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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Consumer survey shows continued confidence in Iowa agriculture

Guest blog by Kelly Visser, Iowa Soybean Association consumer engagement manager

Each year, you likely find yourself in a cold, brightly lit doctor’s office for a routine checkup. While it may not be your favorite event on the calendar, it’s important to regularly measure vitals, ask questions and keep a close pulse on any changes in your health.

Similarly, the Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) conducts an annual Consumer Pulse Survey among food purchasers in the state. Now in its seventh year, the survey gauges food purchasing habits, measuring label influence and attitudes toward farming.

Year-over-year survey findings drive the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) consumer engagement strategy, including Iowa FFP’s programming and content development.

When it comes to food labels, this year’s survey found eight in 10 food purchasers find food labels misleading. This, along with 55 percent reporting attributes like “organic” or “all natural” have little to no influence on their purchasing decisions, showing Iowa consumers may be growing numb to the product packaging in their cart.

“It appears that shoppers are becoming increasingly indifferent to the flashy label claims food marketers are using, especially those that are rooted in misinformation,” says Aaron Putze, ISA director of communications and external relations. “Twenty-two percent said they don’t seek out information on food labels at all.”

When it comes to attitudes toward farming, the survey found that more than half of Iowans frequently think about how their food was grown and raised, 65 percent reporting being knowledgeable about agriculture and 83 percent report being satisfied with Iowa agriculture.

For Randy Miller, a soybean, corn and pig farmer from Lacona who works closely with Iowa FFP, the findings are encouraging. “So often we only hear the loudest, most negative voices,” Miller says. “The reality is — when we share information about what farmers are doing and how they are doing it — perceptions are positive.”

Miller sees Iowa FFP as a valuable initiative that farmers can leverage to connect with consumers.

“As farmers, it’s on us to get out and share our stories. It makes a difference in consumer attitudes. We need to tap into the Iowa FFP network to continue building two-way conversations between farmers and consumers,” he says.

Iowa FFP subscribers were significantly more likely than non-subscribers to be “very satisfied” with Iowa agriculture, 47 v. 36 percent, respectively. The ag awareness initiative reaches nearly 120,000 followers each month through its newsletter, website and social media channels. This is roughly equivalent to the combined populations of Altoona, Cedar Falls and Dubuque.

The November 2018 survey had 676 responses – the most in the survey’s history – 295 were engaged with Iowa FFP as monthly newsletter subscribers. Respondents’ age groups, income levels, education levels, and geographic regions closely follow the state’s population, resulting in a low margin of error of 3.79 percent.

Blue Compass, a digital marketing agency in West Des Moines, conducted the survey analysis from data collected through Research Now’s business-to-consumer panel.

For additional survey highlights, visit iowafoodandfamily.com/news/food-label-fatigue.

About the Iowa Food & Family Project

The Iowa Food & Family Project is powered by nearly 35 partners, including Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, with a goal to help Iowans become more confident about how and where their food is grown. For more information, visit iowafoodandfamily.com.

Laura Cunningham

February 15, 2019

Food & Family, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Farming and Football are Mauch Family Traditions

“North Dakota State wins seventh FCS title in eight years” is a headline treasured by fans of the NDSU Bison, but it’s personal for the Mauch family of Barney, North Dakota.

Cody Mauch is a sophomore at NDSU, majoring in Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Crop and Weed Science. He also plays offensive tackle for the NDSU Bison football team, which beat Eastern Washington 38-24 on Jan. 5, 2019, in the FCS national championship game. NDSU is the only college football program to ever win five consecutive NCAA national championships and the only football program to win seven FCS titles.

“We had an absolute blast at the national championship game,” says Joe Mauch. “It was our first time in Frisco, Texas. We couldn’t believe how the whole town catered to NDSU Fans. It was a really good experience for us. Cody is part of an amazing football program. Winning that many championships in the last eight years says a lot for the program, its coaches and the players.”

Cody Mauch at NDSU Championship in Frisco

Joe and his wife, Stacey, are the proud parents of four sons and four daughters. Their oldest son, Carter, graduated in December 2018 from NDSU with a degree in Crop and Weed Science. Cody is 19. Their other children are ages 17, 15, 8-year-old twins, 5 and 3.

“I’m glad Carter is able to join our family’s farming operation and seed business. He will help us in so many ways, but especially in the scouting process. Carter had crop scouting internships during the past two summers, and he learned so much. He also studied precision agriculture, so he understands how all the new technologies work together,” says Joe, who started farming in 1996 with his father.

