Driven by their commitment to community, the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives of Iowa held their fourth-annual Shine the Light contest in June to celebrate local volunteers. Employees and member-consumers of Iowa’s locally owned electric cooperatives were invited to nominate someone who makes a positive difference in their community.
The judging committee reviewed essays from 75 outstanding nominations, which were published in the August issue of this magazine, and selected three winners.
Congratulations to Judy Hess, who is recognized for community dedication and innovation through Moms and Grandmas for Fonda Inc.; Doug Pralle, who is recognized for his generous efforts through Compassion Flights; and Beth Thole, who is recognized for her commitment to preserving the area’s agricultural heritage.
These three winners have been awarded a $3,000 donation to their charity. The following pages showcase and honor each of the Shine the Light contest winners’ commitment to humbly serving their communities.
Learn more at www.IowaShineTheLight.com.
COMMUNITY BEACON: JUDY HESS AND THE MAGS REVITALIZE FONDA
When Kerry Noethe heard about the Shine the Light contest, one name stood out instantly: Judy Hess. As the vibrant founder of Moms and Grandmas for Fonda Inc. (MAGs), Hess represents the heart and soul of community dedication and innovation.
“I’ve always admired the group’s dedication,” Noethe shares. “Judy has always been a good leader. I’ve been part of volunteer programs in the past, and I know how important it was to me when my children were young. Keeping people aware of the community and showing it’s a good place to live is valuable even though we’re a bedroom community. Judy is always looking for new ideas, and she’s just a great motivator.”
Amanda Johnson, a dedicated member of MAGs, highlights the group’s profound connection to their hometown.
“I think we have a lot of pride about our hometown of Fonda,” Johnson says. “Our kids and our grandkids are really important to us, so it’s just a no-brainer to do things that benefit our community and our kids.”
For Noethe, now a grandmother herself, the value of a thriving community is deeply personal.
“My grandchildren are 16 and 13, and they have been coming to Fonda since they were babies,” she explains.
“Our little towns are just dying out. We want to keep Fonda a place where our kids can play and enjoy our town, keeping it a community where people want to live and raise their families.”
Maintaining community spirit and vitality
Hess launched MAGs in 2018, and the group’s momentum has been unstoppable ever since.
“We put the group together in 2018, setting up the pool. We put everything toward the youth,” Hess explains. “We gave them a freezer and refrigerator to use. We added a slide, lawn chairs, a water filler and a drinking fountain in the park. We’ve organized various fundraisers for the group.”
Every MAGs project relies on volunteer efforts, donations and grants.
“I got some people together,” Hess recalls. “Everyone was excited about it, and we started doing fundraisers. We have Chicken Bingo, and we’ve organized different community events and hosted a father/daughter dance.”
Other fundraising events feature a variety of activities, including festive Christmas events, an exciting rodeo and many more community gatherings.
MAGs is raising funds to replace the outdated public basketball court. The new court, projected to cost $78,000, will feature a regulation-size VersaCourt floor with official markings and new baskets. Hess hopes the project will be completed by 2025.
Hess and MAGs are significantly impacting Fonda, turning it into a more vibrant and welcoming community. Their unwavering commitment ensures that the town remains a cherished place for current and future generations.
Article contributed by Ryan Cornelius, vice president of corporate relations, Corn Belt Power Cooperative.
WHERE HOPE GROWS WINGS: FLYING THE COMPASSIONATE SKIES WITH DOUG PRALLE
Doug Pralle has been flying since 2008, but his journey into the skies started much earlier, rooted in an emotional childhood memory.
“When I was a kid, my Dad died at an early age,” Pralle recalls. “I found some of his pilot books. He was training to be a pilot. I think, as an 8-year-old, it kind of tied me to him. Once I got old enough and could afford it, I got my license.”
One particular childhood memory stands out, shaping his future endeavors.
