Altoona Celebrates Historic Agricultural Milestone with CORNival

Posted on March 22, 2023

Altoona Arts & Culture Commission launches its largest art project in partnership with the Altoona Area Historical Society

Things are getting a little corny in Altoona as the community prepares to celebrate its connection to one of the biggest agricultural milestones of the last century. CORNival will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first acre of commercial hybrid seed corn in the U.S. being grown on a farm in Altoona. As a part of the celebration, a parade of 20 customized six-foot corn cob sculptures will sprout up across the city this summer (think Herky on Parade or CyclONE City, but “cornier”).

In 1923, Iowa State University organized a corn yield test. George Kurtzweil and his friend Henry A. Wallace (who later became the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Vice President of the United States) grew their experimental yield on the Kurtzweil family farm in Altoona. While they didn’t win the yield test, the two of them signed the first-ever commercial contract for hybrid seed corn production in the U.S. This partnership would lead to the formation of the Hi-Bred Corn Company, which would later be renamed Pioneer Hi-Bred.

The search is on for artists to complete the 20 sculptures. Artists will be hired by the City of Altoona’s Arts & Culture Commission on a contractual basis and will receive a $2,500 honorarium for this project. Artists can learn more about how to submit their proposals in the call for artists on the City of Altoona’s website.

To make this a success, the Altoona Arts and Culture Commission is looking for sponsors to help fund the project. Businesses can get their own custom sculpture for $5,000, or support the project at various levels between $100 and $5,000. Sponsorships will help cover the costs of the 6-foot fiberglass sculptures and artist honorarium. Businesses or individuals interested in being a sponsor can email [email protected].

The sculptures will remain a city-wide showpiece of public art for years to come. In addition to the sculptures, multiple fun corn-themed events will take place across Altoona! The big kick-off celebration will take place July 4, 2023, with a ribbon cutting at Haines Park, after the Fourth of July parade. More event details will be released soon.

Sweet Deal Iowa Cubs

Posted on March 21, 2023

The Iowa Cub’s are this week’s Sweet Deal! Get 10 general admission seat tickets to use during the 2023 season for just $35!

The Iowa Cubs are a minor league team based in Des Moines Iowa. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs dating all the way back to 1981. Located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers at Principal Park in Downtown Des Moines, come enjoy a hot dog, or cold beverage and enjoy America’s pastime. Bring the whole family and cheer on your team!

Each Sweet Deal voucher is redeemable for 10 General Admission tickets to any Iowa Cubs home game during the 2023 season excluding July 4 Holiday Fireworks dates and all Playoff Games. Tickets can be used in any fashion, i.e. 10 tickets to one game, 1 ticket to 10 games, a pair of tickets to 5 games, etc.

Start thinkin’ Spring… and get ready for another great season of Iowa Cubs baseball at Principal Park! Opening Weekend is March 31-April 2 at Principal Park and that’s just the start of a 75-home game schedule this year.  The I-Cubs’ roster will feature some of Chicago’s top prospects… and we’ll have great fun with promotions including fireworks, flying t-shirts and hot dogs, special appearances from basketball superstar Caitlyn Clark, bobblehead nights, appearances by Blank Panther, Hulk, Spider-Man and more! For more info check out Iowa Cubs.com and follow the Iowa Cubs on Twitter and Facebook… Season Tickets, Mini Plans, Flex Packs, and Single-Game tickets are on sale now!

Vouchers will be loaded into an online account for easy redemption and the ability to scan at the gate without stopping at a ticket window. Tickets can be upgraded based on availability. Certain games present higher demand so we advise redeeming or upgrading prior to the game you want to attend.

After purchasing the Sweet Deal, the Iowa Cubs will reach out with instructions on how to create a free Iowa Cubs ticket account. Once this account is created, The Iowa Cubs will upload your 10-game General Admission ticket pack to your account.

Ticket holders can use their phone to present the ticket bar code at the gate (bypassing the ticket window) or they can go to the ticket window and upgrade their ticket to reserved seating (assuming those tickets are available for the game they choose).

Customers can also print off the ticket barcode and present the barcode at the gate if they prefer.

The Iowa Cub’s are this week’s Sweet Deal! Get 10 general admission seat tickets to use during the 2023 season for just $35! Starting Friday morning at 9am here: https://www.sweetdeals.com/des-moines/9013750-iowa-cubs

Fail of the Week

Posted on March 18, 2023

I would say this is another negative side effect of global warming…so a Fail. But I guess if your the alligators…you’re all for it! Time for your Fail of the Week!

This week in 80’s history!

Posted on March 18, 2023

Let’s see what this week in the decade of decadence had to offer.

It was on this week in:

1981: The Who released Face Dances, their 9th studio album would peak at #4 on the US charts much thanks to mega hit “You Better You Bet”.

1985 – Mr. Belvedere Premiered on ABC

1986 – “Sara” by Starship Hit Became the #1 Song in America. Holding onto that spot for just one week. 

1989 – Fletch Lives, starring Chevy Chase Premiered in Theaters.

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