked out one of the red refrigerators. He wasn’t lugging it back.

“It’s staying here,” he said. It’s a gift for his parents.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Shoppers stream into the Fort Dodge Menards store Friday morning in search of Black Friday bargains.

As he shopped with his family, a rack of something special caught his eye. The family pets were not left out.

“Grab a couple of those laser pointers for the kitty cats,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
A few shoppers join the line at the Fort Dodge Menards store Friday morning for their 6 a.m. Black Friday opening. About 50 people were in line a few minutes before the doors opened.