Joe’s father was ready to retire about the time Joe’s youngest brother, Andrew, was ready to start farming. They raise corn, soybeans, sugar beets and navy beans. They also custom bale wheat straw.

Joe and Stacy Mauch family

“Our operation may be a little unique that we all farm our own fields,” says Joe. “We own different equipment but share equipment and labor. It works for us. We’re fortunate that we have really good help, too.”

Recently the Mauchs took on a Latham® dealership to diversify their operation and to provide their seed customers with more options. Joe says he and Andrew were studying F.I.R.S.T. Trials and saw that Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has performed really well over the years. Latham brand seeds average 34 wins each year, which shows the consistency of Latham Seeds’ products and the strength of its lineup.

“Our philosophy is simple,” says John Latham, president of Latham Seeds. “We produce the highest quality seed products possible that are bred for local conditions.”

Working with farmers to place seed products where they fit best is something Joe enjoys most about the seed business. Andrew says he really likes calling on friends and neighbors as part of their business. He also enjoys the opportunity to try new products as a seed dealer.

“We plant Roundup Ready and Liberty traits, as well as conventional crops, and I believe that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing less weed pressure,” says Andrew. “I believe Enlist E3 soybeans will be exciting, and I can’t wait for them to receive full approval.”

Andrew and his wife, Bethany, are the fourth generation to live on the home place.

Andrew and Bethany Mauch and family

“I like that our kids will grow up involved with farming. They understand that we’re helping feed and fuel the world. They can ride in the tractor and learn just like I did,” says Andrew, who’s the proud father of two sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Mason, is 10; his oldest daughter, Adlee, is 7. Twins, Axel and Lyla, are 5 years old. Mason plays hockey. The girls take figure skating lessons and gymnastics. Everyone enjoys snow skiing in the winter and spending as much time as possible at the lake in the summer.

In addition to working full-time, Bethany finds time to bake. Her banana bars are a hit with those who help during harvest, so today they’re sharing this recipe with us.

shannonlatham

February 8, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

These Super Fans Bring Superb Tailgating Skills to the Table
Super Bowl Sunday provides a reason to gather with family and friends around tables filled with your favorite game day foods, regardless of whether your favorite team is playing. Football fans Ryan and Meg Schon honed their tailgating skills when their favorite team didn’t have a hope or a prayer of post-season play.

The Schons (pronounced “shown”) met when they were both students at Iowa State University. Like many Cyclone fans, they’ve been loyal and forever true to their school. Their eternal optimism prompted them to develop the mantra of “Tailgate Victoriously.” It’s a tagline that has become so ingrained in their fall activities that Ryan created Cyclone jerseys with the numbers “19” and “95” to commemorate the year he and Meg were married.

“When Meg and I lived in St. Louis, we drove to Ames for every home game. We never knew what to expect from Cyclone football during those years, so we started to say, ‘At least we won the tailgate!’ That turned into the mantra, ‘Tailgate Victoriously.’ And after 23 years, we’re undefeated,” says Ryan.

These proud Iowa State Alumni Association members have become known for hosting 30 to 50 friends and family members during every home ISU football game. The Schons even packed their grill and headed south in December to tailgate in parking lot before the Alamo Dome. They were in good company as ISU fans, who are known for following their team, helped set a record attendance of 60,000+ at the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The Schons are finding more time to tailgate now that their kids are older. Dani, 23, and Andrew, 19, are both majoring in education at Iowa State. Twins, 17-year-olds Emily and Jacob, are juniors at Ankeny High School.

Ryan brings this same passion and energy he has for faith, family and fun to the job. He has nearly 25 years of experience in agronomy, marketing, and precision agriculture.

“One of my favorite quotes is Marcus Buckinghams ‘Be the most extreme version of yourself’,” says Ryan, who on February 4, 2019, will become the general manager of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. “The times I’ve been the proudest is when I’ve helped business teammates or our kids become their best, most authentic, most extreme version of themselves.”

Ryan grew up in Glidden, Iowa, where his family owned a lumber and construction business. His grandparents also farmed in Carroll County.

“I learned so much growing up in a family business: working hard, making work fun and doing whatever it takes to get the job done,” says Ryan, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University.

John Latham, president of Latham Seeds, says, “Ryan’s fresh perspective will allow us to consider new business approaches and opportunities. He also understands the intricacies of working with other family-owned seed companies, as well as for his own family’s business.”

“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Ryan in different capacities for the past 20 years,” adds John. “We’re pleased that he is joining our management team. We’re confident Ryan will help us grow in areas that will allow us to provide even greater support and services to our dealer network and farmer-customers.”

