From the first computer to sliced bread, Iowa has provided the nation with many inventions that have changed our lives forever. The list below is just a small sampling of some of Iowa's most notable inventions.
1. The Computer: The first automatic electronic digital computer was created at Iowa State University in Ames. Thank you ISU for taking us one step closer to watching hours of cat videos online.
2. Sliced Bread: They don't say 'the best thing since sliced bread' for no reason. Thanks to Davenport native Otto Rohwedder's automatic bread-cutting machine, we don't have to worry about the tedious nature of cutting bread.
3. Blue Bunny Ice Cream: Every girl who has ever been broken up with and eaten a whole tub of Blue Bunny Ice Cream can thank Wells Dairy from Le Mars, Iowa. Le Mars also happens to be the ice cream capital of the world.
4. Vending Machine: In 1931, an Iowan man spent his last $12 to start the company that would later become one of the country's largest vending machine manufacturers, which is located in Clive.
5. Trampoline: Also in 1931, a Cedar Rapids man created the trampoline and sold them out of his home before selling his business to a company in New Jersey.
6. Pinterest: The near 50 million Pinterest users across the globe can thank Ben Silbermann of West Des Moines for helping them plan their wedding, cook dinner for their in-laws, and find new ways to get flat abs with his revolutionary social media pinboard.
7. Gas Tractor: Now I know this one seems like a given being in Iowa and all, but the first gas-powered tractor was a really big deal. The inventor, John Froelich, went on to start a company that would become John Deere.
8. Atomic Bomb: Although Iowa didn't technically "invent" the atomic bomb, Iowa State University was essential in the production of the bomb, as they provided the government with massive amounts of uranium.
What would you say are some of the things Iowa is best known for? Corn. Field of Dreams. The Iowa State Fair. And, the presidential election season. Yep, that's right! The history of elections in Iowa is deep and it affects the presidential election is literally every other area of the country. Come along as we tell you all about it and help you understand better how this Iowa fact came into being.
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Yes, all eyes turn to Iowa every four years during presidential candidate nomination season.
Why? Because Iowa is the first - and perhaps most important - state to decide who will earn the privilege of running in the next presidential election.
Yet, as public a claim to fame as this is for the Hawkeye State, few people know why Iowa is the first state to vote (or caucus) for a presidential candidate.
It all started in 1968. That was a turbulent year for America - the Vietnam War was in its 14th year, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and Hubert Humphrey somehow won the Democratic presidential nomination without winning a single primary.
This nomination highlighted some major problems with the election process, and a committee was formed to restructure the voting process, giving the people more say in choosing their presidential candidates.
And since Iowa has an extra complicated presidential nomination process (four statewide caucuses plus county, congressional district, and state conventions), the state needed an extra early start to get everything fit in before the actual election day.
And an extra early start is exactly what the state of Iowa got - the earliest start, in fact, of any of the 50 states.
The history of elections in Iowa is such a fascinating story, and one that every American should know. Who knew that we lived in such a one-of-a-kind state?!
Did you know how and why Iowa got to be at the forefront of the national presidential nomination process? Have you ever been to the first caucus in Iowa? Knowing this sometimes encourages residents to register to vote in Iowa - so how about you? We'd love to read about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!
Sometimes we wish for the stars to align so our dreams come true. Other times, though, the stars align without us even realizing it, at least not until much later. You might say that’s what happened when a local organization encouraged young people in Creston, Iowa, to build their entrepreneurial skills by creating and selling their products at its annual mini-market. Estella Jondle was one of those young Iowans who decided to join in, and if you believe in fate, the stars aligned. Only a few years later, she and her mom, Erin, have built Stellar Sparks Candle Co. into one of the best small businesses in Iowa.
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On one Saturday each spring for the last three years, Upper Creston’s Main Street has transformed into a hub of activity, as aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs come together to sell their products, from one-of-a-kind handmade goods to inspired artistic pieces, at Market on Maple.
Little did Estella and Erin know, as they made more than 80 candles with the help of Erin’s mom and sister, that every one of them would sell out at the community event in 2022. The success inspired the mother-daughter duo to found Stellar Sparks Candle Co. not long after.
But before Stellar Sparks Candle Co. could make its official debut, Erin spent countless hours building a foundation by testing candles, designs, and branding while Estella created what might be called the small business’s signature candle.
“Our whole vibe is designed around Estella. Her name means star, which inspired the name. Our designs and decor always have stars in them,” Erin says. “And the candle that Estella came up with, called Stellar Magic, has the fragrance oils of Galactic Skies and Cosmic Berry. It all aligns."
During its short lifespan, the small business's production has grown with the women now making as many as 100 candles each week. The duo attends local events, like the annual Market on Maple, where they sell their candles. Several local shops, including Crystals and Wood in Upper Creston, also stock them.
As Stellar Sparks Candle Co.’s visibility continues to grow, so do its contributions to the community. In addition to donating gift baskets to local fundraisers, the small business in Iowa helps other small businesses design candles for their customers.
Anyone who’s started a business knows that its success hinges on the support of others, and Erin credits her mom, the community, and customers for Stellar Sparks Candle Co.’s growth.
“My mom plays a huge role in our success. She is available to help us out on just about anything, and she has the most creative knack for making gift baskets,” Erin says. “The support of our small town and other local small business owners is beyond amazing. We have found that small businesses fight for and support each other hard.”
Having the unique opportunity to share stories and connect with customers is also part of what drives Erin, who is currently running Stellar Sparks Candle Co. as a side venture. She channels her creativity to design unique candles and help customers find the perfect gift.
But at the heart of Stellar Sparks Candle Co. in Iowa is family – from having the opportunity to work with Estella, whom Erin describes as her “little bestie" and her mom, to honoring the memory of her beloved father, Bob Hudek, who died from cancer in 2012. She created the 808 Rocks Candle in his honor.
“One evening when my brother, sister, and I were on our way home from visiting him in the hospital, we all looked at the digital clock at 8:08. On a digital clock, that looks like BOB. The station we were listening to was a rock station, so the digital display looked like BOB ROCKS,” Erin says. “From then on, the time 8:08 became very special to us.”
The response to the candle has been overwhelmingly positive and it, perhaps more than anything, illustrates just what makes Stellar Sparks Candle Co. so special. “I get to share my memories of him with [others], and inevitably, we learn something heartfelt from our customers, too, about their lives,” she says, "and that to me is true human connection and deeper than the candle itself.”
Many thanks to owners Estella and Erin Jondle for sharing the story and history of Stellar Sparks Candle Co. for the 2024 Small Business Spotlight series. Learn more and support this inspiring Iowa candle company by visiting the Stellar Sparks Candle Co. Facebook page.
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Of course, Stellar Sparks Candle Co. is one of many amazing businesses in Iowa that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Iowa, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Iowa on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.
