Making Friends in Siouxland, Rural Plymouth County

A horse looks toward a visitor in rural Plymouth County Sunday, April 18, 2021, possible hoping for a little snack. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I always look forward to meeting new “folk” when driving about Siouxland. One particular day I felt bad that I didn’t pack a carrot lunch with me to snack on as a couple of locals would surely have enjoyed me sharing that I met while driving some backroads.

It was a nice day and they seemed to be enjoying themselves on a hillside on a pleasant, finally, spring day.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Two horses eye a visitor in rural Plymouth County Sunday, April 18, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Siouxland easing into Fall, Sioux City

I visited a local state park the other day in Sioux City looking for a location for a portrait shoot. On the way there I passed a field with a couple of horses grazing and noticed the light and the horses and pulled over. It struck me that the light is slowly changing, gone the intense brightness of summer and easing into that hazy fall, soft kind of light. I personally like the fall season and hope to get out more and explore Siouxland looking for the familiar and yet undiscovered venues to photograph.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Horses graze in a field near Stone State Park in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday Sept. 8, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring Weather wet and cloudy in Siouxland, Rural Sioux County

The weather this year in Siouxland has been at best, unpredictable. Snow in May, although that I understand is not unusual. Then it got extremely warm during the “normal” spring months, with temperatures in the 90’s, that is unusual, although not unheard of by some of an elderly generation.I took a drive up into Sioux County this past week, checking out a couple of items that I will write about later. It was a pleasant drive up, white puffy clouds with blue sky. But around Sioux Center, that changed, as the weather was unpredictable the further north I traveled. But it made for some nice images.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux County Youth Fair

Every year 4-H fairs are held at or around the same time as most county fairs. For most “country” kids, 4-H is a fact of life. But 4-H in these modern times isn’t just for country kids raising livestock, and it really wasn’t that way years ago either. Linda Cleveringa, Sioux County, Iowa, 4-H County Youth Coordinator, said today’s 4-H club members projects range from large animals such as horses, beef, dairy or pigs and sheep to pets, small animals like rabbits and chickens or also non animal projects. “The overall experience is something that teaches children decision making, problem solving, leadership, citizenship, communication and life skills.” Cleveringa said. The 4-H club members put a lot of work into creating projects or raising their animals. During the judging aspect when they show their projects most times the children have to answer detailed questions concerning how the project came about and various aspects involved such as the type and amount of feed for their animal, the type of animal or breed specific it is, or what their non animal project entails.

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Club members must spend time keeping track of their own individual progress on their project and be accurate in their note taking. The Sioux County Youth Fair continues through July 19 at the fair grounds in Sioux Center, Iowa. It is well worth a trip to see the hard work these young people have put into their projects and the pride they exhibit is trying and most times succeeding. As one young man, Isaac Van Beek, Maurice, Iowa, Sioux Stockmen 4-H club member said after receiving a blue ribbon in the Western Pleasure walk/trot riding competition that he will do better next year. 4-H club members continue striving for excellence.  See photographs of the Youth Fair here.

Jerry Mennenga,Sioux City, Iowa