The Beginning [Dec 20th, 2006]

Twas December 20th, 2006, and the night was cold and starry. Four young souls decided, on Dec 20th, to meet at Applebees in Rosedale. After a lengthy meeting involving two orders of quesadillas, two orders of boneless buffalo wings, 4 beers, a Kiwi lemonade, a laptop with a killer t-shirt design, a pathetic rap-jingle about small towns, and constant note-taking, the dream was organized. The four young stallions had a dream: to meet funky people at small towns and make connections while having a dang good time. The dream was simple: hop in a car, get rid of the map, grab a few bucks, an extra pair of underpants, get a van donated to us on the journey, wear matching t-shirts and stupid hats, and live it up! The four souls...

Brian Peterson
Status: Single and ready to mingle
Occupation: Babysitter/Mentor of incoming Freshman
Height: 5'8
Weight: 260 pounds (note: includes backpack full of business textbooks/laptop)
Hometown: Crookston, Minnesota
Major: Finance, Non Profit Extraordinaire
Passion: Moose, Juice

Eric Larsen
Status: Unknown
Occupation: Organizer, note-taker
Height: 5'9 3/4
Weight: 200?
Hometown: Forest Lake, Minnesota
Major: Finance, non-profit jedi knight, Español studies
Passion: Helping people, not shaving, wearing black pants, cooking

Drew "no that isn't short for Andrew" Pederson
Status: Engaged to Stephanie (not to fear ladies, Eric(?) James and Brian are still here)
Occupation: Idea guy, co-documentary guy, Urban Mountain Media founder, financial expert, human mapquest
Height: Unknown
Weight: 102
Hometown: Forest Lake, Minnesota
Major: Finance, Film Studies (unofficial)
Passion: Films, Guitar Hero, being romantic, music, cooking, financial mumbo-jumbo, Yellow-Tail Wine

James "Jimmy" Ambalathunkal
Status: Single and ready to mingle
Occupation: co-documentary guy, underwear supermodel, relationship advisor, Muscle and Fitness Model
Height: 6'0
Weight: 205
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Major: don't ask (but definitely not Finance)
Passion: Films, literature, politics, Stephanie's baked cookies, lifting weights, Juice


Together the 4 stallions planned a trip to redefine what a "trip" really is. This trip would change the world, feed the hungry, cure the sick, and create peace in the world (well ok not really, but it would change the world nonetheless).

Is this possible? Could the four stallions have a damn good time, connect to small towners, make a kickass documentary, live it up, AND get a van donated? What will happen to the four stallions? Will they meet extraordinary people? Will they avoid being robbed? Will Stephanie bake cookies for the journey? Will they connect and make life-long connections? Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain: Campaign for Community is here, tradition is born, and adventure pursued.

The Kickoff [Dec 30, 2006]

As the rain pattered down outside on the soggy ground, people from near and far gathered in the 1309 8th St. Residence of the Marcy Homes Neighborhood of Minneapolis for a very special night in the history of community. Stories would be told, ridiculously large 'safe travels' cards would be exchanged, Guitar Hero would be played, and, most importantly, the initial destination of the fellas would be determined in this night of Mayhem.

Months before the trip, it was determined that the stallions would launch their Campaign from a small yet compelling town in one of the four neighboring states of Minnesota. This place was sure to be obscure so that people would be crazy enough to help the stallions and small so that story would soon become legend in the local folklore. One very well-researched man, a scholar and a gentleman some say, put many long hours into assembling a list of places from which the first stop on the Campaign would be picked. There were twenty towns in total, a non-partisan five from each of the four neighboring states. These places and an interesting tidbit about each is included below:

Rugby, ND - Geographic Center of North America
Blanchard, ND - World's Tallest Structure
Strasburg, ND - Lawrence Welk Birthplace
New Salem, ND - Cow on a Hill
Fort Ransom, ND - Little Yellowstone Park

Sisseton, SD - N/S Continental Divide
De Smet, SD - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Garretson, SD - Devil's Gulch
Marty, SD - Yankton Treaty Monument
Roslyn, SD - International Vinegar Museum

LeMars, IA - Blue Bunny Ice Cream Factory
Dyersville, IA - Field of Dreams
Allendorf, IA - Tallest Point in IA
Indianola, IA - National Balloon Museum
Winterset, IA - Covered Bridges

Spring Green, WI - House on the Rock
Mosinee, WI - Drew's Hometown
Egg Harbour, WI - Door County
Ogema, WI - Timms Hill, Tallest Point in WI
Friendship, WI - Why Not?

