With winds topping 30 miles per hour and the ground somewhat mushy from recent rains, getting around and grabbing swirling garbage was that much more challenging for this year’s participants. However, they managed to clean debris from fields around Target and Walmart along with those behind KFC and running toward Bomgaars.

“It sets the tone for our community,” said Skyla Porter, marketing specialist for the Growth Alliance. “It’s great to clean up your community and it also shows that being involved in your community is great.. And cleaning up? What a better way to showcase your community than keep it clean.”

Several businesses and organizations sent volunteer groups to help with this year’s walk. They included Citizens Community Credit Union, the City of Fort Dodge, CJ Bio America, First Interstate Bank, the Growth Alliance, PICA (Pride in Community Appearance) and Target. Individuals also volunteered, representing Availa Bank, Koch Fertilizer, MidAmerican Energy, Starbucks, the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Fort Dodge Community School District and Webster County.

“We had a good crew. I think over 40 volunteers. It’s amazing how many people show to support our community,” said Porter. “This is awesome.”

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Heather Oppedahl, senior team leader at Target, helps gather debris during the FOD walk in Fort Dodge. Target sent several volunteers to help with the event.

Volunteers were given gloves and large garbage bags before heading out. They attacked the fields directly north of Target before heading to the other areas.

“We typically pick this area because it’s a big focal point in our community and there’s typically a lot of trash in the fields, so we just like to keep it clean,” said Porter. “Sometimes we do this area and sometimes we do downtown.”

The tradition of the FOD Walk was started by Rhonda Chambers, the director of aviation at Fort Dodge Regional Airport who once led the alliance’s Image Committee. She relied on her professional background to create it. FOD is an aviation acronym that stands for Foreign Object and Debris. FOD Walks are conducted at civilian and military airfields to remove anything from the runways that might damage a plane. In some cases, airfield personnel will stand shoulder to shoulder and walk down the runway looking for things..

Chambers applied the same general strategy to the city. In its first few years, the FOD Walk focused heavily on fields on the eastern side of the city, where shopping bags and other litter was known to accumulate. The walks were later expanded to include downtown.

Heather Oppedahl, a senior team leader at Target, was one of the volunteers for this year’s walk. She said it was an easy decision to part of the effort to clean up the fields.

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Fort Dodge Police Chief Dennis Quinn grabs debris from the field north of Target during the annual FOD Walk. The annual event aims to clean up areas of Fort Dodge.

“Target is all about community and making things better and brighter,” she said. “It’s always good to give back. This turnout is amazing. It’s so good to see this many people taking part.”

It was the 18th year of the FOD Walk. The 2020 walk wasn’t held during the pandemic.

-Messenger photo by John McBride
Volunteers gather garbage along the fence line of the field north of Target during the annual FOD Walk on Monday. More than 40 people volunteered for the annual event.