Page 8 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 10-14-2015

Ag./BusinessPage 8 • Oct. 14, 2015
Diamond Oak Events offers a large green space surrouned by oak trees for the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding.
New Clear
Lake venue
makes hosting
special
events easy
A country venue that offers a
unique option for hosting special
events recently opened in rural Clear
Lake. Owners Scott and Gwen Bultje
are pleased to announce the open-
ing of Diamond Oak Events, located
at 9400 Wheelerwood Drive, Clear
Lake.
The 100 acre site features a re-
stored oak savannah, natural prairie
and beautiful, park like green spaces.
A newly constructed 3,200 square
foot pavilion provides an ideal setting
for a variety of events such as wed-
dings, receptions, fundraisers, gradu-
ations, family reunions, retreats and
more. All events include the use of
a trolley bus. From elegant to rustic,
the facility offers the privacy of a se- catering staging area.
cluded rural setting with the ameni-
ties of a modern indoor facility.
Diamond Oak Events also offers
an outdoor ceremony center featuring
historic church pews, a beautiful ar-
bor with a wooden floor, lighted oak
trees, and a public address sound sys-
tem. Customers also have the use of
dishes, serving pieces, ice maker, ban-
quet tables and chairs, a kegerator, re-
frigerators and decorations, including
chandeliers, sofas and a wide variety
of other items, all for a flat fee.
“We want to offer people a wide
range of items, but we also want them
to have the flexibility to do what they
like,” said Gwen.
Scott and Gwen purchased the
Deadline approaches for EQIP signup
Iowa farmers interested in con-
servation planning and financial as-
sistance to help reduce soil erosion,
improve water quality and soil health,
create wildlife habitat, or even cut
energy costs on their land have un-
til Oct. 16 to be considered for fiscal
year 2016 funding through USDA’s
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP).
Through EQIP, USDA’s Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) provides financial and tech-
nical assistance to install conservation tion plan for their farm, it speeds up
practices such as nutrient manage-
ment, terraces, grassed waterways,
cover crops, manure management
facilities, and pasture management.
EQIP, one of USDA’s most pop-
Spider or Varicose Veins
don’t have to be
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Scott and Gwen Bultje stand in front of the outdoor pavilion at Diamond Oak
Events. The newly constructed space offers 3,200 square feet for hosting special
events. -Reporter photos
location in 2005. They renovated a
1940’s dairy barn into their home.
The lower level of the barn serves as
the bridal preparation suite and the
Scott, who was a corporate ex-
ecutive for 25 years, always dreamed
of being self employed.
“We had two children get mar-
ried over the last two years and we be-
came aware of the limited number of
private, outdoor wedding venues that
provide indoor seating and modern
facilities for large groups,” said Scott. offer a unique event experience. Let
The Bultje’s were also exploring
various avenues and uses for the land
that would reflect good stewardship
ular conservation programs, is offered
through a continuous signup, but
NRCS periodically makes application
selections as funding allows.
Larry Beeler, Iowa NRCS as-
sistant state conservationist for pro-
grams, says it is important for farmers
to get program applications in early.
“Conservation plans must be devel-
oped for the area that is included in
an EQIP contract,” he said. “When
farmers develop a complete conserva-
the application process and oftentimes
practices are applied more strategical-
ly.”
There are several EQIP initiatives
included in the signup, where NRCS
sets aside financial assistance for spe-
Call to schedule your
FREE consultation!
and sustainability.
“We have restored the oak savan-
nah and placed 50 acres of prairie and
wetlands into a permanent easement
that can never be developed,” said
Scott. “The idea of developing an
event site seemed like the perfect solu- this information home and be able to
tion to meet these goals.”
For additional information or to
book an event, call 357-1075 or 319-
830-4139 or email scottbultje@gmail.
com.
“At Diamond Oak, our goal is to
us know what other amenities you re-
quire or have dreamt about and we’ll
do our best to deliver,” said Scott.
cific practices and producers. Exam-
ples include practices that improve
on-farm energy, assist in the organic
transition process, and add wildlife
habitat.
Iowa NRCS also sets aside 10
percent of their EQIP financial assis-
tance program for the historically un-
derserved, which include beginning
farmers, socially disadvantaged farm-
ers, limited resource producers, and
veterans.
Visit your local NRCS office to-
day for more information about con-
servation planning and financial assis-
tance to fund conservation practices
on your farm, or go to www.ia.nrcs.
usda.gov.
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Small business Social Media Summit set
Four Iowa organizations have work I received and didn’t use the member registration is $49.99 along
partnered to bring training to small information I learned. We’re pro- with a special student discount. Small
businesses in using social media as an viding a digital toolkit that the at- businesses pay $79.99 and includes
effective marketing tool to use to grow tendee can take home and actually lunch.
their business. Webster City Area use. Small businesses are extremely “Seven out of 10 consumers are
Chamber of Commerce, Clear Lake busy, we know that. We’re looking at more likely to use a local business if it
Area Chamber of Commerce, Social providing tools they can actually use has information available on a social
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Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center all Deb Brown, Executive Director of the works/TMP Directional Marketing).
receive requests for social media train- Webster City Area Chamber of Com- We’re excited to help small businesses
ing and came together to bring experts merce. and entrepreneurs learn how to meet
in the small business arena who are us- Seating is limited to 250 people their customer needs and wants by
ing social media effectively. and those seats are filling very quickly. teaching them how to be where there
Small businesses will be able to Small business owners looking for consumers are,” said Daniel Winegar-
attend the summit on Saturday, Oct. ways to utilize the technology of social den, JD Director of Incubation and
24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the media to grow their business may want Acceleration Services at NIACC John
Muse Morris Conference Center on to attend. The registration site is www. Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.
the NIACC Campus, in Mason City. marketingmidwest.town. Chamber
Small businesses can register online at
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“We’ve been building this con-
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bringing in presenters who contribute
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are people who’ve walked the walk uled on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from business owners on IASourceLink. The
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to the best advantage for small busi- provide information regarding sales/ O’Neill, Taxpayer Service Specialist
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