Cruising for a cause

Fourth annual Red, White and Blue (RWB) Cruise is set for Saturday, May 16.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, April 2026

Some are called ATVs. Some are UTVs. Some are called quads or side-by-sides or offroad vehicles. But whatever they are called, many rural Iowans call them fun to ride. And a group of local riders has found a way to merge that fun with fundraising. 

Preparations are underway for the fourth annual Red, White and Blue (RWB) Cruise in Guthrie and Adair counties. The event is held by the Omar B. Shearer American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 124 of Guthrie Center. The cruise is set for Saturday, May 16, departing at 10 a.m.

Auxiliary members (and event organizers) Robyn Van Zee, Amy Brummer and Carrie Dideriksen are not veterans, but they come from families that include veterans. All three also enjoy riding ATVs for fun.

“I ride side-by-sides, but not like these two,” Brummer said. “Not as often or traveling out of state like they do. When they first brought this idea to our Auxiliary, it was kind of scary, but everything worked out.”

“We’ve ridden in Nebraska, South Dakota, the Black Hills, Wisconsin, Arkansas twice, Colorado twice, Tennessee, and about a year from now, we’re going to Moab, Utah,” Van Zee said. 

Van Zee explained the timing of the local event.

“We want to have it before Memorial Day, in honor of Memorial Day,” she said. “We are the American Legion Auxiliary. Our main focus is to honor the veterans and active service members and serve our community.”

When the first cruise was held in 2023, the Auxiliary was unsure how much participation the event would attract, but they were overwhelmed when approximately 250 people participated. The past two years have seen more than 100 riders each year. With that level of participation, and with the generosity of local sponsors, the Auxiliary raises funds to support many worthy causes in the area. 

Many of the causes funded through the ride are veteran-related, but others are scholarships and helping citizens in need.

One of the reasons for the success is that participation comes from well outside the local area.

“We’ve had people come from Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas. They’re willing to travel. The weather’s just starting to get nice,” Van Zee said.

The organizers have tweaked the event over the years based on what riders prefer. They added that the event’s success depends on the many local volunteers who make everything run smoothly. 

 

“The first year it seemed like we all went to one stop together. Now we spread it out, for dust control, for one thing,” Dideriksen said. Safety is also enhanced by spreading out the riders.

Van Zee said most of the riders enjoy the freedom of choosing a path rather than being told to follow a certain route. After all, the point is to get out in the country to enjoy fresh air and socialize with friends and neighbors.

“And, in an attempt to not bombard the businesses with 150 people all at one time, we’ve made it so the riders can go wherever they want to go in whatever order they want,” Van Zee said. 

The three organizers said warming weather seems to be part of the event’s success.

“This is the first big event after the winter months,” Dideriksen said. “We always kind of compete with graduations and things. It’s for anybody and all ages. Our group continues to enjoy doing it.”

The cruise welcomes riders on side-by-sides, quads and other vehicles to register and join in the fun. The ride begins at the Guthrie County fairgrounds in Guthrie Center. Six destinations are participating in the cruise, including Blue Goose Tavern (Adair), Rustic Tap (Fontanelle), Wreckers or Checkers (Fontanelle), Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar (Casey), Casey Creamery (Casey) and Short’s Place (Menlo). 

Registration will be 8:30-9:45 a.m. prior to the ride. Cost is $25 per participant. There will be a poker run option, a 50/50 raffle and other raffles. Door prizes and poker hand prizes will be given at 5 p.m. when riders return to the fairgrounds. 

Common stops along the ride are the Freedom Rocks on the route. Van Zee pointed out a very fortunate timing that occurred during a prior year’s ride, when riders were able to watch one of the Freedom Rocks being painted. 

“We just happened to be going by while artist and Iowa State Representative Ray ‘Bubba’ Sorensen II was painting it for Memorial Day,” Van Zee said.

Camping is available at the fairgrounds for those interested. Questions about the event can be directed to Robyn Van Zee at 402-740-9804 or alapost124@gmail.com.