05/06/2026
Two months.
It’s hard to believe it’s already been two months since the fire changed everything for our family and Okoboji Trading Company. In some ways it feels like yesterday…in others, it feels like a lifetime.
We want to be honest with you all—because you’ve been walking this road with us.
As of today, we still know absolutely nothing from the insurance company. No decisions. No direction. No clarity. Not even on cleanup. We’re in a holding pattern there, and it’s been one of the most frustrating parts of this entire process.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s this: you don’t sit still.
On the business side, we’ve pushed forward. The CNC machine we imported last November is now up and running—and it’s a game changer. Bigger. Faster. More capable. It opens doors we simply didn’t have before. On top of that, our laser shop came through untouched, so production there hasn’t skipped a beat.
And with new capabilities…come new ideas.
We’ve been working behind the scenes, and trust us—there are some exciting new products on the way. Stay tuned…we think you’re going to like what’s coming.
We also want to take a moment to say thank you. Truly. The support, the messages, the donations—it all matters more than we can put into words.
At the same time, we’re still rebuilding from the ground up. There are a lot of things you don’t think about until they’re gone—essential supplies, small tools, and a mountain of CNC bits. We lost roughly $3,000 in bits alone, and that’s just one small piece of the puzzle.
That’s why this Satuday means so much to us.
Join us for the Okoboji Trading Company & Holdorf Family Recovery Fund Benefit Dinner:
• Grilled pork chops and sides
• Raffle & silent auction (some incredible items already lined up)
• Live music by Terry Klein
• And we’ll also be celebrating Pat & Len’s 60th wedding anniversary
It’s going to be a great night—good food, good people, and a chance to keep moving forward together.
From the bottom of our hearts…thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re still standing. Still building. And we’re not done yet.
— Okoboji Trading Company
P.S. if you'd like to donate to the event reach out and/or drop off donations at the VFW
The Chamber of the Iowa Great Lakes Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce The Shops at Old School Mercantile Okoboji Trading Company Fire Support Okoboji Trading Company Jeff Holdorf GoFundMe Len Holdorf Pat Holdorf Lakes Area Farmer's Market