As senior corporate development manager for Granular, Ryan led the post-acquisition integration of Granular with Encirca. He provided a voice for farmers as new Encirca Services were developed with Pioneer Agronomy Science, data scientists, software development, field teams, and external collaborators. Ryan also served as a business development manager and traits marketing lead with Monsanto. During that time, he and his family lived abroad for 18 months.

“The most amazing thing I observed is that all those farmers have the same farmer spirit,” says Ryan, who has visited farmers in about 25 countries on six continents. “In many cases, I didn’t know their language and we talked through a local translator. But there’s a universal farmer spirit that comes from putting all your faith in a seed that you’ve put in the ground and knowing that your livelihood depends on what it produces.”

While Ryan enjoyed his time abroad, he enjoys staying true to his Iowa roots. He is active in his church, Relay for Life and the Iowa SIDS Foundation. Today he and Meg are sharing with us a few of their favorite tailgating recipes. Check out the “recipe card” graphics, and scroll to the bottom of this post for their Chicken Bacon Corn Chowder recipe.

We’re also providing links to some of our past blog posts, with recipes for everything from pretzels and dips to meatballs and soup, to help you create a “super” menu for Sunday:
- Beer Cheese Soup in Scrambling to Prep for Super Bowl Sunday
- Fiesta Chicken Chowder in Kicking Off “Souper Bowl” Sunday
- Cheeseburger Chowder in Put Your Burger in a Bowl
- Party Pretzels in Keeping in Simple on Super Bowl Sunday
- 12 links to Game Day foods in Super Foods for a Super Weekend
- Buffalo Chicken dip featured in It’s Super Bowl Saturday in Iowa
- 10 game day foods featured in Tips for Throwing a Spirited Tailgate
shannonlatham

February 1, 2019

Food & Family, Pork, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Seeds Helps Provide Cancer Support, One Free Throw at a Time
As exciting as it was to see the Iowa State University Cyclones defeat Oklahoma State on Jan. 19 and as disappointing as it was for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes to fall to Michigan State on Jan. 24, the real winner this week was Coaches vs. Cancer.

Coaches vs. Cancer was championed by Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri men’s basketball program. As a cancer survivor and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Stewart challenged fans to pledge a dollar amount for points made by his team. The American Cancer Society and the NABC adopted that concept in 1993, transforming it into a nationwide effort “to provide help and hope to people facing cancer.”

For the past seven years, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has pledged money to the American Cancer Society for every free throw made by the ISU men’s basketball team. This year we’re pleased to announce that we’re also sponsoring a Charity Stripe Promotion that donates dollars to the American Cancer Society for free throw made by the Iowa men’s basketball team.

Everyone can think of someone whose life has been affected by cancer. Our family was affected, too. On February 20, 2010, former Latham Seeds’ president Bill Latham underwent a stem cell transplant to battle Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). That transplant extended his life more than five years. Due to this experience, we gained a new appreciation for all the American Cancer Society does to fund lifesaving research, treatment and support. We also appreciate the organization’s efforts to offer resources for those diagnosed with cancer, to cure different types of cancer, as well as to promote awareness.

You can reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. It’s also important to follow recommended screening guidelines, which can help detect certain cancers early. Because skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States – and those of us in agriculture tend to spend a lot of time outdoors – today we’re reminding you of safe ways to have fun in the sun.

We also want to share with you a recipe from Anne Hytrek, MSEd, RD, LD, CDE. Anne is originally from Franklin County, Iowa. She works at Ankeny Prairie Trails Hy-Vee and serves on the Iowa Food & Family Project’s Advisory Committee of which Latham Seeds is a proud sponsor. Anne has shared ways for keep your New Year’s Resolution of eating healthy and tips for creating heart healthy meals. Today she’s sharing with us a recipe for healthy comfort food to warm up on a cold winter’s night.

Related Blog Posts:
- 2018: Breaking Cancer’s Silence
- 2016: Will to Win is Common Denominator
- 2015: Put the Full Court Press on Cancer
- 2014: Coaches vs. Cancer Nets $17,000
- 2013: Coaches vs. Cancer Nets $15,000
shannonlatham

January 25, 2019

Food & Family, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham® Dealer Shares His Drive for Strategy, Farming & Family

It’s been a tough winter for those with sleds in the shed.

From the time he was 16, Brandon Shelton has looked forward to spending winter days snowmobiling across the wide-open fields of North Central Iowa. This year he’s had to get his fix by traveling to the Sierra Madre range in South Central Wyoming and to the Teton range in western Wyoming.