Expressions of excitement, nervousness, and even boredom filled the room...

Excitement

Nervousness

Boredom

In a hat blessed by the signature of the late Buck O'Neil were placed three copies of each of these destinations. The chosen place would be the first in which all three copies of its name were drawn. In semi-dramatic fashion, the fellas learned their first stop on this epic journey would be...

Roslyn, South Dakota, Home of the International Vinegar Museum


After some intense research, the stallions learned the Vinegar Museum is closed during the winter, however Jimmy Jays Bar & Grill is up and running at full capacity. Who knows what is bound to happen in a town of 225 on New Year's Eve. Stay tuned.

Twine Balls, Anchors, and Unanswered Questions [Dec. 31, 2006]

The rain was still falling as the boys made their way out of bed and prepared a hearty breakfast. They stuffed Rosie the Rav4 like a Thanksgiving turkey, all the while muddying their trousers and fumbling their sleeping bags in the muck. With a send-off from the lovely Steph, the stallions hit the beaten path for Roslyn, SD.

As the rain turned into snow, their spirits were slightly dampened. However, a stop in Darwin, MN at the World’s Largest Ball of Twine quickly turned those frowns into smiles. After a visit to the Twineball Antiques and a chat with co-owner Janice, the stallions were rejuvenated.

The snow intensified and the stallions had to go to drastic measures to keep a clear view of the road.

When these methods didn’t succeed as they hoped, a pit stop was required at the Handi Stop in Litchfield, MN where they failed to find the proper wiper blades but did meet store clerks Danielle and Karlene.

As lunchtime came around, the stallions struggled to find a small-town diner that was open on a Sunday. An attempt at the Murdock Café in lonely Murdock, MN was ill-timed as the café was closed due to ‘lack of business.’ Go figure. Finally, in Benson, MN the fellas landed upon the fittingly named Jimmy’s Pizza where they engaged in an electrifying game of Ms. Pac Man and met delivery driver Brady. They were surprised to learn from the locals that in Benson, the railroad can block access from one side of town to another for hours on end!

Onward they pushed through the now subsiding snow to the MN/SD border and the town of Ortonville, MN. Low & behold, there the stallions stumbled upon the boat anchor of the great Paul Bunyan!

As they crossed the border, one of the stallions with a very keen ear thought he heard the gentle trickle of a stream. Unbelievably, this was no ordinary trickle, but the headwaters of the Minnesota River.

The stallions were now in South Dakota and they were freezing!

As the tank of Rosie approached ‘E,’ a fillup was needed. It just so happened that the next station was Beren’s in Milbank, SD. And no, this was not your typical pay-at-the-pump operation. The stallions were lucky enough to pay for their gas at the pay window with the help of Emily! To our amazement, she had been to Roslyn, however did not speak highly of it.

The stallions trudged on. Approaching Roslyn during a very beautiful sunset, it was safe to say the boys were nervous and pessimistic about what lay ahead of them. They asked themselves: Would there be a restaurant? Would it even be open? Where will we stay? Would the people be friendly? With darkness now looming overhead, only the snow & ice-packed road lied between them and these answers.

Weaving Rugs With Vinegar: Roslyn, SD [Dec. 31, 2006 - Jan. 1, 2007]

The hour was approaching 6pm now and the stallions were only miles outside of Roslyn, SD. The city lights shown strangely like a lighthouse beacon of hope in a murky underworld of unanswered questions. Entering the town, their spirits were lifted as the illuminated sign of the ‘Community Oil’ service station beamed down on them. As Rosie crawled down Main Street, the stallions were filled with elation as they realized the only bar & grill in town was open and ready to rock for New Year’s. As they stepped into Rosie’s- formally known as Jimmy Jay’s- with their bright yellow t-shirts and funky hats, they stuck out like an evergreen tree in a South Dakota prarie. Settling down at their table, the boys were greeted by a not-as-friendly-as-expected waitress, but were happy to see locals all around them enjoying a New Year’s Eve meal. Thanks to their bumblebee t-shirts, the stallions were soon greeted by a couple just being seated at their table. Quickly introducing themselves as Don & Ruby Jensen, they learned of the Campaign and informed the boys that contacting the town Pastor Derek or International Vinegar Museum owner and “Vinegar Man” Lawrence Diggs would help them secure a place to stay for the night.

