“Boys, it’s gonna be hotter than Fort Dodge out there today! Make sure you keep those water coolers full.”
That’s what our uncle or grandpa would say before we headed out with our bean walking crew at 7:00am. When we collaborated with the College of Weather here at Stanhope State, we knew this had to be on a shirt, even if they were just for ourselves.
Since we started making 'em, they've been a top campus favorite. Turns out, a lot of you Stanhope Staters have been hearing this in your family for generations! From Radcliffe to Rolfe, Boxholm to Blairsburg, we have heard it from everywhere:
“My grandpa used to say that all the time!”
“We thought we were the only family that said that!”
“Oh my gosh! I’m sending this to my cousins out East, we say this every time it’s hot out.”
“HOTTER THE FORT DODGE! I grew up with hearing that!”
“There was a guy in Webster who said this all the time.”
Yep, we stumbled into that story too. Turns out there was a fella up in Webster City who was quite the character, Bender Brown. Folks tell us he'd say this all over town. Was he the originator? Who knows for sure, but one thing we do know, these are the types of things we love here at Stanhope State: small town living and regional culture.
And before you send all the messages, we love you Fort Dodge! Please don’t take this as a slight or an insult. How could we do that to you? We LOVE Taco Tico, never miss a Decker’s Tent Sale and can you really pass up an opportunity to stop for beer and pizza at Community Tap? Of course not. This is really a… a scientific statement we are making here. Generally, 9 times out of 10, the temperature IS warmer here on Stanhope State campus than it is there. We know these good folks have a sense of humor, we’ve sent several shirts up to the Webster County Seat and former Fort Dodgers across the country.
So, if you’re looking for a very uniquely local gift to send to the uncle who’s said it for years, a cousin who misses having a Sancho Platter with Tico Tots or if you’re looking to make an old childhood friend who moved out of state smile, snag a Hotter Than Fort Dodge shirt available in different styles and Larger American sizes. And the next time you find yourself in a typical Iowa conversation about the weather, check your phone see how it compares to Fort Dodge.
Have a story about when you first heard the phrase “Hotter Than Fort Dodge”? Send it to us at admissions@stanhopestate.com, we’d love to hear it!
Order your "Hotter Than Fort Dodge" gear today:
T-shirt --> HERE
Long sleeve tee --> HERE
Crewneck sweatshirt --> HERE
Hoodie --> HERE
Magnet for the garage beer fridge --> HERE