Hometown Pride
From one-of-a-kind events, landmarks, places, groups or traditions, Cenex® is proud to celebrate our communities and everything that makes them unique. In conjunction with our local Cenex locations, we are able to celebrate these special hometowns.
Hometown Pride highlight
As we look across our 19-state footprint, certain towns catch our eye and we work hard to tell that remarkable story through video. Check out these Cenex® communities and how they come together to create something much bigger than themselves.
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See the Hometown Pride winners in your state:
Hot Air Balloon Days
Creston, Iowa
Since 1978, balloonists and spectators have flocked to Creston to attend this annual balloon event. The festival also includes a parade of bands, balloon rides, flea market and the popular Night Glow event.
Avenue of Flags
Holstein, Iowa
A Holstein avenue is lined with nearly 450 flags, each privately purchased and dedicated to military veterans who have connections to the community.
Castletown, USA
Ida Grove, Iowa
This small Iowan town hosts an eclectic assortment of medieval architecture. Locals and visitors alike revel in the midst of dozens of everyday buildings designed as castles like the newspaper office, a roller-skating rink and the shopping plaza, to name a few.
Outdoors Without Boundaries
Newton, Iowa
Through passionate volunteers and specialized equipment, Central Iowa Outdoors Without Boundaries is a nonprofit organization that gets everyone enjoying the outdoors through hunting, no matter their physical limitations.
Tulip Time
Pella, Iowa
This annual celebration transforms Pella into a town rich in Dutch culture, featuring parades, food, performances, attire and thousands of blossoming tulips. Each October, volunteers plant the tulip bulbs in preparation for the event that takes place each May.
Rock Rapids Mural
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Over 30 murals cover the buildings of Rock Rapids, IA. From notable portraits to memorializing historical moments, these morals are a true source of pride to the community.
Antique Carousel
Story City, Iowa
This 100-year-old, hand-carved wooden carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was honored by the National Carousel Association. It was purchased in 1938 and has nearly 20,000 riders each summer.
Cyclone Day Memorial
Codell, Kansas
On May 20 a tornado tore through the town of Codell three years in a row: 1916, 1917 and 1918. In commemoration of the record-setting weather phenomena and it’s 100th year anniversary, a 15-foot Cyclone sculpture was installed in a local park.
Stone Arch Bridges
Cowley County, Kansas
Eighteen stone arch bridges, almost all over 100 years old, are found throughout Cowley County, KS. These bridges span creeks and rivers, and some have as many as four arches!
ARC Park
Hays, Kansas
ARC Park aims to give a space for children with all abilities to learn, grow and play. An accessible playground, splash pad and ball field will bring children and families of Kansas together.
Neewollah
Independence, Kansas
One hundred years ago, Neewollah (Halloween backwards) started as a way to keep playful pranksters out of mischief on Halloween night. Now it is a week-long event that gathers people from across the state.
New Recreational Ball Fields
St. George, Kansas
The town of St. George only has one ball field, which creates a bottleneck of users throughout the year. Which is why the St. George Recreation Commission (SGRC) is working to complete new ball fields and is raising funds for fencing, tilling, seeding the outfield, lights, bleachers, restrooms, parking and more.
Baileyville Benefit Basketball Tournament and Fundraiser
Seneca, Kansas
Each winter, hundreds gather to participate in a basketball and volleyball tournament and auction to raise money that helps local families in need.
Fourth of July Turtle Races
Sterling, Kansas
Many towns use fireworks and parades to celebrate the Fourth of July, but in Sterling the holiday also includes decorating and racing Kansas Box turtles. Grant winnings were used by Sterling’s volunteer fire department.
Menominee County Fair
Powers, Michigan
For more than 100 years, the Menominee County Fair has brought fun and excitement to its community. The event includes tractor pulls, proud 4H kids showing their animals and carnival games and rides.
Annandale Free Store
Annandale, Minnesota
The Annandale Free Store provides free clothing, hygiene supplies and household items to people in need. Funded entirely from community donations, this small town store demonstrates the spirit of neighbors coming together for one another.
Willie Walleye
Baudette, Minnesota
Willie the Walleye is a 40-foot, 2.5-ton fish that was built in 1957 and has come to symbolize the Lake of the Woods, an area that is heavily trafficked by local and traveling anglers.
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
Bemidji, Minnesota
Towering at 18 feet tall, Paul Bunyan and his sidekick Babe the Blue Ox are integrated into every part of the Bemidji community. The statues attracts visitors from far and wide to see learn the story of the famous folklore.
Kid Day
Benson, Minnesota
A tradition that dates back to the 1930s, Kid Day celebrates the youth of small-town America. The event draws kids from across the state for a fun-filled day including a parade, carnival, live music, kid royalty and more.
Ojibwe Tribe Powwows
Cass Lake, Minnesota
In Minnesota’s warmer months, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe host powwows near Cass Lake to celebrate Native American heritage in song and dance, while working to raise funds for the Native American community.
Annual Threshing Bee
Donnelly, Minnesota
To honor Donnelly’s history of agriculture, the annual Threshing Bee celebration includes threshing competitions, antique tractor pulls and live chain saw carving.
The Community Band
Meire Grove, Minnesota
The Meire Grove Community Band has been playing since 1883, making it the longest continually playing band in the state of Minnesota.
Pelican Pete
Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
Pelican Pete is a 15-foot-6-inch statue that was built in 1957 and holds the title of world’s largest pelican. Pete is an area landmark and frequent photo-op for tourists.
