The Story Continues in Siouxland, Heritage Village, Sioux Center

Larry TeGrotenhuis looks over contents of the Roelof’s Store at the new location of the Heritage Village now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

As time continues to “march forward” changes sometimes take place and people and places adjust to those changes. In Siouxland, the Heritage Village in Sioux Center is undergoing such a change. The history infused village is a special place where people could come to learn about early life during settler days and other times. But expansion at a local university and the need for for an athletic sponsored facility necessitated that the village make way for progress. As has been documented numerous time throughout history, progress moves forward and at times history is just that, history.

Buildings of the Heritage Village are now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A spot for a barn of the Heritage Village still to be relocated to the new location of Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village supporters Linda Prins, Erma TeGrotenhuis, Larry TeGrotenhuis and Stan Prins talk about the next steps in preparing the Heritage Village now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

In early reported discussions available via media in became clear the village garners a lot of support and so a new place was found and costs covered to move the existing history place across town where the new home looks to provide more space and play a continued part in educating youngsters and other interested parties about the history of the prairie and early life there. Every fall a festival takes place where busloads of school children arrive and get some hands on history lessons as well seeing and hearing about life one to two centuries before they were even born. A long, long time ago, although still in this galaxy.

The Heritage Village is now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village supporters Stand Prins, right, and Larry TeGrotenhuis go into the Roelof’s Store to talk about the next steps in getting work completed in the next few months at new location of the Heritage Village now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A number of trees from the previous location have been moved along with buildings and contents of the Heritage Village now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Members of the Heritage Village board state they plan on having a fall festival with plans to move forward with getting the grounds completed and buildings secured on the new site. Not a quick or easy task. But the group is dedicated in seeing that with progress, history is not left behind in a forgotten memory or dusty pages of a book on a shelf.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

With some buildings already removed just remnants of the Heritage Village remain still to be moved at the former site. Heritage Village will be located to Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The sod pioneer house at the former Heritage Village is one of the few remaining buildings to relocate to Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

With some buildings already removed just remnants of the Heritage Village remain still to be moved at the former site. Heritage Village will be located to Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The old jail cell awaits a spot at the new location of the Heritage Village now located at the Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

With some buildings already removed just remnants of the Heritage Village remain still to be moved at the former site. Heritage Village will be located to Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A desolate site with some buildings already removed and just remnants of the Heritage Village remain for moving at the former site. Heritage Village will be located to Tower Fields in Sioux Center, Iowa, seen Friday, February 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Final Curtain Comes Down in Siouxland, Prairie Grass Film Challenge, Dordt University, Sioux Center

A late comer sneaks into the screening of Monte Ne Productions “Stuck: An Original Musical” which won the overall best of show at the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Recently I attended the final awards ceremony for a Siouxland film festival, the Prairie Grass Film Challenge. A 48-hour turn around production of “content worth consuming” hosted at Dordt University located in Sioux Center. Currently a people’s choice is going on for the one video that folk deem the most liked, by those voting. Entrance films ran the gamut from high school students to those beyond college. And having done some judging of the films over the last few years there was a lot of excellent work being done by a number of individuals and teams.

Enjoying an “Oscar” Red Carpet moment are people involved with various production crews who entered the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Bob Pollema and Mark Volkers emceed the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A member of the cast for “Live in the Mind” Run For Your Life Productions, watches himself on screen during the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The films ranged from comedy, drama, musical, mockumentary to sci-fi and mystery. Each team had to include a line of dialogue and a character and prop. Many were quite creative in how these required items were displayed in the film, while others simply included them, I assume as necessary evils possibly not in keeping with whatever creative visions folk had in mind. But in the real (reel) world where others are paying the freight, sometimes there are requirements and the challenge is including them without compromising the final product/storyline.

