A celebration in the Middle of Nowhere

“We started talking about the 125th two years ago and it really took off about a year and a half ago when we ran into Bruce Paulson up in Albert City at the Thresherman show,” said Verdean Gierstorf, treasurer of the Ricketts Community Club, which is organizing the town’s 125th anniversary celebration this summer.

He said Paulson, who was involved with Western Iowa Pullers in the 1990s, agreed to organize a tractor pull for the Ricketts event.

Tractor pulls have been popular events in Ricketts in past years.

The town, which promotes itself as “The Middle of Nowhere,” was established in 1899.

The Ricketts Quasquicentennial will take place on June 29 and 30.

“The biggest day is the 29th and that’s Saturday,” said Jan Wessel, Ricketts Community Club secretary. “We’re starting off with a parade.”

“Just show up that morning,” Gierstorf said. “We’ll line up on the west side of town. The parade will start about 10 and whoever wants to come can come.”

The tractor pull will take place at noon on the length of the Ricketts Community Club grounds along Railroad Street on the south end of town.

Bouncy houses will be on hand for kids and a cornhole contest will take place during the day on Saturday.

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Other activities will be set up at the town park, where the DJ and a beer garden will be set up.

Rick Keating will be our DJ for a street dance at night,” Wessel said.

Other activities will take place on the corner just north of the post office.

The Ricketts Community Building, on Third Street, three blocks north of the tractor pull, will play host to a craft show and exhibits.

“On Sunday morning, we’re having church service at the park, weather permitting, followed by a catered Staley’s dinner up at the Community Building,” Wessel said.

Interest has been strong for the 125th anniversary celebration, she said.

“We have t-shirts that we’ve been selling for a good year and a half,” Wessel said. “So many people have been reflecting back on the last one and can’t wait.”

The Ricketts Community Club played host for a pancake brunch fundraiser for the event in January.

“I heard from my nephew in Denver, yesterday,” Giersorf said. “He’s all fired up about coming back and wants to be in the parade.”

The Ricketts Community Club will need more volunteers to make the event happen.

“We always need more volunteers,” Wessel said.

“The cattlemen will be grilling burgers on Saturday afternoon at the tractor pull,” Gierstorf said. “We need help wrapping them and selling them.”

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