July 9, 2021

 

Odebolt will be the host site for the 21st Iowa Country School Preservation Conference on Oct. 8-9, 2021. The theme of this year's conference is "One Room Schools - the Start of Big Dreams."

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On Friday, Oct. 8, attendees will enjoy a welcome by Bill Sherman and his line-up of presentations on current happenings and efforts in preservation, histories, and programs for schools. Tours will be available at several sites, including Iowa’s amazing Rural Schools Museum (Willow Tree School) in Heritage Square in Odebolt, the Popcorn Center of the World by 1915, supplying Cracker Jack and Jolly Time.

 

A tour of the Sac City Historical Village, also home of Jackson School #7, will be available, as well. The evening will conclude with  an entertaining 8th grade graduation reenactment at Chautauqua Pavilion in Sac City, followed by a celebration dinner at the Sac Community Center (formerly the city's high school).

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On Saturday, Oct. 9, the conference resumes with breakfast at the Odebolt Community Center and an informative tour of nearby sites of historical significance. Stops will include the historic Adams Bank with private quarters, Adams Ranch, “Castles” and Grant School #5 at Moorehead Park, in Ida Grove. Stop for an educational tour of an unbelievable, “21st Century” family farm that few get a chance to experience. This family broke sod, built a rural school, and now uses the latest farming technology. Visit Cook School #8 and beautiful prairie gardens at the Prairie Pedlar.

 

The conference will conclude with lunch in a pre-fab Sears barn. Sites are on the grounds of the former Cook Ranch, which has a rich history connected with Jolly Time Popcorn.

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To register, please complete the registration form by Oct. 1, 2021. Contact Carol Raasch with any questions at 712-830-8328 or ruralschoolsiowa@gmail.com.

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The 21st Iowa Country School Preservation Conference is sponsored by:

Preservation Iowa 

Rural Legacy Project 

Iowa Rural Schools Museum-City of Odebolt 

First State Bank 

Sac City Chautauqua Pavilion 

Tlobedo Questers #485 

Odebolt Historical Museum 

Sac City Historical Museum and Village 

Odebolt Betterment Committee 

Prairie Pedlar 

Western Iowa Tourism