The awards ceremony has its Oscar moments with some reveals and red carpet opportunities for those attending. A chance to see if they had won their respective category and to see others films as well. The digital media department for Dordt works to help students find their footing and hone skills that will allow them to tell stories effectively after they graduate. A Christian-based liberal arts school, those involved genuinely want to make the world a better place. But that all comes down to point of view and what stories are being told. But as with any job or career path, sometimes the storytelling takes a turn as one matures and sees life up close and personal as opposed to hearing about it through parents and teachers and whatever other filters a young person might have. Experience is its own teacher, right or wrong, and the experience the folk participating the film challenge allows them to try various ideas, compete in a team-work environment and make a positive statement through their participating.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Udo Velvet Productions receives a special award for participating in 11 of the past Prairie Grass Film Challenge years during the final awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying an “Oscar” Red Carpet moment are people involved with various production crews who entered the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Prairie Grass Film Challenge founder Mark Volkers, center, looks over a gift he received as his wife, Janelle, left, Bob Pollema, back, and Vern Eekhof, right look on during the final awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Members of the public and family, friends and film production entrants begin arriving for the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Mark Volkers and Sandy Reitsma pose for a photo at the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Dordt University jazz ensemble warms up the audience for the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Prairie Grass Film Challenge founder Mark Volkers, right, talks with film entrants prior to the final awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Mark Volkers, founder of the Prairie Grass Film Challenge recognizes people involved with the challenge that include Sandy Reitsma, Gayle Haarsma, Darlene Reichert and Bob Pollema, Daniel Ketchelos, Miranda Munson and Vern Eekhof during the final awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Bob Pollema talks with a winning film team during the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A winning film team receive its “check” and recognition during the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying an “Oscar” Red Carpet moment are people involved with various production crews who entered the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Colored streamers jazz up the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A production worker talks about the falling streamers and other surprises while putting finishing touches to the state for the final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony which occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The final Prairie Grass Film Challenge awards ceremony occurred Friday, February 18, 2022 in the B. J. Hahn Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center. After 15 years of challenging film enthusiasts to create content worth consuming within a 48-hour period awards the last winners their trophies and acknowledging all those who have participated and created viewing opportunities that were family friendly. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Affirming One’s Faith in Siouxland, Pilgrimage of the Cross, Sioux Rapids

Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) before the start of the day’s 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage, Thursday, July 29, 2021 leaving from Sioux Rapids, Iowa. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fr. Doug Klein, center, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) says a prayer with parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Robyn Van Venrooij and Maria Cartelan before beginning their 24-mile walk of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county at St. Josephs’s Church in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. With the newly constructed Christ the King church completed, the 5-day parish pilgrimage began in Mallard and will end in Sioux Center. Fr. Klein gathered various sacrosanct items from each church in the parish, such as the corpus from Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, seen on the cross, to be used at the newly constructed parish church. They will carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The faith landscape of Siouxland as of other places across the U.S. has been changing in the last few years. While many folk continue to say they are believers in Jesus Christ and an afterlife, the attendance to formal institutions has been dwindling, not only for the Catholic faith, but Protestants, Methodists and other established religious orders. All have had their troubles with problematic faith leaders erring in their own lives and causing pain amongst the faithful.

The Diocese of Sioux City (Iowa) has been readjusting its “deployment” of personnel or priests the last number of years as attendance has dwindled along with men willing to heed the call of God and serve as ordained priests. So the diocese has been consolidating its parishes with one community serving as a hub for an area and is closing some of the smaller, less or least attended churches within its area of coverage.

Which then makes it most remarkable that a new church has been built for the Diocese to minister to the faithful in an area that is predominantly Reformed Dutch. With the closing of some of the smaller communities places of worship the priest for Christ the King church, Fr. Doug Klein, put together a pilgrimage that started and passed through a number of the areas now covered by the new church but will lose its own house of worship. Fr. Klein gathered artifacts from the various communities and made the almost 100 mile walk to the new church along with parishioners to show the commitment to faith and the continuing idea of community in one’s faith.

Gene Bartels drives the tractor as Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) and parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Paola Rivera and Maria Cartelan leave Sioux Rapids, Iowa to begin their walk of 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Gene Bartels drives the tractor as Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) and parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Paola Rivera and Maria Cartelan walk 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

There is debate about the loss of faith in the U.S. and how godless it has become. But it seems the loss of faith is more directed to those overseeing the flock and some of those individuals loss of direction for personal gain or need of power and the feeling of importance, rather than actually ministering to the needy. And any judgement that might come from any for or against the idea of faith, will ultimately be decided on that one day for what some evangelicals call the “end of days”. And for those who truly believe, the only important judgement comes from the Trinity and not a self-appointed judge among the many now living on earth.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Gene Bartels drives the tractor as Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) and parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Paola Rivera and Maria Cartelan walk 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Gene Bartels drives the tractor as Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) and parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Paola Rivera and Maria Cartelan walk 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Gene Bartels drives the tractor as Fr. Doug Klein, pastor of Christ the King church in Sioux Center, Iowa (of the Sioux City Diocese) and parish members Dave Klein, Janet Klein, Vickie Ryan, Paola Rivera and Maria Cartelan walk 24 miles of a 100 mile pilgrimage Thursday, July 29, 2021 through rural Buena Vista county. They carry the corpus from the Sacred Heart Church of Laurens, Iowa. With fewer priests available in the diocese to oversee services and duties and diminishing number of members attending the outlying parish churches, the Ministry 2025 Pastoral Plan called for creating a number of cluster parishes to serve the faithful. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Revisiting History in Siouxland, Heritage Village, Sioux Center

Earthen mound prairie house at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

From time to time while driving about Siouxland I like to revisit places, even if it’s off-peak for any activity that might be going on. The Heritage Village in Sioux Center is one such place. A small replica village that celebrates the history of the early settlers and the agricultural aspect of the Midwest. The place has a different look during different seasons, even without the activity of its fall festival celebration.