Brandon also been staying busy this winter by putting the finishing touches on his 2019 crop plan and counting down the days until spring.

“What I enjoy most about farming is the strategy involved. I like deciding what equipment needs to be moved and when during planting and harvest. I also like planning inputs and developing the recipe that will give our crops what they need to perform their best. I’m always looking for ways to use anhydrous more efficiently,” says Brandon.

Some farmers put their equipment in the shed and take a break until it gets closer to the planting season. Not Brandon. He’s been working since he was 12, and he worked 40 hours a week when he was attending Iowa State University. Brandon hadn’t planned to farm with his dad immediately upon his college graduation, but the opportunity presented itself. Brandon’s dad, Britt, was raising seed corn and needed help. Brandon always knew he wanted to farm, so the timing worked out well. He’s since taken on a Latham® dealership.

“I decided to become a Latham dealer because we get a first look at new products. I also like that we can participate in on-farm research with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds,” says Brandon. “The seed brand we had been planting wasn’t handling Iron Deficiency Chlorosis. It only stands to reason that Latham soybeans would be bred to perform best against IDC because the company is headquartered where soils are prone to IDC. Another reason we wanted to try Latham is because were looking for LibertyLink soybeans. Plus, we prefer to do business with a family-owned seed company. The more I researched the company and its products, the more sold we were on making the switch to Latham. Our soybean yields are higher with Latham soybean products.”

Once the seed is in the ground, Brandon enjoys spending time with his family at the lake. His parents have decided to retire on Lake Panorama, so that’s where the Shelton family gathers as often as possible. Brandon’s brother, Weston, and his fiancé, Lauren, travel from Chicago for holidays. The Fourth of July is spent boating during the day and watching fireworks from the boat at night. Brandon also enjoys skiing barefoot and his dad likes to slalom ski. Brandon’s kids are at the age where they love to play in the sand and get their toes in the water. They love to surf behind the boat with their dad and swim as often as they can.

Brandon and his wife, Nicole, are the proud parents of two daughters, five-year-old Madeline and three-year-old Lahna. They’re expecting their third child in June. Brandon and Nicole met at Iowa State where he majored in Agronomy and Ag Studies while she studied Early Childhood Education.

On summer nights, Brandon and Nicole enjoy taking date nights in his 1973 Corvette. Owning this car has been a dream come true for Brandon. He spent weekends during his high school years, hanging out in the auto shop owned his buddy’s dad. The two teens enjoyed working on the car and getting it ready for the next car show. When his buddy’s dad decided to sell the car, Brandon went to the bank for a loan. He then went to the body shop, with check in hand, only to discover his dad had already bought the car.

Brandon and his dad share a passion for old cars, farming and water skiing. But Brandon says his sense of adventure was fueled by his mother, Pam, who planned trips for bank patrons. As a kid, Brandon traveled with Pam and was “bitten by the travel bug.” One of the places he enjoyed visiting the most was the Arenal Volcano Park in Costa Rica. Brandon enjoyed birding in the rain forest, as well as enjoying the hot springs pools.

Another memorable trip for Brandon was a 20-day study abroad to Ghana while he was a student at ISU. Brandon’s Soils professor, Dr. Andrew Manu was a Ghana native, so he hosted the trip to teach students about his homeland. Brandon learned that Cassava is the staple crop in Ghana. While he was there, the country was just getting into biofuels. There was a lot of research going into a new crop called Jatropha, which is an oilseed crop that villages were using to make biodiesel. This allowed a small village to run a diesel generator and produce electricity for its residents.

Although Brandon enjoys seeing new places and learning about other cultures, there’s no place like home. Today Brandon is sharing with us one of his family’s favorite recipes for baked chicken penne.

shannonlatham

January 18, 2019

Food & Family, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham® Dealer Shares His Drive for Strategy, Farming & Family

It’s been a tough winter for those with sleds in the shed.

From the time he was 16, Brandon Shelton has looked forward to spending winter days snowmobiling across the wide-open fields of North Central Iowa. This year he’s had to get his fix by traveling to the Sierra Madre range in South Central Wyoming and to the Teton range in western Wyoming.

Brandon also been staying busy this winter by putting the finishing touches on his 2019 crop plan and counting down the days until spring.

“What I enjoy most about farming is the strategy involved. I like deciding what equipment needs to be moved and when during planting and harvest. I also like planning inputs and developing the recipe that will give our crops what they need to perform their best. I’m always looking for ways to use anhydrous more efficiently,” says Brandon.

