"Be Brave, Be Strong and Be Happy": Community Honors Lewis Lechtenberg With Legacy Build

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Community members, fair supporters and local business leaders gathered Monday evening at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds to celebrate the completion of the new Lewis Lechtenberg Swine Building, a project dedicated to the memory of Lewis Lechtenberg, who died in 2024 at age 7 following a six-year battle with brain cancer. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held ahead of the official opening of the Winneshiek County Fair, brought together representatives from the Winneshiek County Agricultural Association Board, the Winneshiek County Fair Board and Auxiliary, members of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Lewis' parents, Justin and Karla Lechtenberg, and his siblings, Brinley, Eloise and William Lechtenberg. Jessica Rilling, speaking on behalf of the chamber ambassadors, said the organization values opportunities to celebrate new businesses, business expansions and community projects. "We like to make sure there are moments of celebration for new businesses, expansion of businesses, and in this case, a beautiful new building," Rilling said before introducing Karla Lechtenberg. During brief remarks, Lechtenberg reflected on the community effort behind the project and the significance of the occasion. "I realized that today, two years ago, was the day that the first dollar was raised for this building," she said. Lechtenberg credited numerous families, friends and community members for helping bring the project to completion. "To thank one person individually would not be fair, because we have so many families, friends and community members that came together for this beautiful building," she said. She described the building as an example of a community transforming hardship into something positive. "Even when there's tragedy in our lives and misfortune, we've turned that into something beautiful," Lechtenberg said. She also recounted the extensive planning process behind the facility. Lechtenberg said she and her husband, along with others involved in the project, spent time visiting fairgrounds and livestock facilities across Iowa, studying building layouts and design features before finalizing plans for the swine building. "The Bushmans and Justin and I traveled all over last summer looking at buildings," she said. "We took notes. We looked at the state fair. We put a lot of time and effort into making sure that this building was particularly put together." Concluding her remarks, Lechtenberg offered a message that connected the building to Lewis' own words: "Be brave, be strong and be happy," she said. "Go Team Lewis." Following the remarks, Lewis' family joined community members for the ceremonial ribbon cutting and a group photograph in front of the new facility. After photographs, Lechtenberg pointed out another feature that made the building special: a "lucky horseshoe" buried beneath one of the building's corner pillars. "They found it when they began construction on the site," she said. The horseshoe now rests beneath the facility, becoming another small piece of the story behind a building created through so much community support. "They found it when they began construction on the site," she said. The horseshoe now rests beneath the facility, becoming one more piece of a project shaped by the love and support of a community honoring Lewis' memory. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.