Amazingly, both of these characters were expected at the New Year’s Eve Jamboree down Main St. at the Roslyn Creamery. So excited were the stallions to learn of this event that one normally well-spoken member, in an attempt to make conversation with the uninterested waitress, asked her if she had plans to go to the creamery later that night. Judging her reaction, the stallions gathered that this Jamboree would be attended by the 60+ crowd, but they were still set on going.

While paying their bill and gathering their belongings, they overheard a woman behind them talking of her travels to 48 of the U.S. states. Within 10 minutes of introducing themselves and telling the woman and her husband about the Campaign, they knew they had found the right people. Jay and Ardella Galvin loved the ambition and craziness of the stallions and offered them their extra house in town to spend the night! As luck would have it, this was only the third time all year that the Galvin’s had been to Rosie’s! This was destiny! Turns out, the Galvin’s own and operate the Rug Weaving Shoppe in town and live out of it in the winter because of their dedication to their work. The stallions were invited over to the Shoppe- located just across the street- for a tour and demonstration.

At this point, the boys felt as though their questions had been answered and their dreams realized- the people of Roslyn were opening up their homes and welcoming the Campaign For Community with open arms.

For the next two hours, the stallions were in awe as Jay & Ardella told stories of life and rug weaving- which for them wend hand-in-hand. Rug weaving was their passion. They used recycled materials- jeans, blankets, socks, etc- to weave all their rugs in one of their nice antique looms. Each of the four stallions was treated to the opportunity to weave part of a rug. Let’s just say some were more able than others.

After a tour of their extensive pantry, frozen palmagranite seeds, and massive cookbook collection, the stallions decided it was time for the Galvin’s to choose the next destination on the Campaign. After much deliberation, the married couple of 27 years would be sending our heroes to Knoxville, IA- hometown of their daughter and Sprint Racing Capital of the World!

This pantry could feed an army

The Galvin's were amazing hosts

The hour was already running late and it was time for the boys to make an appearance at the Cremery for the ‘Cream of Country Music’ show. Immediately, they were able to tell the congregation of 50 about the Campaign, charming the mature adults of this community. Following the musical performance, the stallions were approached by countless people making sure they had a place to stay for the night. They had now officially met half the town! They also traded a Campaign t-shirt for a “Cream of Country Music” t-shirt!

This band even included Willie Nelson

The t-shirts were amazing

Needing to rejuvenate before the big New Year’s Eve Celebration, the boys settled into their house for the night, a three bedroom, one bath villa indeed. The New Year’s festivities would bring them back to Rosie’s. This time, the party was already hoppin’ when they walked in at quarter-to-midnight. The champaign was free flowing and the beer was cold. The dance floor was also calling, and some members of the Campaign got their grove on, wooing ladies of all ages.

Everybody from Jackie Schmidt, the 1^st and 2^nd grade teacher, to Caden, a student at the University of South Dakota, helped the boys rig in the New Year.

Returning ‘home,’ the boys reflected on the day that had been. In less than 6 hours in Roslyn, they had woven rugs, spoken in from of half the town, and celebrated New Year’s with the other half. This town was simply amazing, and the boys still had more to experience.

Following a home-cooked breakfast with the Galvin’s, the boys had a 9am private tour of the International Vinegar Museum lined up with the Vinegar Man himself. Needless to say, they all fell asleep with visions of vinegar bottles dancing in their heads.

When they finally met him the next morning, the Vinegar Man and his museum lived up to all the hype. The museum, which is just one large room, has one wall dedicated to all types of vinegar from all over the world.

Everything from rice vinegar from China to blueberry vinegar can be found in the Vinegar Man’s personal collection.

Hes also sports informative displays on the history of vinegar, its practical uses, and the process of making it.

"The British Way"

Besides running a museum, the Vinegar Man works as an international vinegar consultant, and while he won’t admit it, he is the renowned expert on anything vinegar. He has traveled to hundreds of countries and holds a mysterious degree. The stallions all agree he is one of the most intriguing, intelligent, and interesting people they will meet on this trip.

However, the stallions needed to dig deeper and know more about the history of the museum. Turns out, Lawrence helped establish the museum because he felt Roslyn needed a landmark for community development. Truly, the Campaign had come full circle.

Before the stallions could leave town, they had one final sendoff from Jay & Ardella as they gave each of them a hand-woven rug and traded t-shirts!

