Stories

Rotarians Astra Ferris and Randy Kuhlman appeared in the Fall edition of the Fort Dodge Business Connection insert to the “Messenger.”  Both Rotarians provided updates from their offices of the Growth Alliance and Community Foundation/United Way.

As President of ICCC Jesse Ulrich appears to be all joy as he welcomes back students for the Fall Semester.  He was pictured in the “Messenger” taking a selfie with several students.

Rotarian Theroux was pictured twice in recent “Messengers” as she was one of the organizers of the recently completed “Women's forum” held in Fort Dodge.  

Finest of Dining at Violet Hill Farm: Molly and James Arbaugh

Culinary school graduates James and Molly (Doester) Arbaugh are the proprietors of Violet Hill Farm. Set on a century farm 10 miles west of Fort Dodge, they strive to create a memorable experience where locally sourced food is featured. They create, serve, and explain each of the five-course meals right on the farm for about 60 guests. It is a family affair, with family members serving at events and Molly’s sister Abby doing publicity through social media and the website. Violet Hill Farm also holds cooking classes, cater events, and hold private events for 10 to 150+ guests. 

Molly is a 2013 St. Edmond graduate, and James grew up in the Philadelphia area. They met while working in California, married, then decided to make their home in the Midwest. They have three girls, ages 6, 5, and one and one-half. In addition to their Violet Hill Farm business, James works Wednesdays and Thursdays at Iowa Central. 

Learn more at: www.violethillfarmia.com

Rotarian McCubbin was pictured in the Saturday "Messenger securing the autograph of Ben Allers, a Fort Dodge Senior High/St. Edmond Student and current rising star on Broadway.  Ben returned to Fort Dodge to provide a night at ICCC answering questions about how it is to work in New York an Broadway.  

• Mission: Rotary is a service organization comprised of community leaders of various professions dedicated to humanitarian causes locally and throughout the world. Simply put, Rotary is an organization that is out to do "good" in the world. 
• Vision: It is incumbent upon the Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club and its Board of Directors to be good stewards of available resources.  The club budgets dollars annually.  The budget may fund identified programs.  The club also has a small “Special Fund” available for requests made throughout the year for unbudgeted causes, which the club and Board may want to support. 
• Eligibility for the Special Fund:  Grants must have the support of one or more members of the Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club. Funds are granted in support of humanitarian causes.  Causes may relate to youth, poverty prevention/intervention, community betterment, health care, human services, and more.  There are many, many good causes.  There are also limited dollars.  Grant awards will not exceed the dollars available in the special fund.   Preference may be given to one-time projects or to programs that are deemed to have sustainability.  For example, grants may be given to a building project to provide some seed money to start an educational program that the schools will fund in the long term.  Collaboration with other funding sources is encouraged.