We are the hometown news source for Holstein, Iowa. - The Holstein Advance is our newspaper published every Wednesday with a circulation of 270.
We have subscribers in Ida County and the surrounding area.
• The Holstein Advance is owned and operated by Mid-America Publishing & Printing Corporation, based in Hampton, Iowa.
• The corporate headquarters is located at 9 2nd Street NW, Hampton, Iowa 50441. The company's mailing address is P.O. Box 29, Hampton, Iowa 50441.
09/19/2025
Country School Day:
The Schaller-Crestland fourth graders had a chance to experience a day of country school, the way it used to be, on Friday, Sept. 12. The youngsters took a step back in time at the one-room country schoolhouse, in Moorehead Park near Ida Grove. The students read from old textbooks, wrote on slate boards, and studied some lessons in math, history, geography, penmanship, and spelling. After recess, the kids went on a hike and toured the stable barn and restored Stagecoach Inn. Pictured are former country school teachers Susan Miller and Nancy Ploeger (white top) leading the classes at the old Grant Township school.
Photo by Brent Harm / The Holstein Advance
09/19/2025
Ridge View approves shared girls wrestling
By: Mike Hohenbrink
Mid-America Publishing
Girls wrestling was up for approval as Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland discussed a sharing agreement.
During the Sept. 8 meeting, approval was given to a sharing agreement with OABCIG, Cherokee, River Valley, Storm Lake and Alta-Aurelia.
Contracts were approved for Brian Bode, for head girls’ basketball; Keely Dutler, for assistant girls’ basketball; volunteer coaches for Kenzee Wunschel and Carly Murphy with girls’ basketball; Alex Warnke, for head boys’ basketball; Austin Hansen, for assistant boys’ basketball; Jacob Clarahan, for assistant boys’ basketball; Troy Greder, for head girls wrestling coach; Thomas Brown, for .5 FTE as assistant girls wrestling coach; Diana Werner, for .5 FTE as assistant girls wrestling coach; Jason Shepherd for volunteer girls wrestling coach; Kyle Schiernbeck, for .5 FTE as assistant boys wrestling coach; Justin Witzke, for .5 FTE as boys wrestling coach; April Palmer, for archery coach; Brady Meyer, for winter eSports coach; Tyler Wingert, for FFA Sponsor; Kris Kistenmacher, for fall musical co-director; Mary McAreavy, for fall musical co-director; Mary McAreavy, for individual and group speech sponsor; Darlene Still, for foods sponsor, and Sherril VanGinkel, for high school para educator.
Hired was also approved for Elizabeth Peterson to be a daycare worker. Additionally, trips were approved include the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana; Boundary Waters, Minnesota, and hiking/backpacking over to Loess Hills.
Coming up, the next regular meeting is set for Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Schaller Media Center.
09/18/2025
Hoefling’s Pumpkin Patch opens Friday
By: Dan Mundt
The Holstein Advance
Pumpkin patches have dwindled around Iowa in the last few decades, but the one created by Geralyn and Alan Hoefling near Marcus is going strong.
Hoefling’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze will open to the public this Friday, Sept. 19.
Visitors will be treated to thousands of pumpkins, as well as a big Halloween-themed gift shop, outdoor games and activities for kids and adults, hay rides, a large corn maze and other entertainment.
Geralyn and Alan created the seasonal business 29 years ago on a much smaller scale.
“We have five kids, and at the time they were infant, two, four, six, and 10,” Geralyn said. “We wanted to have a patch where everyone could go to pick a pumpkin. But not only that, we started it because we wanted kids to be able to go out to the patch and learn how pumpkins grow - not that you just get one from the grocery store.”
For more information, contact the Hoeflings at 712-490-3329.
Caption: Hoefling’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze will open this Friday. Photo by Dan Mundt
On Thursday, Sept. 11, Ridge View hosted their annual FFA Cookout. Ida County Cattlemen’s provided and grilled burgers. The night included a bags tournament, supper, and volleyball. They had 39 bags teams and 95 students present.
Photos by Brent Harm / The Holstein Advance
09/17/2025
Ridge View fourth grade learns about Ag Safety:
Fourth graders from the Ridge View school district participated in an Ag Safety Day at the Ida County fairgrounds on Friday. Students learned about safety on the farm, as well as other agriculture and safety-related topics. The students also got a chance to interact with FFA members from Ridge View and OABCIG, in the event sponsored by Ida County Farm Bureau.
Photo by Brent Harm / The Holstein Advance
09/17/2025
Holstein seeking voter approval on sewer project
By: Mike Hohenbrink
Mid-America Publishing
The City of Holstein is looking for voter support to borrow funds for a sewer project.
Borrowing $5.5 million through a loan agreement to be paid for in utility fees and $1.1 million to be raised through increasing the property tax rate.
