4th Annual Shenandoah Shendig BBQ Competition July 18 & 19 is a KCBS sanctioned contest at the Elk's Lodge Hwy 59. Friday July 18th gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 including music by Gass n Graa and Jason Mayer Band 5:30-10 p.m. Tasters Choice food is available 5 - 7 p.m. Saturday July 19th gates open at 9:30 a.m. Admission is $5. Music provided by The Welcome Hunters. River's Edge Bags tournament at 10 a.m. Registration is on River's Edge Bags League Facebook page. KCBS winners announced at 3:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Forum to Revitalize Shenandoah, Kansas City Barbeque Society, Vetter Equipment, Lynn Furnace, SWIFT, and Shenandoah Elk's Lodge.

Lakin Foundation and Vision Shenandoah Featured at the SCIA Annual Meeting & Ag Banquet July 15

Jennifer Green, Charles E. Lakin Foundation Manager, and Vision Shenandoah speakers Dr. Margaret Brady and Matt Sells, will be featured at Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association’s Annual Meeting and Ag Banquet Tuesday, July 15th at the Elks Lodge in Shenandoah.

The mission of the Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association is to improve the economic vitality of Shenandoah, Page, and Fremont Counties, to expand high paying employment opportunities, enhance Shenandoah’s retail shopping and to support major community projects that improve quality of life. 

Doors will open at 6 pm and dinner will be served at 6:30.  Reservations are requested by July 8th by calling 712-246-3455, or emailing us at chamber@sciaiowa.com.  The event is open to the public.  Alan Armstong will cater the banquet dinner. Choose from smothered chicken or pot roast, cheesy potatoes, green beans, caesar salad, iced tea and apple crisp or cheesecake.  The cost is $30 per person.  Pay at the door with cash or check.  A cash bar will be available.

The SCIA Ag Committee will present the Ag Future of America scholarship and the Friend of Ag award.  AFA Scholarships are awarded to Shenandoah, Essex, or Sidney high school seniors pursuing agriculture related four year degrees.  The $4600.00 scholarships are funded by local businesses and Ag Future of America.  The scholarships will be awarded to Sidney graduate Ellie Ward and Shenandoah graduate Dalton Athen.

Featured Speaker Jennifer Green is the Foundation Manager for the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, Inc.  She has been in this role since 2018.  Prior to working for the Foundation, Jennifer worked in non-profit management in Omaha, Nebraska and still resides there with her family.  Jennifer is very passionate about the work she has been able to do throughout the Southwest Iowa territory.  In addition to her work at the Lakin Foundation, Jennifer is the President of the Omaha Suburban Rotary Club, a Board Member with the Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact, and volunteers with many other organizations.  Jennifer is a graduate from Bellevue University with both a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in human services.  Jennifer was a former collegiate athlete; thus, she typically spends her free time traveling to her son’s baseball games or playing in women’s soccer and basketball leagues as well as running 5K and 10K races.

Matt Sells is the president of the Vision Shenandoah Board.  Matt Sells and his family relocated to Shenandoah in 2013, when Matt became the Chief Financial Officer of Shenandoah Medical Center.  Matt was promoted to President & CEO in March of 2017.  Prior to his move to Southwest Iowa, Matt served as CFO of Brown County Hospital (2011-2013) in Ainsworth, NE and was an active CPA in the audit practice of KPMG (2007-2011) in Lincoln, NE.  He grew up on a farm outside of Rulo, NE and attended Doane University in Crete, NE. Matt serves as President of the SCIA board, is a member of the Bank Iowa Corporate Board of Directors, is Chair of the Iowa Rural Health Telecommunications Program, is a member of the Iowa Hospital and Education Research Foundation Board of Directors, is a Varsity Assistant for the Shenandoah High School Boys Basketball Team.

Dr. Margaret Brady is a veterinarian and owner of Healthy Tails Retreat, she works with a team that is passionate about improving the lives of the 4-legged family members. The Retreat provides spa days, daycare, pet hotel and “well care” veterinary medicine. In 2019 she saw a need for more housing in the community and has turned dilapidated houses into assets.  To date she has completed and sold 7 houses and has 4 more in-process. A lover of old architecture, she found that she needed a warehouse and workshop.  The Johnson Bros Mill building needed a new purpose. Her team has been bringing it back to life. To date The Mill houses a Weekly Vendors Market, Second Saturday events and The Millcade a retro arcade. A Shenandoah native, Margaret serves on the board of directors for SCIA and was selected as the Executive Director for Vision Shenandoah to utilize the Charles E. Lakin Foundation Southwest Iowa initiative.

