Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association Ag Committee and Agriculture Future of America join forces each year to support an agricultural scholarship program. Applications are now being accepted online at the website www.agfuture.org under the Community Scholarship tab through March 6, 2023.

     This year the SCIA Ag Committee will award up to two scholarships. AFA matches community funds, now being raised by the SCIA Ag Committee, to offer $4,450 in each scholarship, including $3,200 academic scholarship and $1,250 to cover the AFA Leaders Conference expenses in Kansas City the following November.

     Qualified applicants are Shenandoah, Sidney or Essex high school seniors who will pursue a degree in agriculture or any related field at an accredited college or university. Many majors qualify if they will be applied to the agriculture industry, such as…business, chemistry, horticulture, animal science, education, computer science etc.

    The application process also includes an essay sharing the applicant’s personal vision for agriculture and why their interest in an agricultural career. An interview will be conducted soon after March 6th at the SCIA office, 619 W. Sheridan Avenue. Applications must be posted online by March 6th so they can set up interview times. The link to the application is http://www.agfuture.org then click on the community partner scholarship.

    The goal of the AFA Scholarship is to identify students with strong potential. Students are also scored on community service and citizenship, activities, work experience, family need, references, grade point (3.0 and above) and student rank. The Essay has the greatest weight in scoring applicants.

    The Scholarship winners will be announced at the SCIA Annual Meeting and Ag Banquet to be held later this summer. SCIA Ag Committee members are now gathering donations for the Agriculture Future of America scholarship. Agriculture Future of America Foundation provides $2,000 to match $2,450 raised locally for each scholarship. Businesses and individuals that wish to contribute should contact SCIA at 246-3455, chamber@sciaiowa.com or drop off a check. Checks should be made to Greater Shenandoah Foundation.

Annual Shenandoah Chocolate Walk is February 8th. Shop, sample chocolate, pickup drawing entry forms in businesses. Bring entries to drawing party at THE SANCTUARY 5-7pm. 

Drawing includes $100’s in SCIA Chamber Bucks, Prizes from businesses including a stay at Shenandoah Inn & Suites Hotel! DRAWINGS begin at 6:30pm. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!

FREE Appetizers & Logo Chocolate Bars  handmade by the Sugar Makery to 1st 100 & Hot Cocoa Mugs  to 1st 50 attending, sample wines, order from menu. Purchase Valentine T’s at County Line Design.

AS YOU SHOP PICKUP ENTRY FOR PRIZES TO BRING TO THE DRAWING PARTY AT:  Shenandoah Inn & Suites, The Sanctuary, US Cellular Advantage, Depot Restaurant, Angel Care Home Health, SMC Gift Shop, Serenity Studio Flowers & Spa, Paper Trail, County Line Design, Earl May Garden Center, Shenandoah Floral, Healthy Tails Retreat, Brown’s Shoe Fit.

MORE PRIZES FROM: HyVee, Fareway, Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association,

Pizza Hut, Legacy 3 Theaters, Little Waite Lanes, Wal-Mart, El Porton Mexican Grill, Tractor Supply.

Sponsored by Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association

Shenandoah Medical Center Open House Robert S. Holmes Family Cancer Center, nurses’ station, nursery, and the retail pharmacyJanuary 25, 10 am-Noon. Refreshments will be provided for all guests. 

Join Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association now for membship benefits. Our mission is to improve the economic vitality of the Shenandoah area, to expand high paying employment opportunities, enhance Shenandoah's retail shopping, and to support major community projects that improve our quality of life. Contact SCIA to revieve a membership form at 619 W Sheridan Avenue, Shenandoah, IA, 712-246-3455, chamber@sciaiowa.com.

SCIA Brings Christmas Spirit to 2023 Holiday Activities

      Sno-dough, reindeer, carriage rides, free movie, and Mr. & Mrs. Claus will bring Christmas Spirit to the holiday activities Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association has planned for this festive season. Shenandoah Christmas Spirit is the theme for the 2023 holiday season emphasizing family, tradition, giving, peace, friends, celebration, and good cheer.  In the goodwill spirit of the theme SCIA will collect donations of food and kids toys to be passed on to those less fortunate in the community. Donations will be collected in a sleigh in the SCIA window. Earlier this month Shenandoah stores kicked off the Christmas shopping season with a holiday open house event.

     Sno-dough Sale November 18 9 a.m. at SCIA, 619 W Sheridan Avenue is the next shopping event. Shoppers can buy $100 for $80 to spend at 25 participating Shenandoah Chamber stores. In addition, if customers spend Sno-dough at small businesses they will be able to register for a $300 drawing to be awarded in January. Shopper must purchase Sno-dough with cash. Sno-Dough expires 12/31/23 and can only be spent at participating businesses, no change can be given back to the customer, and it can’t be spent on gift cards. There is a limit of three packets of $100 per household so that many in the community and surrounding area can benefit. This year $37,000 is available to customers with 370 packets of ten $10 bills for purchase.

