Heath Kellogg, Tama County Economic Development executive director, Mandy Boldt, Spanky's Restaurant & Catering, Gladbrook, Pete Youngblut, Youngblut Ag, Dysart and Chris Anderson, Iowa Valley Folk School, rural Toledo. Silver awards went to Boldt and Anderson with Youngblut receiving the top gold award. Chronicle/John Speer

Technology assistance for farming headquartered in Dysart, a new restaurant and bar in Gladbrook and the new Iowa Valley Folk School at Otter Creek Lake and Park northeast of Toledo were featured at the Pitch and Build competition on Tuesday night, Jan. 12.

The quarterly event at the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center provides “vision, plans, success and inspiration for other people,” Hath Kellogg, Tama County Economic Development executive director said in introducing the program. The event is sponsored quarterly to showcase new and innovative ideas, businesses and products in the county by the Development Commission.

Kellogg continues to stress the local endeavors build upon one another and result in progress for individuals and the county while freely admitting, “Microsoft or Google probably aren’t coming here.”

Youngblut Ag

When it comes to today’s farming operations, the computer world is there much as it is in other businesses.

That’s where Pete Youngblut, a rural Dysart native and founder of Youngblut Ag comes in.

“I’m the guy to put the tools in,” he told the Pitch and Build judges and the audience on Tuesday. He now sells, supplies and provides service to farmers who plant, harvest and carry out their operations based upon technology.

He said after receiving a degree in Agricultural Business Management from Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, he went to work for an Ames-based company which supplied technology products to farmers.

“I spent five years in a cubicle – taking 40 -50 calls a day. Being a farm kid, I didn’t like cubicles,” he said.

He returned to his home territory and began Youngblut Ag in a spare bedroom. He now is operating from his own business space on Dysart’s main street and said he is excited about adding his first full-time employee to the business shortly.

Youngblut said he’s met with questions like – “Where were you?” – from customers who have had installed various planting or other crop or farm-related systems prior to his start up.

While competitors may focus on one brand of equipment or farm machinery, Youngblut said, It can be a pink combine, we have the whole gambit.”

Spanky’s Restaurant

& Catering

Mandy Boldt is building upon over six years in the restaurant and catering business to bring new life to a Gladbrook eatery and bar which had been closed for one and one-half years. So confident of the success of building upon her existing catering business, she convinced her sister, Alicia Kunz, to return from Chicago to partner in the operation, she told the Pitch and Build crowd.

Mandy and Alicia plan to open Spanky’s Restaurant and Catering in the former Uptown Supper Club on Gladbrook’s main street in February.

Mandy had high praise for the welcome she has received from Gladbrook, both from the business community and residents, as she and family, including husband Spanky, renovate the buildings. She said many have volunteered in the efforts to remodel the buildings which once house a movie theatre and meat market. The City of Gladbrook also had a hand, allowing them to store equipment in the former ambulance garage, she said.

Todd West first remodeled the old theatre as the Golden Nugget and operated it in the 1970s. Then Maynard and Pam Wedmore, who owned the adjacent meat market, added the Uptown Supper Club operation to their business. It was later owned by JB and Carolyn Bereczki and later, John Shouse, before closing.

Mandy said everyone was excited when, touring the building,s they discovered the original theatre ticket booth which had been hidden.

Mandy said a full menu is being developed for the restaurant which will cater to families. The kitchen will afford space for her to continue her successful catering business operation.

Boldt said they are already making arrangements with the nearby Matchstick Marvels Museum to host visitors for lunch or dinner.

Iowa Valley

Folk School

Not many responded when Chris Anderson asked the Pitch and Build attendees “Do you know what a folk school is?” Anderson, the naturalist at Tama County’s Otter Creek Lake and Park said the answer was rather easy – “A folk school is a vacation for fun and learning.”

He said the newly-launched Iowa Valley Folk School at Otter Creek Lake has only one counterpart in Iowa- the Village Folk School in Keosauqua.

So, what does go on at a folk school?

Anderson listed a number of craft, food-related, nature and hobby interests which can be in the curriculum. For example this year courses in blacksmithing, wild edible and soap making will be offered this summer at Otter Creek.

On a hand-out for the folk school program there’s a lists of potential offerings from arrow making to small scale maple syrup production to spinning wool and pottery.

Anderson said course time can take up a morning to a couple of days.

He stressed the central location of Otter Creek and Tama County for Iowans coming from all directions making the courses available and attractive. In addition to campground and tent space accommodations at the lake he said local motels and restaurants are foreseen as beneficiaries of the folk school. He also believes involvement of local residents will be beneficial to themselves as well as foster a “partnership between the Tama county conservation Board and the surrounding communities.”

Anderson said his background came primarily from his grandfather from who he learned many skills “which i thought everyone knew. But then I went to college and found out they didn’t.”

Winners

Youngblut Ag was chosen by the judges as the top Pitch and Build contestant on Jan. 12. Silver awards went to Spanky’s Restaurant & Catering and Iowa Valley Folk School.

The next Pitch and Build contest is Tuesday, April 8. For additional information on the program contact the Tama County Economic Development Office, 1007 Prospect Drive, Toledo, IA 52342 – 641-484-3108.