The impact of the latter for a property valued at $100,000 is estimated at $52.
Consideration is set for Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. in front of the Holstein City Council.
The money is being sought to fund design work as well as construction for the municipal sanitary sewer system.
09/17/2025
Holstein United Methodist hosts Orphan Grain Train program
By: Brent Harm
Sports Editor
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the Holstein United Women in Faith invited ladies, and others in the area, to hear the Orphan Grain Train story - about how it started and what is happening presently. The Orphan Grain Train is a nonprofit faith-based network that ships donated items such as food, clothing, and supplies to different countries, including the USA.
Sharon Irwin, a District Manager of the Western Iowa branch of the Orphan Grain Train, gave a presentation at the Holstein United Methodist Church. Sharon and her husband live in Early, Iowa, where she was the City Clerk for 39 years and the mayor of Early for 12 years.
“I always enjoy getting out and helping people to understand and know more about Orphan Grain Train,” said Irwin.
“Orphan Grain Train started in 1992, so this is our 33rd year. The Iowa West branch of the Orphan Grain Train at Ida Grove is 32 years old this year, so we were the first branch that started after it began.”
The OGT building in Ida Grove is at 417 Main Street, right across the railroad tracks to your left, when you’re going uptown from Highway 175.
“Orphan Grain Train started with (Rev.) Dr. Ray Wilke,” explained Irwin. “He was in the Baltic States when the Iron Curtain fell. He saw children in orphanages, how sad it was, and how they really didn’t have anything. He wanted to get food to the orphans in the Baltic States and parts of Russia."
Caption: Orphan Grain Train presentation: Sharon Irwin, manager of the Western Iowa branch of the Orphan Grain Train, gave a presentation on the organization’s work in donating and shipping food, clothing, and supplies to people in need, in the United States and around the world. Photo by Brent Harm
– Homecoming theme is ‘Ridge View’s Got Game’ :
New Parade Route for Ridge View Homecoming
Ridge View’s 2025 Homecoming parade route is different from previous years.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the parade starts at 6:30 p.m. from the Holstein Super Market’s parking lot. Anyone wishing to have an entry in the parade should be in that vicinity between 5:45-6:15, and a school official will get you lined up. Preregistration is not required.
New Parade Route: Entries will go THREE blocks SOUTH on Main St. (Hwy. 59) and turn left (EAST) on Park Street. They will stay on Park St. (crossing Kiel Street and Altona Street) and the parade will end at the intersection of Park Street and Lubeck Street (“cannon corner” of the city park).
The community pep rally and Homecoming Coronation will follow, in the North Gym of Ridge View High School, at approximately 7:15 p.m.
This year’s homecoming theme is “Ridge View’s Got Game.”
09/16/2025
The new main entrance to the courthouse is now back open to the public. Please park in the lot on the south side of the building. Thank you for your patience throughout this construction.
09/16/2025
Pick up this week's copy of the Ida County Courier and find...
• OABCIG Homecoming schedule
• Ridge View Homecoming - new parade route
• Auditor Sand
• Bethel Church to celebrate 150th
• Ag Safety Day
• IG FD BBQ
• OABCIG / Ridge View XC
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The Holstein Advance is owned and operated by Mid-America Publishing Corporation, based in Hampton, Iowa. The Advance is a weekly publication published on Wednesday. We cover news, sports, obituaries and events from the communities of Holstein and Galva. The Reminder is a weekly shopper publication published every Tuesday and is distributed FREE to 5,800 homes in the area. It goes to EVERY home in Ida Grove, Battle Creek, Arthur, Odebolt, Galva, Holstein, Cushing, Danbury, Schleswig and Kiron.
We are a member of the Green Saver Association. The Green Saver is a supplemental shopper that is inserted into 11 weekly newspapers across Northwest Iowa, boosting advertising circulation by 20,100. Green Saver newspapers include: Pocahontas Record Democrat, Storm Lake Times, The Sac Sun - Sac City, Odebolt Chronicle, Ida County Courier, Lake View Resort, Mapleton Press, Schaller Herald, Schleswig Leader, The B.V. County Journal - Newell and the Vail Observer.
Our offices are in the process of moving, so a new address will be posted here when the move is completed. Our office can currently be reached by calling 712-364-3131, Monday through Friday, 8 am to noon, and 1pm to 5pm. We are closed for the noon hour. You can email the staff at [email protected].
Mid-America Publishing also provides commercial web printing services for several shoppers, newspapers, and other organizations. Commercial job printing services are also provided for individuals and businesses throughout the company's trade area.
The corporate headquarters is located at 9 2nd Street NW, Hampton, Iowa 50441. The company's mailing address is P.O. Box 29, Hampton, Iowa 50441.