     2023 participating businesses eligible to receive Sno-dough are Brown’s Shoe Fit, Chamber Gift Certificates, City Fitness Center, Depot Deli, Earl May Garden Center, El Porton Mexican Grill, Eyecare Associates of Southwest Iowa, Fareway Food Store, High Plains Healing & Wellness, Hy-Vee Food Store,  Legacy 3 Theater, LePorte Electric, McDonalds, Midwest Outlaw Garage, Nebel Roofing & Auction, Nishna Valley Café, Paper Trail, RocStop Cenex, Serenity Studio Floral & Spa, Shenandoah Floral, Shenandoah Inn & Suites,  Sheridan Decorating, SWIFT Services, and Wal-Mart. These businesses contribute to help makeup the twenty percent of the customer discount. The amount they contribute is determined by their previous year receipts of Sno-dough.

     The mission of Sno-dough is to keep holiday shopping dollars in town and not spent on the internet. Through local option sales tax collected Sno-dough benefits all of Shenandoah residents. Sno-dough is only possible because of sponsor contributions. Sponsoring Shenandoah business this year are Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association, Bank Iowa, Tri-Valley Bank, First Heritage Bank, First Interstate Bank, Pella Corporation, KMA Radio, O’Hara Seed, Lashier Bonefas Baldwin PC, Edward Jones Investments, Nebel Roofing & Auction, Wilson Insurance, and Guild Mortgage. Any questions about Sno-dough can be directed to SCIA 712-246-3455. More information is at www.sciaiowa.com. 

Night the Lights Come On November 25th will again feature live reindeer, music, hot chocolate, and horse drawn carriage rides are back, all 3-5 p.m. Parents can take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Flatiron Plaza location at the corner of Clarinda Avenue and Blossom St. downtown. Holiday lighting count down will be at 5:30 p.m. Soup & Pie Supper fundraiser 5:30– 7 p.m. is hosted by the Veteran’s Memorial Museum at 603 W. Lowell Avenue with donations accepted. Holiday bargain hunters are encouraged to shop Small Business Saturday. Sponsors For the event are Community 1^st Credit Union, Fuller Center for Housing, SCIA, and Shenandoah Medical Center. HyVee will also provide and serve hot chocolate.

Free Kids Movie December 2^nd will be at Legacy 3 Theater at 10 a.m. Kids and parents can see the “Elf” Movie free of charge thanks to Legacy 3 Theaters. The movie will be shown in all three theaters. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Mrs. Claus will be on hand to greet moviegoers.  SCIA will provide a small popcorn and pop to kids free of charge.

Visit Santa Claus December Saturdays at the Everly Brothers Childhood Home, 800 W Sheridan Avenue 2-4 p.m. Santa will have gifts for the kids and photos are welcome. Dates are December 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd. Santa is seeking a few elves from the community to assist him each Saturday. Contact SCIA to volunteer 712-246-3455.

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus December 9^th will run 9:30–11a.m. at the Delmonico Room of the Historical Museum building 100 S. Maple St. The kids’ event will include breakfast, stories, crafts, cookie decorating, and games. Space is limited to 60 children. Make Reservations by December 4^th by calling Shenandoah Chamber at 712-246-3455 or email chamber@sciaiowa.com. Volunteers will also be needed. Parents may attend with their children, but no breakfast will be provided for the parents.

9 a.m. at SCIA, Buy $100 for $80 to spend at Shenandoah Stores. Shop with Sno-dough at Small Businesses & register for $300 drawing to be awarded in January. Purchase w/Cash Only! It’s like getting free $20 bills for Christmas Shopping! 

Sponsors: SCIA, Bank Iowa, Tri-Valley Bank, First Heritage Bank, First Interstate Bank, Pella Corporation, KMA Radio, O’Hara Seed, Lashier Bonefas Baldwin PC, Edward Jones Investments, Nebel Roofing & Auction, Wilson Insurance, Guild Mortgage.

Sno-Dough expires 12/31/23, can only be spent at participating businesses, no change given & can’t be spent on gift cards. Limit is 3 packets of $100 per household. $37,000 to be spent at participating businesses. 370 packets of 10- $10 bills available.

Spend Sno-dough at Shenandoah Chamber Businesses!

Brown’s Shoe Fit

Chamber Gift Certificates

City Fitness Center

Depot Deli

Earl May Garden Center

El Porton Mexican Grill

Eyecare Assoc. of SWIA

Fareway Food Store

High Plains Healing & Wellness

Hy-Vee Food Store

Legacy 3 Theater

LePorte Electric

McDonalds

Midwest Outlaw Garage

Nebel Roofing & Auction

Nishna Valley Cafe

Paper Trail

RocStop Cenex

Serenity Studio Floral & Spa

Shenandoah Floral

Shenandoah Inn & Suites

Sheridan Decorating

SWIFT Services

Wal-Mart