Selling Decorah

The Winneshiek County and Luther College booths at the Iowa State Fair

When Iowans hear the name "Decorah," what do they think?  That question is getting answered this week in Des Moines.

Nearly one million people attending the Iowa State Fair will visit the Varied Industries Building.  The popular exhibit building is home to a number of booths, including  the Winneshiek County tourism booth and the Luther College booth side-by-side.

Volunteers help staff the Winneshiek County Tourism booth,answering questions from the steady stream of people who walk past.  Katrina Bricklet, who worked the booth last Friday, says this year's most popular questions involved camping, canoeing and the Trout Run Trail.  Elaine Thompson, who worked the booth on Sunday, agrees that camping and Trout Run Trail were popular attractions.  Charilyn Hove,r who worked the booth on Saturday, says fishing questions were just as popular as questions about canoeing, camping and Trout Run Trail.

Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Brenda Luzum. says "Nine years ago when I was first involved with the tourism booth, many people would come up to the table and ask "Where is Decorah?"  "That's not the case anymore; instead they run up to the booth excited to tell us why they love our area so much.  It's an obvious sign our area is growing into even more sought-after destination."

Carolyn Fure, who worked the booth last Thursday, says "It's easy to brag" about Winneshiek County.  In fact, when one person asked her about trout fishing in Winneshiek County, she pulled out her cell phone and showed them a picture of a 14 pound brown trout caught by her nephew, David Strom.

The four volunteers agree with Brenda Luzum that visitors to the booth largely already knew about Decorah.  Credit that in large part ot the bald eagle cam, although questions about the eagle were reduced this year because the eagles have built a new nest out of camera range.

The four volunteers also agree having the county tourism booth next to the Luther College booth was a big help.  Thompson says Luther graduates would visit the college's booth, then come to the county's booth to get some ideas about what to do the next time they're in town.

The addition of a prize wheel at the county tourism booth kept the volunteers hopping this year.  But Brickley says even though she was extremely busy handing out prizes and answering questions, it was "overwhelming fun."