Iowa Newspaper Foundation Banquet 2013: Awards for my Mom!

On the 8th of February, Trent and I along with Kellsey and Jared went to Des Moines to the Iowa Newspaper Foundation Banquet because The Observer and Manilla Times, the two papers that my mom owns, were up for 10 awards and my mom, in honor of my dad, was going to be receiving the Heritage Club Award during the banquet.

The papers were up for 10 awards in the Better Newspaper Contest, and they walked away with five first-place awards (4 for The Observer and 1 for The Manilla Times), one second-place award, and four third-place awards. In addition to the individual awards in all the categories, she also received second place in the Weekly Class I category in the "General Excellence" competition.

With these awards, The Observer has won a total of 67 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards since 2005. I'd say my mom (and her staff) are pretty darn awesome!! :)

Us kids and our mom with her first place plaques and the Heritage Club plaque.

One of her many awards!

Below is a video of them awarding the Heritage Club photo plaque to my mom, which signifies a $5,000 contribution made to the Iowa Newspaper Foundation in memory of my dad.

I have put the transcript of what he is saying is below the video as well.

Dave and Janine Kock purchased their hometown newspaper, The Observer, in Westside, in 2003. They purchased a second newspaper, The Manilla Times, in 2011. While Dave also worked in the hog industry and was a successful girls' basketball coach during their past nine years in the newspaper industry, Janine has been active in various INA committees and on the Iowa Newspaper Foundation Board, serving as its president in 2011.

The Kocks took seriously their commitment to producing a vibrant community newspaper, and their newspapers have won 67 INF awards. The couple have also been active volunteers in their community and believe it is very important for residents to dedicate their time, energy, talent and financial resources toward community projects.

Janine began a Heritage Builders program in support of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation in 2010 and, after Davey's untimely death at the age of 53 in September of 2012 due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, she decided to honor his memory by completing the Heritage Club pledge in his honor.

She is accompanied tonight by her daughters, Kellsey Morrison and Kendra Fredericksen, and her son Jared Kock.

The Manilla Times staff with their first ever INF award.
A first place award, too!

Trent and at the banquet

After the banquet, we all made our way to The Exchange. The newest bar owned by our cousins, Teddy and Petey. It was a blast. I love that we finally got to see their new bar and got to see Teddy's office and maybe had a little too much fun!

Cousins!

Sisters!

 It was a great weekend in Des Moines, celebrating my mom and dad's well deserved success with their newspapers and honoring them and the staff with with many awards! I'm so happy that Trent and I got to be there!