Then, they sent the boys up the road to their son’s place, where they found an indoor jungle. Scottie & Aileen, who operate a greenhouse in the summer, have many tropical looking plants throughout their house.

After trading for a Scottie’s Greenhouse t-shirt, the stallions made one last stop at Community Oil for memories and hit the road for Knoxville, IA. Waiting for them eight hours later there will be John & Dawn Flattery, daughter and son-in-law of the Galvin’s. What lies ahead is hard to say, but one thing is for sure- the Campaign is off to an amazing start!

What a t-shirt from Scottie!

Community Oil... how fitting!

Dingus Sprinting with the Flattery's: Knoxville, IA [Jan 1 - 2, 2007]

The road to Knoxville was long and uneventful, but the stallions found exciting ways to pass the time.

There were only two stops made along the way, plus a drive thru the dinky casino capital of the world in North Sioux City, SD.

Eric's Casino fittingly looms in the background

The stallions knocked out their 3^rd state of the Campaign with friendly Iowa.

A stop at a De Soto Kum & Go later that evening brought the boys from Minnesota head to head with a Texas Tech alumnus, who couldn’t help but show off his guns after Tech’s 31 point comeback in the Insight Bowl against the Gophers.

A couple from Provo, UT was also filling up that evening. Ironically, they were familiar with Robert Putnam’s books on community.

Now pulling into Knoxville, the world-famous Raceway and Sprint Racing Hall of Fame and Museum towered overhead like Knoxville’s own majestic sky scraper. As the stallions rolled up on the Flattery residence, they were welcomed with genuine Iowan hospitality and an amazing tater tot casserole. Not only were the boys impressed by the cooking skills of Dawn, they were wowed by her t-shirt making abilities and were grateful to receive these classics.

The stallions thoroughly enjoyed their time with John & Dawn, daughters Amanda & Ashley, and Ashley’s boyfriend Greg.

Unfortunately, their basement was undergoing construction and their 5am jobs at Pella made it impossible for the boys to stay the night. Much to their surprise, Dawn had planned ahead and used her bartering skills to get them a room at the world-famous Red Carpet Hotel where such legends as Kasey Kahne & Tony Stewart had previously stayed. John & Dawn had also lined up a 9 am tour or the Museum and Hall of Fame in town with the Executive Director, Tom. This would be one hour before the museum actually opened to the public.

Over at the hotel, the stallions were greeted by charismatic manager Vicki with her Australia (actually, New Zealand) and her fluffy dog.

She already had the room all heated up, and mentioned the Dingus Lounge as the ideal hangout spot for the evening. After a much needed check of Facebook with the free wireless internet, they headed down the road to the Lounge located directly across from the Raceway. Appearing to be a hole-in-the-wall from the outside, the boys soon learned the Dingus carried a reputation much larger than its size. Warmly greeted by bar owner AJ (who, for the record, looked much younger than his actual age), Justin (aka Smirf, Jackhammer, and Spark Plug), and Matt, among others, the boys talked everything from racing and the Mayhem of the Knoxville Nationals in August to Hawkeye and Gopher football. So hospitable was AJ and his gang that they took care of the boys that night with drinks and t-shirts on the house.

AJ and the Dingus gang will not be soon forgotten by the stallions.

After a short-lived night’s rest and a wonderful continental breakfast and a farewell to Vicki, the boys were anxious to meet the man of the town. Tom knew his sprint car racing history for a man who had only ridden in such a car once. The stallions had no idea how thrilling and fascinating this sport was until spending some time with Tom, viewing the famed raceway, and touring the museum.

Tom gave them the history of sprint car racing in Iowa, which involved 14 track fatalities until the unique wings were installed on cars. These wings improved both safety and performance for the cars and revolutionized the sport.

During the tour, the boys learned that one member of the Hall of Fame, Jerry Richert, Sr. hails from Forest Lake, MN, hometown of two Campaign members! With over 150 tracks in the U.S., sprint car racing is a pretty big dilla. However, before the campaign members could leave Knoxville, they needed Tom to send them to their next destination. Fortunately, Tom knew a fellow museum owner in St. Louis who managed the International Bowling Hall of Fame! The deal was done. With another gracious t-shirt exchange, the stallions had the complete Knoxville Raceway experience.

Knoxville had been good to them, but now the road to St. Loui was calling.