On the evening of Wednesday, May 22, the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce hosted its prestigious annual Chamber Awards Dinner, celebrating the remarkable contributions of local businesses and individuals to the community. The event was marked by heartfelt speeches, joyous applause, and a sense of unity as the chamber honored the dedication and achievements of this year’s award recipients.
Outstanding Person of the Year: Dale Bestul
Dale Bestul of Community Insurance was honored as the Outstanding Person of the Year. Bestul’s commitment to the community, evident through his unwavering support and active involvement in local initiatives, earned him this esteemed recognition. His contributions have left a lasting impact on Iola, reflecting the core values and spirit of the Chamber.
Dale has a long history of volunteering and taking on leadership roles in the community. He can juggle running a successful insurance business, being a family man, and still finding time to lend his time and talents to many community organizations. His mother Joanne Lytle stated it perfectly by saying “he is a very busy man”. Whether it is supporting financially or rolling up his sleeves, he is quick to lend a hand. If there is a need, you are almost certain to see Dale pitching in. He does it all in a quiet assuming way, never looking for any fanfare.
The list of Dale’s involvements is quite lengthy. He is an active Iola Lions member and a recent president of the club. He took a leadership role in the construction of the set for the school’s “Grease” play as well as set construction and back-stage manager for this year’s “Footloose” school play. He is a trust board member for the Krause Foundation, the current Iola Car Show Board President, volunteers upwards of 100 hours at the car show each year, is a board member of the Farmers State Bank, and is a Central Wisconsin Electric Co-op nominations committee member. Dale is an active member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and he delivers meals to the elderly.
Other nominees included: Diana Jones, Barbara Kobs, and Jerry Kopecky.
Outstanding Business of the Year: Odin & Freja’s Place
Odin & Freja’s Place was named the Outstanding Business of the Year. The establishment has become a cornerstone of Scandinavia’s economy, providing exceptional services and fostering a welcoming environment for residents and visitors. Their dedication to excellence and innovation has set a high standard for businesses in the area.
Owned and operated by Gordon Kirchoff and Carol Kraco, Odin & Freja’s Place provides a unique location to come and relax, enjoy a drink, and socialize. Located at 335 North Main Street in Scandinavia, Gordan and Carol worked hard on refurbishing the building, to create a place with a relaxing, creative atmosphere, before opening their doors for the first time in July of 2022. A short time later they developed the neighboring The Runestick gift store.
Odin & Freja’s Place offers a full bar with craft brews, domestic wine, and other local favorites. They also have a fine selection of non-alcoholic cocktails, beer, and wine. They have also been delving into the evolving mead–honey wine scene. They offer open-mic nights, entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, Vinyl Sundays, a large variety of music, board games, card games, building blocks, and more.
They have been involved in the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce’s Tastes & Tunes, were instrumental in forming the Hop into the Holidays event and Mead Meander in Scandinavia, hosted a Kentucky Derby celebration on May 6. In 2023, they held their first Norwegian New Year’s celebration, which included a countdown at 6:00 p.m. midnight in Oslo.
Gordon, who also plays bass guitar, and Carol feel a real sense of community in Scandinavia and they are excited to be a part of it. They are known for their sweet and simple gestures and for being good neighbors to other businesses in the community.
Other nominees included: Country Chic Boutique and Melum Masonry.
Spark Plug Award: Eric Bestul
The Spark Plug Award, given to individuals who ignite positive change and progress in the community, was awarded to Eric Bestul of Lessons From The Art. Known for his vibrant contributions to the local music scene, Eric expressed his gratitude and surprise in a heartfelt Facebook post:
“If you would have told me when I was in High School that I would win an Iola Chamber of Commerce award I would have said you were crazy. The biggest reward, however, is the growth of our local music community. We have so much going on in our little town that wasn’t there even a few years ago let alone when I was growing up. To be a part of that is an honor. Thanks to everyone who has supported me and my business and special thanks to all of my students. I get to do what I love because of you.”
Bestul grew up in Iola, following his passion for music. His business, Lessons From The Art, is located on Main Street in Iola. Lessons on piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, banjo, and cello, in addition to a full listing of other instruments, are offered. He provides quality opportunities for students to play in public.
He has been instrumental in bringing musical artists into the community, including Jazz Jams, held monthly at the Wolf River Gallery. He further provides music for the local “Ride for Heroes”, held yearly in Iola. Eric is an integral part of the Chamber’s Tastes & Tunes, where he works with the booking and timing of musical groups. He is a member of the Waupaca Arts Hub, providing music lessons. He is an active member of the Iola Conservation Club, providing publicity for the group. He is a willing worker for events sponsored by the group. Eric, his wife Amanda, who is also a musician, and their son are valuable members of our community. We are fortunate to benefit from the musical expertise he shares.
Megan Melum was the other nominee.
This year’s awards add to the rich history of the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce’s tradition of recognizing outstanding contributions. The annual Chamber Awards Dinner not only honors the achievements of individuals and businesses but also strengthens the bonds within the community. It is a night of celebration, reflection, and inspiration, highlighting the collective efforts that make Iola-Scandinavia a vibrant and thriving place to live and work.
Past Award Recipients
Outstanding Person of the Year
Al Houts 1999, Chuck Fritz 2000, Mitchell Swenson 2001, Chet Krause 2002, Don & Jeanne Loken 2003, Sharon Peterson 2004, Charlie Wasrud 2005, Michael Mazemke 2006, Lorraine Erickson 2007, Lyle Mork 2008, Doug Watson 2009, Sherry Kielblock 2010, Mark Forseth 2011, Clifford Mishler 2012, Jim Jenson 2013, Jim & Sherry Neidert 2014, Toya & Bill Lund 2015, Ruth Johnson 2016, Mark Sether 2017, Joe & Maggie |ones 2018, Ila & Tom Sanders 2019, Mary Schwartz 2020, Phil Johnsrud 2021, and Vicky Koss 2022.
Outstand Business of the Year
Iola IGA (lola Sentry) 2011, Community Insurance 2012, Lessons From The Art 2013, Millstone at Iola Mills 2014, Premier Community Bank 2015, Silver Lake Lanes 2016, Norseman House Motel 2017, Sweet Medicine 2018, ScandiHus 2019, Crystal Café 2020, Iola Car Show 2021, and Glacier Wood Golf Course 2022.
Spark Club Award
Sydney Broznik of Country Chic Boutique 2020, Ali Johnson of Iola Car Show 2021, and Krista Watson of ScandiHus 2022.