Inside the earthen mound prairie house at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Inside the earthen mound prairie house at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Early settlers traveled very light, or as light as they could if going west by wagon and any other means of transportation. Some of the early plains settlers lived in sod houses. The wall thick with cutouts for windows, the small abodes kept folk cool in the heat of summer and warm in winter. But with very little room to move about, it’s safe to assume most activity, weather dependent, took place outdoors. And in those days I am sure there was no lack of work to survive and hopefully to also enjoy themselves in simple pleasures, like a nice day with sunshine, light breeze and a decent temperature.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Inside the earthen mound prairie house at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying the Light in Siouxland, Heritage Village, Sioux Center

Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when I am cruising about Siouxland without any objective in mind, I just enjoy the light that I come across. To me it seems early spring and then again fall, when the sun is slowly changing its position relative to the earth, I find the play of light in the mornings and again afternoons just a bit different. Strong light without being overly harsh as it will become as seasons move toward summer. Light play and shadows created are intriguing, at least to me. Shapes, designs, patterns, repetitions and such can be endlessly fascinating.

Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The images themselves can be somewhat like cotton candy, in that they look nice, kind of cool, sometimes, but like the cotton candy, without any meaningful nutrition or value, other than how it looks. But sometimes, that is enough.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Heritage Village in Sioux Center, Iowa Monday, March 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Celebrating Film in Siouxland, Prairie Grass Film Challenge, Dordt University

Attendees watch one of the entries in a screening room prior to the awards ceremony for the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

In today’s world, there is a proliferation of media. Video and stills. Everywhere. As a photographer, I somewhat thrive on seeing images and for the most part enjoy them. People’s tastes runs the gamut. Depending on one’s point of view there is “good” and “bad” art, video and photography. Individuals pursue what interests them and where their tastes lie.

Every year in Siouxland at Dordt Universtiy there has been a 48-hour film challenge, the Prairie Grass Film Challenge. Individuals and teams come up with and create a film within the specified time period and then compete at this private Christian college in northwest Iowa. The films need to be family friendly but do push the boundary as each, as people are, have an individual opinion of what is friendly. And winners for this year’s competition just recently were announced.

One film crew entry pose on “The Red Carpet” prior to the awards ceremony for the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The films are produced by high school, college and post college individuals. All maybe reflecting a generational outlook through their individual films, and most certainly have a point of view and moral component to the pieces. Attending the awards ceremony (which is also live streamed to competing teams from around the country) held at the small university one can feel the excitement for these folk as much as directors, producers and actors attending the Oscars and receiving awards and recognition for their work.

Teammates for a film entry react after winning first place in their division during the awards ceremony at the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Presenters react as they watch one attendee show off his Superman shirt under his street clothes mimicking a recurring theme for this year’s entries which involved superheroes during the awards ceremony at the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Twenty-five teams made the final cut of the competition that were judged and then four films were selected for best of in three categories with a fourth winner judged best of show. It’s fun to watch these folk enthusiasm and see their creativity put to the test, or not. Prior to the awards ceremony the film are screened in rooms around campus for people to view a few of them before finding out the winner. It’s a fun night, except for the cold weather and sometimes snowy conditions, and a chance for people to begin an adventure in film that may continue or compete in a venue their find worthy of their own involvement with similar values. As with everything, you get out of the experience what you put into it.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The Dordt University jazz band performs prior to the start of the awards ceremony for the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Members of a film crew ham it up on “The Red Carpet” prior to the awards ceremony at the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

An audience member dressed up as a bee patiently waits for the awards ceremony for the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Mark Volkers, left, and Bob Pollema, right, emcee at the Prairie Grass Film Challenge 2020 awards ceremony at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Finding Solitude in Siouxland, Dordt University Prairie, Sioux Center

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I recently found out about a small nature preserve in Siouxland just a few steps away from Dordt University, a Christian college that strives to help students realize faith in their lives is as important as well as preparing them to succeed in life through their academic endeavors. The Prairie is only steps away from the school’s campus and is a nice walk, although probably better on a cooler day than when I visited. I has the look of an earlier century prairies and is large enough that it affords a person some solitude and quiet within its confines, providing space for a person to sit, contemplate and unwind from daily activities and schedules.

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

In the interior part of the prairie is a prayer garden where there are rock formations allowing a person to sit and seek spiritual guidance if one wants, or just sit and listen to the immediate surroundings be it the wind, crickets, cicadas or flies. All God’s creatures. It was a weekday morning so there wasn’t anyone else around and I wandered the grounds a bit enjoying what I came across and following a path until I came to the garden.