“My Dad was in a hospital in Chicago, and the doctor gave us his limo to take to a Cubs game. As a kid, you remember that stuff. His kindness created a spark in me,” Pralle reflects.
That spark ignited a spirit for giving back. In 2008 and 2009, Pralle flew a local child and his mother to Rochester for cancer treatment.
“Years later, I started thinking about ways to give back and use some of the skills we built over time, so we started Compassion Flights,” he says.
Wings of hope
Compassion Flights, a nonprofit organization, offers free flights to those in need of medical care. Pralle and Compassion Flights fly patients from Iowa to surrounding states, working with other groups for longer trips.
The process of applying for a compassion flight is simple. Those in need or who know someone in need can visit www.compassionflights.com, fill out an online flight request, and get a response directly from Pralle or his wife.
When Pralle isn’t flying for Compassion Flights, he’s working his day job as a crop duster, spraying fields with an airplane or helicopter, and farming with his brother. The nonprofit operates entirely on donations.
“We are here for everyone,” Pralle emphasizes. “We work 100% on donations. No one takes any wage. My spray business pays for most of the bills, from the lighting and heating. When people donate money, they donate it directly to a flight.”
Each flight costs about $500, depending on various factors. Despite the costs and the challenges, Pralle remains committed to his mission.
“Our motto is ‘Where Hope Grows Wings,’” he says. “We’re trying to help somebody not think about what’s actually going on in their life. We want to just get them away from everything for a little bit.”
Through Compassion Flights, Pralle offers more than just transportation – he provides a lifeline – a moment of relaxation and a twinkle of hope for those navigating the toughest times of their lives.
Article contributed by Ryan Cornelius, vice president of corporate relations, Corn Belt Power Cooperative.
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE: BETH THOLE IS COMMITTED TO AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
Gary and Karen Trei, members of Osceola Electric Cooperative, immediately thought of Beth Thole when they read the 2024 Shine the Light contest description in Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine. Thole’s enthusiasm and dedication to remembering the past and educating future generations are things to be admired.
“Working with Beth is never dull,” explains Karen. “When you volunteer for Beth, you never know which job you’ll end up doing or who you’ll end up working with.”
As a retired teacher, Thole’s passion for education lives on in her vision for a pavilion to educate residents of Osceola County about the area’s deep agricultural heritage. The Osceola County Agriculture Pavilion on the county fairgrounds began taking shape seven years ago when Thole’s research led her to realize the trials and determination of previous generations.
“It’s important to keep that history alive and teach the people coming after us what their forefathers did,” Thole explains. “The pavilion uses pictures and artifacts from donors to create exhibits that tell stories and trigger memories.”
Bringing the community together
Since the Osceola County Agriculture Pavilion began, Thole and the Agriculture Pavilion board have coordinated several events to unite the community and raise funds for the museum. The success of these events, which were entertaining and educational, is a testament to the integral role of each community member. Fundraisers included an escape room at a historic schoolhouse, cemetery headstone tours with local actors to bring the stories alive, tractor rides, auctions and dinners. Other donations, such as lumber and building materials, have also been abundant.
“When people bring something to donate, they often stick around to help set it up,” Thole says.
Her vast knowledge of people within the community has brought together many volunteers, both young and old.
“Osceola Electric Cooperative is happy to contribute to educating the community on our county’s history,” says Jeff TenNapel, general manager of Osceola Electric Cooperative.
For one of the exhibits, electric cooperative linemen assembled vintage material to recreate infrastructure, portraying what it looked like when electricity first came to rural Osceola County in the 1940s and 1950s. The display sits out front of the 100-year-old Agriculture Pavilion building as a reminder of how rural electrification dramatically improved the lives of farmers and their families.
Thole and the Agriculture Pavilion board have many ideas for using the $3,000 donation; among them are purchasing tables for upcoming events and a smart TV to aid in the exhibits.
Article contributed by Kelly Slagter, customer service representative/communicator, Osceola Electric Cooperative.
