Fort Dodge and Farm Finds

When you like agricultural history, and farm fun like I do, you are always on the lookout for fun farm finds. I found several ag things to love in beautiful Fort Dodge, Iowa. Keith and I visited in early September. We were hosted by the wonderful Kerrie Kuiper, Director at Visit Fort Dodge.

Soldier Creek Winery

Our first agricultural stop was Soldier Creek Winery. We were lucky to be there when they received a shipment of grapes. We got to watch the unloading.

Then we saw grapes pumped into a press. How exciting. Megan Secor our guide shared, “This morning we crushed 3 tons of red grapes.”

Its a family affair

The Secor family own the winery that started as a corn and soybean farm. While they still also farm, Bill Secor began studying grapes at Iowa Central Community College. After a hog barn fire, in 2002, Bill and his wife Tammi decided to diversify. In 2007, they planted a vineyard where the barn once was. They were starting a new farm era for the family. The vineyard opened in 2012.

Today Bill and son Rob see to the vines and run the farm operation. Megan, who is married to Rob along the Secor daughters, Anne and Amanda run the tasting room and business side. “There are four grandchildren, two of my own, and Amanda’s two with another on the way,” Megan shared. They hope one day the grandkids will take over the operation.

Details

They named the vineyard Solider Creek because of its nearby location. They offer wine tasting and also often have entertainment. The family is very musical Amanda went to school for the violin. There is cool art on display in the tasting room where offer over 20 varieties of grapes, dry, off-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. They also offer live entertainment and cider and beer. My favorite wine was the Blanc de Banc which was perfect for a light sipping wine. For those looking for a perfect wine for Thanksgiving, Megan said, “Our Frontenac Gris, orange wine is a great pairing for Thanksgiving.”

At Soldier Creek they are also offering Frolic a canned wine. “It is an offshoot, its friendly, and has a different take and fits fun flavored and catered to Generation Z,” Megan shared.

Solider Creek Winery offers award winning wines made with the love of the land, the love of family, love of the grapes and it all comes through in the wine.

The story of gypsum

A different type of farming is farming the ground for minerals. That is the story of gypsum in Fort Dodge. Kerrie explained, “There were three different companies producing gypsum from the gypsum mining.”

It was so successful that Fort Dodge is called, “Gypsum Capital of the World”. It was first discovered in 1849, a year before the Fort Dodge fort was established. Coal came first, but soon the gypsum was discovered, and when George Ringland perfected how to make it into plaster, the industry took off. An article on May 9, 2026 in The Messenger by Bill Shea shared, “Over the last century and a half there have been 30 different gypsum companies and 13 gypsum mills in and around Fort Dodge. In addition to United States Gypsum, the list includes Plymouth Gypsum Co., Iowa Hard Plaster Co., American Independent Gypsum Co., Wasem Plaster Co., Celotex Corp., and Cardiff Gypsum Co. Today there are four gypsum companies in Fort Dodge and Webster County – CertainTeed, Georgia Pacific, National Gypsum Co, and USG. Together they employ about 370 people.”

Reclaimed mine land has been converted into hunting and fishing and ATV parkland. There is even the popular Gypsum City Campground!

There is even a cool restaurant that we visited called Mineral City Mill and Grill.

The diner is named in honor of the Gypsum mines. While we enjoyed the food, part of the fun was the historic pictures on the walls.

Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center

Nature is God’s own farm growing the plants that we depend on. When we first learned of a visit to Matt Cosgrove’s River Edge Discovery Center we were not sure why we were going it seemed a place for kids. We soon learned it is a place for kids of all ages!

Taken from their website is a partial description of this fun stop. “A place that not only welcomes those who come to learn and play but also tells the story of the land and water that we enjoy. The central theme of the Discovery Center is “Immerse yourself in the living story of Iowa’s water – the lifeblood that shapes our communities and our landscapes – while discovering our responsibilities to protect it for the future.” 

We had fun walking through the center and connecting the story of gypsum and the local history. We loved our walk along the riverside and the flight of geese from tree, to water, to sky.

The Fort Dodge Grain Silo

As a farmer’s wife, I know the lifeblood of grain is the storage bins that hold the grain until it is delivered to the processor. What an amazing way to use this once vibrant piece of agricultural history that has put Fort Dodge on the map.

This art was created by Australian artist Guido van Helten. His vision is, “to repurpose what were once ‘purely functional’ structures in rural communities…to commemorate the local agricultural history and inspire new industry in the forms of public art and tourism…”

He surely accomplished that goal.

The Fort Museum and Frontier Village in Fort Dodge

Sean O’Conner gave us a wonderful in-depth story of the Fort Museum and Frontier village. There is so much to see. The replica fort represents the Fort that the U.S. Army erected on August 2, 1850. Named originally Fort Clark, it was renamed Fort Dodge in honor of Henry Dodge, a senator and former governor of Wisconsin Territory that at one time included Iowa. The fort was only operational until 1853 and was abandoned. William Williams purchased the land and buildings and established what would eventually become Fort Dodge. While there were no uprisings during the time the fort was there, Sean shared that a man named Henry Lott sold bad whiskey and stole horses from the Sioux and sparked an uprising.

Native American tribes were where the fort is located today. The buildings are period structures with 18 authentic buildings. “The quarter master is the only still surviving fort building,” Sean said. “It is the oldest structure in the city.”

There is a lot to see at the Fort. Tons of history like the story of the Cardiff Giant, a hoax that began in Fort Dodge.

There is lots of agricultural equipment on display, buildings with stories of the town interwoven throughout.

Even farm toys play into the mix.

There are stories of the pottery and the gypsum.

I was amazed by the picture of the Fort Dodge Stoneware company with the huge beehive kiln.

There is so much to learn at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village about the town and areas agricultural past.

Community Orchard

To close out our farm finds we ended with a visit to Community Orchard. The agricultural history at Community Orchard dates back to even before it was an orchard. Denny and Emily Stucky own the property and shared that it was once a dairy farm. Denny shared that Community Orchard started when Dr. Paul Otto and his wife bought property back in the early 1940’s. Dr. Otto studied apples and wanted to see what kind of apples would grow in Fort Dodge. Denny said, “He planted apples trees in the late 40’s.”

Hiring a family to run the orchard because Dr. Otto was still a practicing physician, the family eventually bought the property.

The orchard today

With the 2nd generation ready to retire, the Stucky’s were ready for a change after the passing Denny’s father. He had worked with his dad and the family thought it was time for a new start. On their website they share,…”The stars aligned and the transition process seemed almost seamless as a new family was ushered in to carry on the traditions of The Community Orchard while also allowing for growth and new ideas!”

They have introduced popular food items like the amazing, and quite beautiful pot pies!

This is their 5th year in operation and Community Orchard offers so many things. They have a boutique, cafe, orchard, playground and event space. We loved this agritourism sight where family comes first and agriculture is highlighted. It is a place where families can be entertained, make memories, and learn where their fruit comes from. Rooted in the land, the Stucky’s offer agritourism excellence.

There are more places to see and things to do in this town with the motto: Dodge the Ordinary. There is nothing ordinary about Fort Dodge. Come visit and tell me what farm facts you find!