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Students’ lives are busy enough and I remember my days in college and at times going into the school’s quadrangle at off peak hours to sit and listen to nature. With few people around the birds came alive and there were plenty of trees landscaping the area along with specie names and such to, of course, make it educational. And the small prairie is good for residents as well who also need that occasional down time away from the “white noise” that society and modern day living provides. A neighborhood abuts the prairie and a wide path makes it easy to traverse and enjoy a quick escape before “reentering” the world and again engaging life.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Dordt University’s Dordt Prairie is a 20 acre area near the college and also contains a prayer garden located in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Celebrating Fall Harvest in Siouxland at the Heritage Village, Sioux Center

An annual event in Sioux Center is the Heritage Village Harvest Festival that celebrates early pioneer life in Siouxland. The Friday of that particular weekend local schools generally bring some of their school children to visit to see what life was like one or even two centuries ago without the modern convenience of grocery stores or indoor plumbing.

School children try their hand at pumping water during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village volunteer Dave Schelhaas gets a young volunteer to help dig potatoes in the garden during Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Volunteers dress up in period outfits and help to explain to the children and visitors alike the types of life and “appliances” previously used by settlers who first arrived in the immediate area in which the children live and the kind of life they encountered.

Visitors wait their turn to look inside a small sod house which was a normal dwelling during early pioneer days during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village volunteer Gloria Hoekstra shows young students from a local school how butter is made during Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Children are rightfully amazed at how people lived decades ago and how much progress has been made. So many, even living within an agricultural area such as Iowa, have never been to a farm and their parents probably don’t have a garden. So a little dose of history and the understanding of so many things we take for granted today is beneficial to them and other visitors too. When I hear of people talking about “simpler” times I must consciously keep from rolling my eyes and asking which times? Before air conditioning or after it. And for whom. Not all people enjoyed the benefits of progress as they were first introduced and so I wonder how much simpler times were then.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

St. Patrick’s students from Sheldon participate in working a sorghum mill press during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Local school children line up to drop an apple into a press and then later taste apple juice during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village volunteer Bill Roelof, left, grandson of the original store owner demonstrates the cash register and to local school students during the Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A photograph of the original Roelof General Store at the Heritage Village during the Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village volunteer Jay Bolkema explains to students of St. Patrick’s School about the leather shop during the Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Students from a local school watch a threshing machine at work during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Black smith David Lammus explains to the local school children about the work smith’s do while volunteer Charity Hooper works on a piece of metal hot out of the forge during the Heritage Village Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Heritage Village volunteers Stan Wynia assists in showing local school students how rope is made during the Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Local school students wander the grounds of the Heritage Village during the Harvest Festival in Sioux Center, Iowa Friday Sept. 15, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Looking for the Unexpected in Siouxland, Sioux Center

When I previously worked for newspapers as a staff photographer, I was always on the look out for the unexpected. Big and little things in life that seem out of the ordinary for the context in which you find it. While visiting Dordt College a bit ago with a class, we walked over to the small campus and was looking at the spring blossoming trees and sculpted art work that graces the campus grounds. And then, unexpectedly, I see a young woman “dumpster diving” a large trash bin. Dumpster diving has been around a few decades, as those less affluent in some parts of the country look for items that might be valuable to them while not valuable to the person who tossed the item into the trash.

It seemed a little out of place at this small Christian college, but then again, one man’s/woman’s trash is another’s treasure. The young woman explained she was looking for salvageable items she could use for next year’s term and unlike going through the trash in places like New York City or Los Angeles, these items were probably in a little better shape.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A returning student at the Dordt College does a little dumpster diving to see what she might salvage for her next year in school seen during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A returning student at the Dordt College heads into a dumpster to she what she might salvage for use for next year’s term seen during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A sculpture on the campus of Dordt College during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A clocktower on the campus of Dordt College during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing Color in Siouxland, Heritage Village in Sioux Center

On my most recent outing with students in my Lifelong Learning class of Photo Safari we spent a good portion of the class at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center. It was a brilliant spring day and colors just seemed to pop everywhere one looked. The Heritage Village is a historical montage of area history with a sod house similar to what early settlers may have lived in, as well other stores like a leather maker, general dry goods store and a blacksmith shop. It was just a nice day to be outside, enjoying the spring weather and taking photographs.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Demonstrating a polarizer filter and its effect on sunlight at the Heritage Village during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Demonstrating a polarizer filter and its effect on sunlight at the Heritage Village during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Checking out color at the Heritage Village during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Checking out color and watching Ron Oestra create a garden for a teaching moment later for school children at the Heritage Village during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Tulips showing their glory at the Heritage Village during a WIT Lifelong Learning Photo Safari outing in Sioux Center, Iowa Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)