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Kids step up and the community pitches in at Crooked Creek Days
From pulled pork to puzzle-solving, young Winfield residents helped power the weekend — and their own programs — at this year’s festivities
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WINFIELD — If Crooked Creek Days is a showcase of Winfield’s heart, then its youth are the pulse.
While crowds lined the streets and contests drew cheers, another kind of energy quietly powered the festival: kids and teens helping build the future of their town, one sandwich, soda, or escape room at a time.
At the Veterans Hall, the Winfield Clover Kids served pulled pork sandwiches to a steady line of festivalgoers, collecting freewill donations to support their club. The money will help cover supply costs — and if they raised enough, possibly fund a field trip.
“Last year was her first year as the leader, and she bought all the supplies herself,” said Crooked Creek Days organizer Jennifer Lemke, referring to club leader Celenia Browning. “She just wanted to get enough this year to cover it — and maybe a field trip. But supplies add up.”
The sandwiches earned rave reviews.
“Every single bite — I couldn’t shut up about it,” one attendee was overheard saying in the VFW. “It was just so good.”
Just outside, fifth-graders McCoy Venghaus and Reed Edwards navigated the crowd with a cooler full of cold drinks, selling soda and water to raise money for the Winfield-Mt. Union volleyball program.
McCoy, the son of WMU volleyball coach Ashlei Venghaus, said he and his friend wanted to help out the team any way they could, and many thanked the boys for keeping them cool.
Down the street, WMU History teacher David Pieart led visitors through an escape room inside the historic Old Pilot Grove Bank building — a hands-on puzzle experience called “What’s Gone Wrong in the Lab?” This brainteaser activity served as a fundraiser to help reduce the cost of the 2026 Europe trip for WMU students.
“You’ve got to really think,” Lemke said about the escape room. “Dave does a great job — they’re not your average ‘What color is the sky?’ kind of puzzles.”
Other kids filled their time helping parents run booths, cheering on siblings, or signing up for contests the moment they saw a clipboard. Some handed out water. Others waved signs or encouraged their friends.
That kind of casual involvement — spontaneous, confident, and fully in the spirit of the day — was everywhere. Whether they were selling soda, serving food, or just jumping into whatever came next, Winfield’s youngest residents weren’t just along for the ride. They were, in many cases, the ones driving it, even in the parade.
Many floats and vehicles that traveled through downtown Winfield on Saturday morning either featured or were driven by some of the youngest helpers at Crooked Creek Days.
If you ask the people helping these kids, like teachers, parents, and volunteers, supporting them in taking steps toward leadership and their bright futures is exactly the point of a community like Winfield.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
