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The Community Orchard
Jumping In With Both Feet at The Community Orchard
Tuesday, July 29
3-5 p.m.
Location
2237 160th St.
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Hosts
Denny & Emily Stucky, The Community Orchard
When first-generation farmers Denny and Emily Stucky bought The Community Orchard in 2022, they had no background in agriculture or the hospitality industry, but they have jumped in with both feet. The Community Orchard sits on 100 acres, with 5,500 apple trees in traditional and high-density plantings, along with sweet corn, pumpkins, ornamental corn, sunflower and zinnia fields, a corn maze – and, new in 2025, cut flowers. It also features a farm store and boutique, a bakery and a year-round cafe.
Throw in school tours, rental events, weekend festivals and more than 60 seasonal staff and the operation’s complexity starts coming into focus. As Denny says, they are learning to walk before they run. Come hear from the Stuckys about all they’ve learned in their first three years of running this complex business.
Meal
Refreshments will follow the field day.
See & Discuss
- Transitioning owners at an orchard and complex agritourism business
- Learning about apple production and a diverse business
- Evaluating future land use options to support production, ecology and profitability
- Trying out cut flowers as an additional enterprise
- Managing various public events on the farm
Farm Info
Sponsor
- American National Insurance