The SCIA Board of Directors include president Matt Sells, Shenandoah Medical Center CEO, Vice President Bill Ditmars, KMA, and Treasurer Stephanie Osborn, Wilson Insurance.  Other SCIA Board members are Cory Scammann, Green Plains, Derek Stendsland, Fareway, Jason Goltz, Pella, Amy Zwickel, Shenandoah Inn and Suites, Becky LePorte, LePorte Electric, Dr. Margaret Brady, Healthy Tails Retreat, Julie O’Hara, Jim Hughes Real Estate, Speck Hendrickson, Fremont County Representative, and Jeff Shearer, Fremont County Supervisor. City liaisons include mayor Roger McQueen and councilman Jon E. Brantner. Dr. Kerri Nelson is the Shenandoah School liaison.  Bank liaisons include Adam Wright, Northwest Bank, Kurt Henstorf, First Heritage Bank and  Ian Isaacson, Bank Iowa.  Three members were newly elected to the board.  They include Jason Goltz, Pella, Sarah Waite, Little Waite Lanes, and Kindra Weston, Midwest Mental Health and Midwest MedSpa.

The SCIA Ag Committee members are Nick Bosley, United Group, Ian Isaacson, Bank Iowa, Darin Profit, O’Hara Seed, Rusty Hunter, First Heritage Bank, Cale Jones, Jones Tri-Tower Farms, and Rachel Gordon, Northwest Bank. 

Local AFA Scholarship contributors are Green Plains Shenandoah, Jay Memorial Trust, Bank Iowa, Wilson Insurance, Vetter Equipment, O’Hara Seed, KMA Radio, First Heritage Bank, Tri-Valley Bank, Bill & Pam Ditmars, Shenandoah Inn & Suites Hotel, Mondo’s Restaurant, Duane & Marylou Rexroth, Lance Cornelius State Farm Insurance, Ed & Star Ann Kloberdanz, Craig & Kathy Harris, Jones Family Tri Tower Farms, Sapp Brothers, McGargill Stock Farms, United Group Insurance, James & Melonie Doyle, and Rawson Stevens Law.

The 2025 banquet sponsors are El Porton Mexican Grill, Vetter Equipment, Wilson Insurance, Wild Rose Chevrolet, Lloyd Inc., Craig & Kathy Harris, First Heritage Bank, Pizza Hut, Eyecare Associates of Southwest Iowa, Lance Cornelius Insurance,  KMA Broadcasting, Bank Iowa, Mondo’s Restaurant, Brown's Shoe Fit, O’Hara Seed, McDonalds, Rawson Stevens Law, Carrick & Associates, Little Waite Lanes, Subway, Earl May Seed & Nursery Co., and Northwest Bank.

The Southwest Iowa Theater Group will be performing The Play That Goes Wrong July 11-13 and July 18-20.  To reserve tickets, call the Box Office at (712)246-1061 or email SWITG@SWITG.org.

Star-Spangled Shenandoah, sponsored by the Forum to Revitalize Shenandoah, will be at Sportsmans Park on Thursday, July 3rd.  Festivities begin at 5:30 and conclude with fireworks at dusk.  Bring the whole family for an evening of fun!

Welcome new owner of Serenity Studio & Flowers Amy Nielson at the July 1st SCIA Ribbon Cutting. Grand Opeing begins at 1 p.m. with specialty drinks and snacks at 110 Elm St. See all the new merchandise and signup for an exercise class.

  Shenandoah annually observes Everly Brothers Family Heritage Day commemorating Everly Brothers Family History in Shenandoah. This year on Thursday June 19^th the celebration features Everly Brothers music and other hits from the 1950’s and 60’s by Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50’s Band. Also unveiled will be newly acquired displays of family artifacts from their youthful years in Shenandoah.

