Wild Goose Capital of the World!

Sumner, MO
This northern community in Missouri has always been a great Canadian goose hunting region. Nearby Swan Lake is where many avid goose hunters go every year to take their limit of fowl. In Sumner, you will find “Maxie” a giant fiberglass monument of a Canadian goose. “Maxie” is unique. She has rollers underneath her and is always pointed in the direction of the wind! The community has a “Goose Festival” every third weekend in October.

Horseradish Capital of the World!

Collinsville, IL


Horseradish Capital of the World

In 1933, the J. R. Kelly Company started to market horseradish roots in St. Louis. The company relocated to Collinsville in 1974. The company is one of the biggest marketers of horseradish. Each year the company sells over 7 million pounds of horseradish and claims to produce over 85% of the world’s horseradish. Collinsville hosts the annual “International Horseradish Festival”. This event is usually held in June. By the way, this community also has the “Worlds Largest Ketchup Bottle”. Maybe someday, this community will claim to be the “Condiment Capital of the World”!

World Capital of Ice Cream

LeMars, Iowa

This community christened itself in 1994 as the “Capital of Ice Cream”. They have good reasons to back up this boastfulness. In 1913, Fred Wells, Jr. opened up a dairy operation in this community. In 1925, Fred expanded his business and the company began making ice cream. In 1928, Fred sold his company to Fairmont. Later in 1935, Fred and his sons wanted to make ice cream again but couldn’t use the family name any more because of the deal with Fairmont. They ran a contest to name their new ice cream company and “Blue Bell” was chosen. Blue Bell is the single ice cream company in LeMars. More ice cream is produced here in a day than by any other single ice cream company in the world. Those are the cold-hearted facts and that’s why this is the capital.