The Cedar Falls Rough Risers Kiwanis Club once again fired up their kettle during the annual Sturgis Falls Celebration. But the real magic wasn’t just in the sweet-and-salty scent of kettle corn drifting through the park, it was in the camaraderie behind the booth.
This year’s event was a true example of Kiwanis fellowship in action. Members of the Waterloo Kiwanis Club and the Easy Risers, Waterloo Kiwanis Club joined the Rough Risers throughout the weekend, working side-by-side to keep the kettles hot and the conversations lively. Members shared stories, laughter and plenty of teamwork reminded everyone why serving is more meaningful when done together.
Beyond the fellowship, the booth was a hub of community engagement. Volunteers interacted with hundreds of attendees—greeting families, sharing the Kiwanis mission, and hearing stories from long-time kettle corn fans who consider the treat a “Sturgis tradition.” Over the course of the weekend, the clubs sold more than 1,000 bags of kettle corn and raised over $9,000.
Proceeds from the event support the “Kiwanis Kettle Corn for Kids” initiative, which funds youth-focused projects across the Cedar Valley. With every bag popped and every kernel shared, these clubs are building a better community—one friend and one kid at a time.
The club averages $15,000 a year in sales of kettle corn and that, plus generous donations by sponsors, allows donations back to schools and community organizations. Some of the recipients of these donations are the Food Bank, Salvation Army, Child Care and others.
Kiwanians and SLP members get support from some well-known characters in this project too. The UNI Mascot, TC, also bought a bag of kettle corn as well as provided supervision at a recent sales event in front of the Cedar Falls Hy-Vee. The Rough Risers have also been assisted in some of the poppings by members of the UNI Athletic teams.
Submitted by Leigh Zeitz and Jim Larson, Cedar Falls Rough Risers Kiwanis Club | 
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