Klassen Popcorn Stand
Plainview, Minnesota
Since 1989, Leona Klassen and her family have been selling popcorn at their polka-dotted popcorn stand in Plainview, Minn. Open on summer evenings throughout the summer, locals and visitors know where to get a salty snack!
King Turkey Day
Worthington, Minnesota
This long-standing tradition celebrates the abundance of wild turkeys in southern Minnesota. Each year, turkeys from Worthington and Cuero, Texas race for the title of the Great Gobbler Gallop.
CF Russel Stadium
Trenton, Missouri
This 1934 high school stadium is home to many memories for the community, from sporting events to local festivals, vigils and fundraisers. A staple event is the annual Pink Out night, where the community rallies to raise money for the Grundy County Breast Cancer Support Group.
Paddlefishing Season
Glendive, Montana
Paddlefish descend from an ancient lineage of primitive fish most closely related to sturgeons. It is said that they may be the oldest big game animal in North America, which draws people from across the nation to Glendive to cross paddlefishing off their bucket list.
Champions Park
Shelby, Montana
Located at the site of the historical 1923 boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons, Champions Park highlights the history of this northern Montana town with life-sized statues and a boxing ring.
Avenue of Flags
Hemingford, Nebraska
On five holidays throughout the year, over 200 American Internment Flags line this Nebraskan town's main streets. Each of the flags were donated by veteran’s families, then cared for and hung by the local legion.
Dickens Village Festival
Garrison, North Dakota
For nearly 30 years, this three-weekend festival turns Garrison into the Christmas Capitol of North Dakota. The event features horse-drawn carriages, an authentic English double decker bus, a lighted parade and live performances of A Christmas Carol.
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Authentic Danish Windmill
Kenmare, North Dakota
Built in 1902 by a Danish immigrant farmer, this beautiful windmill fell victim to arson in the winter of 2019. Since then, the community’s park district has raised funds to restore the town’s valued landmark.
The Geographic Center of North America
Rugby, North Dakota
A monument marks what is known as the center of North America. Nearby is the Prairie Village Museum that celebrates the history of the region and emphasizes the community’s commitment to local businesses.
Metal for Moms
Monroeville, Ohio
Nonprofit Metal for Moms recycles donated metal and turns the scrap into profits for local charities. Since its inception in 2011, the group has recycled more than 1.2 million pounds of metal and has given more than $120,000 to local charities. The group has also donated swing sets, baseball mitts and Christmas presents for people in need.
Corona Cruise
Pond Creek, Oklahoma
When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders felt the most isolating, the Pond Creek community mobilized. They met under the local Cenex canopy for a cruise down main street every Saturday evening, bringing the community together from afar.
Storybook Land
Aberdeen, South Dakota
From the Humpty Dumpty roller coaster to a Wizard of Oz balloon ride and now a tea cup ride, this free nursery rhyme amusement park brings families together in the summer months.
Potato Days
Clark, South Dakota
Historically, Clark has always been a potato town. So, each year they celebrate their history and their current potato farmers with Potato Days, a festival complete with potato cooking contests, decorating contests and even mash potato wrestling.
110-foot Elevator Mural and 1925 Carousel
Faulkton, South Dakota
A two-for-one deal: Faulkton hosts both a 110-foot grain elevator mural painted by Australian artist Guido VanHelten and a nearly 100 year-old carousel still in operation every summer.
100 Years of Pheasant Hunting
Redfield, South Dakota
Known as the pheasant hunting capital of the world, Redfield has become an epicenter for generations of hunting families during opening weekend. In 2019, the tradition celebrates its one hundredth year, or its "Pheasantennial."
Watch the video
Holiday Festival of Lights
Yankton, South Dakota
Nothing kicks off the holiday season like the annual Holiday Festival of Lights, which includes a parade of lights and a tree lighting ceremony that brings the community together to celebrate holiday spirit.
Durand Area Youth Fishing Contest
Durand, Wisconsin
Nestled on the picturesque Chippewa River, four days of fishing engage children in the area each summer. The skills and love of fishing are being instilled in young anglers for generations to come!
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
Hayward, Wisconsin
Dedicated to promoting the sport of freshwater fishing and archiving its history, this museum features sportfishing artifacts including rods, reels, mounted fish and antique motors, along with a 143-foot-long, outdoor Muskie sculpture resting atop an 88,000-gallon pond.
Iola Car Show
Iola, Wisconsin
As the largest car show and swap meet in America, this event draws more than 115,000 people to this small town. This nonprofit event began in 1972, relies on more than 2,000 volunteers and has given back more than $8.4 million to more than 130 different civic organizations or projects since its inception.
Mondovi Ladies Holiday Luncheon
Mondovi, Wisconsin
In 1963, a women's volunteer group was formed and quickly became the foundation of female entrepreneurship in Mondovi. Today, the group's main event is the Holiday Luncheon that raises essential funds for the community.
Eagle Watching
Sauk City, Wisconsin
Hundreds of people gather in the winter months to watch eagles soar along the Wisconsin River. Each January, the town hosts Eagle Watching Days for bird watchers to celebrate our national bird.
Edible Prairie Project
Gillette, Wyoming
The EPP is a nonprofit that supports independent family-scale agriculture and increases the affordability and accessibility of food for all members of their community. EPP strives to cultivate a fair, resilient, and sustainable community food system.