     Those attending the Everly Brothers Heritage Day events and those visiting the Everly Brothers Childhood Home will be guided by new Iowa Department of Transportation directional signs on Highway 59 going up this spring.

     Several of the Everly historical items will be displayed at the Depot Restaurant, Everly Brothers Childhood Home, and Greater Shenandoah Historical Museum at 800 W Sheridan Avenue. Items offered by the acquired by the Shenandoah Everly Brothers Foundation include childhood toys, scrapbooks, paintings, a 1940’s childhood scrapbook, their Mother Margaret’s cowboy costume from their time on Shenandoah radio stations, song writing notes, song copywrite certificates, Shenandoah school items, and more.

      Enjoy the free outdoor concert at 6pm at Depot Restaurant 101 Railroad St. under the big yellow striped tent. Since the age of 7 Richie Lee, a Des Moines native, has been winning awards for his nostalgic 50’s and 60’s style of rock music. He learned to play the drums at age 11 and the guitar at age 12. He has performed at every major rock n roll venue in Iowa and traveled the U.S. to play with the Drifters and perform in Elvis tributes. In 2007 he was inducted into the Iowa Rock n Roll Music Association and in 2010 received the IRRMA Spirit Award. has played at the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom. His music features many from the early rock era including the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. He has been on a mission since his youth to bring back the 50’s, 60’s sound for kids to hear and keep rock ‘n roll alive. Learn more at www.richieleeproductions.com.

     Everly Brothers Family t-shirts will be available for $20 at the concert or at Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association anytime, 619 W Sheridan Avenue. The shirt is a tribute to these rock n’ roll pioneers that got their start in Shenandoah. It features a family publicity photo from their radio days at KMA and KFNF. They are dressed in their cowboy attire, the uniform of that time for performances and the live radio stage.

     Don and Phil spent their formative years in Shenandoah and learned the value of hard work, performing, and musicianship that was an integral part of their success. Shenandoah was home to Ike and Margret Everly and their boys Don and Phil from 1945 to 1953. They sang and played guitar on live radio for Earl May on KMA and Henry Field on KFNF.

     In 1945 the Everly family moved to Shenandoah to accept a job at KMA radio station to perform live. From these humble beginnings in Shenandoah the Everly Brothers rose to world fame. Their father Ike instilled in his sons his love for music.  At the ages of 8 and 6, sons Don and Phil began to perform on their parents live on the Shenandoah radio shows. On weekends the family sang together traveling the area as the Everly Family.

     They stayed in Shenandoah until early high school. The family moved to Tennessee in 1953 and transitioned into a duo act. After decades of success in 1986 The Everly Brothers were among the first ten artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year they returned to their boyhood home Shenandoah and played to a crowd of 8,500 in a homecoming concert with parade, street dedication, and class reunion.

     You can learn more about the Everly’s history by visiting the preserved childhood home to view the documentary movie shown there and at Greater Shenandoah Historical Museum at 800 W. Sheridan Avenue.

      The Mission of Shenandoah Everly Brothers Foundation is to honor and remember the Everly Brothers, preserving their Shenandoah history and keeping their music alive with events and concerts held annually.

     Don and Phil also established an Everly Family Scholarship in Shenandoah in 1986 with the proceeds from their Shenandoah Homecoming concert. Beginning with $25,000 from the Shenandoah concert and several other Iowa performances, it has been helping students in Shenandoah ever since.  They wanted to help Shenandoah kids with interest and dreams but need a little financial help to get there. Tens of thousands have been gifted to 6^th, 7^th, & 8th graders to help with music instrument rental and other music equipment, athletic equipment or fees, vocal and band fees, art or drama camps, private music or vocal lessons, academic tutoring, and more. Parents can learn more by contacting Bill Hillman, President of the Shenandoah Everly Brothers Foundation.

     For more information about Everly Brothers Family Heritage Day activities contact Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association at 712-246-3455, chamber@sciaiowa.com, www.sciaiowa.com.

 

     The 2025 Shenandoah Garden City Farmers Market opens the season in Priest Park, 707 7^th Avenue. The market starts June 4^th and continues through October 15^th.

     The Market is open each Wednesday afternoon 2-5 p.m. and Saturday morning 9 a.m. to noon with parking available. Shenandoah Farmers Market is a state certified market which allows vendors to accept WIC coupons. Shenandoah Farmers Market offers locally grown fresh produce and plants plus homemade baked goods, and crafts.

