Community & Activities

July 4th Celebration

Yale is the home of the biggest 4th of July celebration in the area. There are many activities, sponsored by local groups and businesses going on all day long. Activities include an omelet breakfast to kick off the morning, a parade and kids activities. Every year there is also a slow pitch softball tournament and garden tractor pulls. In the past people have been entertained by the State Fair Singers and local talent competing in the Bill Riley Talent Show. The finale is a huge fireworks display sponsored by the City of Yale and Farmers State Bank.

Panorama Days

Panorama Days is held the first full weekend in August in Panora. There are many events for all ages. Activities include a parade, entertainment on the stage at Town Square Park, food vendors, carnival activities, ski show at Lake Panorama , Guthrie County Historical Village tours, local art display, and evening entertainment. Panorama Days is a time for enjoyment for all ages.

Scholarship Application

Two $500 scholarships are available each year to graduating high school seniors. Applicants must complete the following application and submit by April 15th of each year. If you have any questions or would like to submit your scholarship application, email Scott Stanley at sstanley@yalebankiowa.com.

Lake Panorama

Lake Panorama is located off of Highway 4 and extends northeast of Panora. It is the largest private lake in Iowa and consists of 6,000 acres of which 1,400 acres are lake. The thirty-one miles of shoreline has many beautiful homes and 3 beaches. Lake Panorama also has two golf courses. Lake Panorama National Golf Course is a popular 18 hole golf course, and Lake Panorama West Golf Course is a Par 3 golf course.

Raccoon River Valley Trail

The Raccoon River Valley Trail is over 89 miles in length. It is a paved, multi-use recreational trail that tours the branches of the beautiful Raccoon River through Greene, Guthrie, and Dallas counties. The trail extends from Jefferson, IA through Guthrie County to Waukee, IA. The trail is used mainly for biking but there are many other ways to use the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, bird watching, hiking, walking and jogging are just some of the other activities the trail can be used for. The trail consists of native prairie, timber, and a variety of trees, shrubs, and grasses. The scenery is beautiful all year round for all types of activities. Check it out at raccoonrivervalleytrail.org.

Springbrook State Park

Iowa acquired Springbrook in 1926 and most of the buildings were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. Springbrook can be found 5 miles west of Yale. The rolling hills of beautiful Springbrook State Park have many different animals such as deer, red and gray fox, coyote, raccoon, beaver, muskrat and wild turkey. Almost every kind of bird that visits Iowa can also be found here. Trails lead through 920 acres of prairie and woodland near small ponds, the middle Raccoon River and the beautiful spring fed 17-acre, artificial lake.