Staats celebrates 125 award-making years

MT. PLEASANT — One of the most experienced and respected recognition company in the United States, Staats Awards, located in Mt. Pleasant, celebrated 125 years in business with an Alive After Five event, Wednesday evening.

Staats General Manager Lori White thanked Chamber of Commerce members and the community for their support and for helping celebrate this occasion.

“We provide large state fairs including each of the top ten attendance fairs,” White said.

According to White, this includes the Minnesota State Fair, Eastern State Expo, Texas State Fair, New York State Fair, and the Iowa State Fair.

“Our industry is fair, but our largest client is a canine scent group,” White said. “They do competitions, and they are our largest client. They buy all these rosettes, over 30,000 rosettes a year.”

Staats also provides a majority of the banners and ribbons for local fairs.

Over White’s 25 years with the company, she says that a lot hasn’t changed overall, but they have modernized ordering, added distributor services, and overall streamlined the work that they are known for doing so well.

“We are proud to say, that our products are still handmade, right here, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa still today,” White said.

One individual, Francine Ward, has handmade these awards for the last 39 years with Staats.

“Thank you, Francine, for all that you do for Staats,” White addressed Ward.

With food, beverages, and commemorative coffee cups, Airport Road Vineyard and Winery filled with jovial conversations, laughter, and light background music while celebrating not only 125 years of business for Staats, but also the quality and reach the company has established from right here in Mt. Pleasant.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com