     It is free for vendors to sell at the market in Priest Park, but vendors must register and sign the pesticide affidavit and waiver of responsibility ensuring they don’t use pesticides before setting up and selling. A copy of the rules for the market and registration forms are available through market manager Mary Lou Woolhoy at the market, or at Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association at 619 W Sheridan Avenue.

     Early in the season customers can expect produce like radishes and lettuce, baked goods, Rhubarb, and plant starts. Crafts, baked goods, herbs, honey, Jams and Jellies are always available. In June strawberries, cherries, onions, carrots, and green beans are offered as well as flower bouquets. In July and August tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, and many other vegetables are available. September and October are months for pears, apples, gourds, popcorn, Indian corn, and pumpkins.

     For more information about the Shenandoah Garden City Farmers Market contact market manager Mary Lou Wolhoy at 712-303-0100 and follow the posts on the Facebook page at Shenandoah Farmers Market.

Fridays After 5 is music at the Elks Lodge outdoor stage each Friday through May and June sponsored by Northwest Bank and Wilson Insurance. The cost of $5 entry goes to a different fundraising project each week and provides one free drink. Food is also provided by the Elks Lodge and food trucks. Area entertainers provide music 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The whole family is welcome with plenty of seating, green grass, and shade. 

     Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association (SCIA) along with Nishna Productions, Inc. and the Depot Restaurant are organizing the 10^th annual Disability Awareness Walk in Shenandoah May 3. This year the 1-mile route is through Shenandoah’s downtown street scape and around Priest Park.

     Participants are encouraged to register by filling out an entry form with a signed waiver. Forms are available at SCIA, NPI, and the Depot Restaurant as well as at www.sciaiowa.com.  Other sponsors for the event are El Porton Mexican Grill, Fareway, First Heritage Bank, National Alliance on Mental Illness, HyVee and St. Mary’s Shenandoah. More sponsors are welcome to contribute. Contact SCIA to contribute monetary donations or in-kind contributions. The items needed are bottled water and inexpensive items or gift cards for the door prize drawings.

      The free walk starting at 11 a.m. is for all ages and all abilities and is open to the public. This regional event begins at the Depot Deli 101 Railroad St. Walkers will travel east on Sheridan Avenue downtown street scape to Sycamore St. and head back west on the southside of Sheridan Avenue to Blossom St. heading south behind the Public Library to 5^th Avenue and south again on Elm St. to Priest Park. Water will be available at the park. The walkers will travel around the park and head back north on Maple St. to complete the one-mile course back on Sheridan Avenue to the Depot Deli finish. The route can accommodate wheelchairs.

     Volunteers will be needed for walker assistance and to act as crossing guards. Reflective vests will be provided for street crossing guards. Volunteers are also needed to help with set-up, to pass out water at the half-way point and food service & prizes at the after party.

     “This year is the 10th anniversary of the Disability Awareness Walk, and each year it has grown. It has been such a blessing to see our residents connect with walking buddies and start forming friendships. This year, we hope to see even more community members join us in the walk and in the celebration of all the individuals who will be walking with us,” said NPI Development Specialist Emily Martin.

     This year participants walking or riding will receive colorful logo sunglasses at the start. The after party under the big yellow tent at the Depot will feature a free hot dog lunch, root beer floats and music by Jeff Slater. There will also be drawings for door prizes from area businesses.

     Jeff Slater has been entertaining area music lovers in the vicinity for over 15 years with his wit, storytelling and musical talents.  Jeff has been an active community volunteer and supporter of Southwest Iowa projects including the Wabash Trace, the music scene and whenever needed to help-out.  Jeff lives south of Shenandoah with his wife Ann, daughter Sofia and Lucy the wonder dog.

     “Everyone from the surrounding area is welcome to participate in this special event,” said SCIA Marketing Director Shelly Warner. “It’s a fun, rewarding event with old and new friends, music, and exercise.”

     All volunteers and sponsors should contact SCIA to sign-up volunteer 712-246-3455, chamber@sciaiowa.com. The registration form can also be viewed at the website www.sciaiowa.com or Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association Facebook page.