Drost Honored for Contribution

An official unveiling of the Drost Soccer field at the Lacey Recreation Complex happened this evening.
The Drost family donated $400,000 to make the field possible.

Dedication of Drost Field Recognizes Carl Drost and a Legacy of Dedication to the Oskaloosa Community

Oskaloosa, Iowa – A ceremony at Oskaloosa’s Lacey Sports Complex this week dedicated the soccer field as Drost Field in honor of the Carl and Martha Drost family, who donated substantial funding and untold thousands of volunteer hours to the construction of the Complex and other community recreation projects over the past several years.

But this week’s event was about much more than the soccer field; it was also to pay tribute to Drost and his family’s lifetime of dedication to the Oskaloosa community. Additionally, the dedication was to honor the loyal employees and customers at Drost Equipment without whom, Drost says, the success at the Lacey Complex wouldn’t have been possible.

For more than 40 years, Drost was the owner and operator of Drost Equipment in Oskaloosa, serving the needs of farm families in Mahaska County and beyond with one of the biggest John Deere dealerships in southern Iowa. At the same time, Drost has been equally focused on improving outdoor recreational facilities and opportunities throughout the community.

“Drost Field is an elite soccer facility, and will be a recreational gem in Oskaloosa for generations,” said Joe Crookham, president of Musco Lighting, who has partnered with Drost on many community projects. “But this field is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Carl Drost and his commitment to Oskaloosa. So I view this recognition as more of a lifetime achievement recognition for Carl and his family.”

In addition to the soccer field, Drost is instrumental in the construction of the recreation trail surrounding the community for walking, jogging, and bike riding, as well as other projects throughout the community. He puts in hundreds of hours yearly building, prepping, and helping with concrete, seeding, and mowing.

Martha Drost has also played a valuable role in creating recreational opportunities for the community. She was the first volunteer Trail Tram driver and tour guide, enabling hundreds of seniors to “take a walk in the woods.” Her example has led to a fleet of four trams and a team of 12 volunteer drivers who have provided rides for more than 1,000 people each of the last several years.

At Drost Field, Carl was focused from day one on ensuring that all aspects of the field and its construction were first-rate, from the quality of the field turf on up. But Drost is quick to attribute the successes at Lacey Sports Complex to others he says are equally responsible. A plaque at the stadium acknowledges that group with the following:

“This field was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Carl & Martha Drost Family, as well as the local customers and employees of Drost Equipment, Oskaloosa John Deere Dealer for 40 years.”