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Clay County Fair is an Iowa treasure

The season for summer fairs and festivals is nearly at an end. For the countless Iowans and others who love county fairs, however, one big event remains — the Clay County Fair. The fair that opened in Spencer on Saturday and runs through Sunday is not just any fair. It is by far the largest county fair in Iowa and ranks among the grandest agricultural expositions in the nation. The members of the Clay County Fair Association had big plans for their fair when it launched more than 100 years ago. That first fair was the largest county fair held in Iowa its inaugural year, and ...

Fort Dodge needs a plan for crumbling buildings

Considering the sorry state of some buildings in town, Fort Dodge is lucky. It is lucky that no one has been killed by bricks that seem to drop off downtown buildings with alarming frequency lately. And it is lucky that no one has been killed in any of the fires that have ignited in abandoned buildings over the last couple of years. On the whole, Fort Dodge is a beautiful community that has so much going for it. Other Iowa communities probably wish they had something like Corridor Plaza or our trail system. And yet the community continues to be saddled with crumbling or burned ...

Nestle Purina PetCare plant shows what’s possible

Chances are great that all across the United States today, there are cats enjoying the feline delicacy known as Friskies. The food that those cats chow down on comes from Fort Dodge. Friskies and Fort Dodge have been connected for 50 years. The food is made in the Nestle Purina PetCare plant at 2400 Fifth Ave. S. that has been in operation since 1975. A plant that has been in operation that long is kind of a rarity in the pet food business. This particular plant has a history that mirrors that of the community it is located in. Like Fort Dodge, the plant had a real low point, ...

Dayton Rodeo fun has started

The roping and riding that make up the 2025 edition of the Dayton Labor Day Rodeo are underway. The small Webster County city will be packed with rodeo fans all weekend. What began more than eight decades ago as the dream of three young cowboys — Allen Porter, Duane Vegors and Vern Danielson — has grown to a four-day event that draws contestants and spectators not only from all parts of Iowa, but also from throughout the nation. This annual event attracts 10,000 to 12,000 rodeo fans, many of whom journey every year to Webster County for this nationally recognized event. For a few ...

The Messenger to unveil 68th football publication

Fall in Iowa is the season of harvest, pumpkins, orange-colored leaves and, of course, football. On cool Friday evenings and on Saturday afternoons, people from all across the Fort Dodge area gather every fall to watch their local heroes of the gridiron compete. They’ll scream and cheer for their favorite team, occasionally grumble about the referees and even embody the Iowa nice tradition by applauding fine play by the opponents. The cool evenings seem to have arrived, and the high school football season will kick off on Friday. To learn about Dodger Stadium, the iconic venue ...

Area residents must take advantage of Fort Dodge Regional’s air service

Skywest Airlines Inc., doing business as United Express, provides flights between Fort Dodge and Chicago. All of us have a big role to play to make sure that service stays at Fort Dodge Regional Airport. To do that, local people need to make an effort to use that airline and the airport for all their flight needs. United Express is flying 50-seat jets to and from Fort Dodge. If the community keeps those seats full, the airline will have lots of incentive to keep flying to and from our hometown. There are some nice incentives for people to take advantage of this air service. First, ...