Taking a big bite out of turning 4 years old, this shark-themed birthday cake was baked and decorated by Lynnette Henry of West Union. Under the fondant icing, the shark head is made out of Rice Krispies. (Photo submitted)

For Henry, it's icing on the cake

By Haley Brase
hbrase@fayettepublishing.com

Baking since elementary school, Lynnette Henry started baking more and doing specialty cake decorating after her sister-in-law taught her over 20 years ago. Henry started building her confidence as she baked and decorated a birthday cake for everyone to see (besides her sister-in-law and herself).

“It was about eight years ago when I made a cake for my nephew, and everything started growing from there,” Henry shared. “It was a casino-themed cake with cards and dice.”

Since then, she has created her own recipes and business, Nettie’s Creations Custom Cakes, named after her childhood nickname, Nettie. Lynnette makes everything from scratch–her cake, icing and fondant. 

Katlyn Lehs of Randalia was elected to the Fayette County Fair Board at the Fayette County Ag Society Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Her goals is to continue to increase youth participation at the Fayette County Fair.  Chris DeBack photo

Lehs hopes to increase youth participation at fair

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Lehs hopes to increase in youth participation at fair

Chris DeBack

Katlyn Lehs of Randalia is the newest member of the Fayette County Fair Board.

She was voted onto the board at the Fayette County Ag Society Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

The 23-year-old is the youngest member of the Fair Board and a lifelong resident of Fayette County. Growing up in rural Fayette, Lehs was an active member of the Windsor Sparkplugs 4-H Club and then Fayette Firecrackers 4-H Club. She showed he aunt and uncle’s, Joan and Steve Swenka, sheep at the Fayette County Fair.

Don’t miss the West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community’s Annual Trunk-’n’-Treat from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, in downtown West Union.  It is just about the only place you’ll find a T-Rex (Marshall Opperman) eating Catwoman (Mikah Opperman). Chris DeBack photo 

Fifth Annual Trunk-'n-Treat

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Break out your favorite Halloween costume and head on down to the West Union Chamber — A Main Street Community’s fifth annual Trunk-‘n’-Treat event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, in downtown West Union. 

“The Trunk-‘n’-Treat Subcommittee has been hard at work planning for over 600 area children to participate in this year’s event,” said Jessica Sadler, West Union Chamber Promotions Committee member. “The event continues to grow every year, and it is just so much fun to see all the children having a great time in their Halloween costumes.”

Back this year will be a bunch of games for children to play provided by the West Union Chamber, Jessica Sadler, and the Boy Scouts. The games will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. with Trunk-’n’-Treating starting at 3 p.m. with the sound of a police or ambulance siren. 

“Get out your scariest, wackiest, or best Halloween costume,” said Sadler. “Our fifth year is looking to be our best and most well attended year. You won’t want to miss any of the action from 2 to 4 p.m.

Like other area farmers, father Ernie (top) and son Jeremy Soppe of rural Hawkeye are hard at work in the fields this week. Despite being in the middle of one of the toughest and rainiest harvest seasons in their memories, the two are optimistic about the upcoming forecast. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Rain, mud, sleet, snow . . . trying to look on the bright side

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

For Jeremy Soppe, a 32-year-old farmer from rural Hawkeye, this fall harvest season has been one of the worst that he can remember.

“I’ve been around farming for pretty much my whole life, and this has definitely been the wettest,” said Soppe, who farms with his dad, Ernie. “In a typical year, we are done with beans and about halfway done with our corn harvest.”

Painter Jim Updegraff of West Union will be displaying his artwork on the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour on Oct. 12-14. Behind him, his snowy landscape painting was inspired by the view of Eldorado and from the painting “Hunters in the Snow” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder from 1565. Updegraff’s studio is located on Hwy. 150 south of West Union. (Photo submitted)

Artists' Studio Tour Oct. 12-14

By Haley Brase
hbrase@fayettepublishing.com

The annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour is once again ready to welcome area residents and visitors from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 12-14. The 41 participating artists’ have studios across Clermont, Elgin, West Union, Decorah, Highlandville, Lansing, New Albin and Spillville. Visitors can drive at their own pace through the scenic northeast Iowa countryside to each location. 

Three of the artists live in Fayette County: James (Jim) Updegraff, Louis Christen, and Peggy and Steve Kittelson.