How Edible Garden came to Webster City: The backstory
Edible Garden announced July 23, 2025, it had signed a one-year renewable lease on the former Natural Shrimp building at 401 Des Moines St., Webster City. That news was quietly released to a small group of economic development and finance professionals, going largely unnoticed in Webster City. The story gained local importance when a resolution supporting EG’s application for a $2.6 million Iowa Economic Development Authority grant appeared on the City Council of Webster City’s April 6 agenda. Built in 1991 by Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Kenco Group, the 270,000-square-foot building ...
WHO Tractor ride here Tuesday
The WHO Tractor Ride 2026 will be driving through the Webster City area on Tuesday when they make a stop for lunch at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The ride is stationed at the Webster County Fairgrounds, where tractor registration began on Sunday. Vendors were on site from noon to 4 p.m. at the main building in the fairgrounds. Monday's route takes them to Rockwell City and a stop in Knierim. On Tuesday tthey will head east toward the Brushy Creek State Recreation Area. After their lunch at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, they will travel back to the Gypsum City OHV Park in ...
Early Hamilton County business focused on agriculture, survival
When the Frigidaire plant closed its operation in Webster City in 2011, it was feared this was the demise of the county seat of Hamilton County. But the early years of prosperity were not built on an operation like Frigidaire. The earliest advertisers in the Daily Freeman Journal in 1857 were land agents, mercantile stores and the printing company, the forerunner of the Daily Freeman Journal. The Cheney House was an early hotel, following a trend where early settlers needed a place to stay while finalizing their land purchases and building on their property. Wagon making and dry ...
Mary Swander play 'Coop' will be June 26 in Clarion
The North Iowa Food Community Care Network and Wright Community Connections are pleased to announce the performance of Mary Swander’s new play Coop, starring Rip Russell, to be held Friday, June 26, at 1 p.m. at the Clarion Public Library, located at 302 N. Main St. in Clarion. "Coop" is produced by Swander Woman Productions, a theatre company led by Mary Swander, of Kalona, Iowa, that creates and tours dramatic performances based on food, farming, and the wider rural environment. "Coop" is one of a series of award-winning created by Swander. Swander is also an author, past Poet ...