Some farmers put their equipment in the shed and take a break until it gets closer to the planting season. Not Brandon. He’s been working since he was 12, and he worked 40 hours a week when he was attending Iowa State University. Brandon hadn’t planned to farm with his dad immediately upon his college graduation, but the opportunity presented itself. Brandon’s dad, Britt, was raising seed corn and needed help. Brandon always knew he wanted to farm, so the timing worked out well. He’s since taken on a Latham® dealership.

“I decided to become a Latham dealer because we get a first look at new products. I also like that we can participate in on-farm research with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds,” says Brandon. “The seed brand we had been planting wasn’t handling Iron Deficiency Chlorosis. It only stands to reason that Latham soybeans would be bred to perform best against IDC because the company is headquartered where soils are prone to IDC. Another reason we wanted to try Latham is because were looking for LibertyLink soybeans. Plus, we prefer to do business with a family-owned seed company. The more I researched the company and its products, the more sold we were on making the switch to Latham. Our soybean yields are higher with Latham soybean products.”

Once the seed is in the ground, Brandon enjoys spending time with his family at the lake. His parents have decided to retire on Lake Panorama, so that’s where the Shelton family gathers as often as possible. Brandon’s brother, Weston, and his fiancé, Lauren, travel from Chicago for holidays. The Fourth of July is spent boating during the day and watching fireworks from the boat at night. Brandon also enjoys skiing barefoot and his dad likes to slalom ski. Brandon’s kids are at the age where they love to play in the sand and get their toes in the water. They love to surf behind the boat with their dad and swim as often as they can.

Brandon and his wife, Nicole, are the proud parents of two daughters, five-year-old Madeline and three-year-old Lahna. They’re expecting their third child in June. Brandon and Nicole met at Iowa State where he majored in Agronomy and Ag Studies while she studied Early Childhood Education.

On summer nights, Brandon and Nicole enjoy taking date nights in his 1973 Corvette. Owning this car has been a dream come true for Brandon. He spent weekends during his high school years, hanging out in the auto shop owned his buddy’s dad. The two teens enjoyed working on the car and getting it ready for the next car show. When his buddy’s dad decided to sell the car, Brandon went to the bank for a loan. He then went to the body shop, with check in hand, only to discover his dad had already bought the car.

Brandon and his dad share a passion for old cars, farming and water skiing. But Brandon says his sense of adventure was fueled by his mother, Pam, who planned trips for bank patrons. As a kid, Brandon traveled with Pam and was “bitten by the travel bug.” One of the places he enjoyed visiting the most was the Arenal Volcano Park in Costa Rica. Brandon enjoyed birding in the rain forest, as well as enjoying the hot springs pools.

Another memorable trip for Brandon was a 20-day study abroad to Ghana while he was a student at ISU. Brandon’s Soils professor, Dr. Andrew Manu was a Ghana native, so he hosted the trip to teach students about his homeland. Brandon learned that Cassava is the staple crop in Ghana. While he was there, the country was just getting into biofuels. There was a lot of research going into a new crop called Jatropha, which is an oilseed crop that villages were using to make biodiesel. This allowed a small village to run a diesel generator and produce electricity for its residents.

Although Brandon enjoys seeing new places and learning about other cultures, there’s no place like home. Today Brandon is sharing with us one of his family’s favorite recipes for baked chicken penne.

January 18, 2019

Food & Family, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Surprise… We’re Celebrating YOU!
When you work for a family-owned company like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, there are many time-honored traditions. One of my favorites is the way we honor Evelyn Latham by celebrating special occasions with good food and the gift of presence. When I was the bride-to-be, Shannon Latham hosted a surprise bridal shower for me in her home. Last July we threw a surprise bridal shower for Rachael Bruns. Today we pulled off a surprise party to honor Kilah Hemesath (soon-to-be Watson). As one of our resident event planners, this was no small feat! We made it happen by getting on Kilah’s schedule – literally.

Kilah is getting married in about 30 days. She has a monthly calendar, a weekly to-do list and a daily planner to make sure she “crosses all the proverbial t’s and dots all the I’s” while planning her wedding and coordinating other work-related events like our annual Dealer Kickoff meetings. Because Kilah is one of the hardest working and most thoughtful people you’ll ever meet, we wanted to make sure she didn’t lift a finger in planning her own party. We also wanted to keep the atmosphere casual and allow all team members to have a chance to unwind and enjoy one another’s company.

Surprise parties have become a fun way for us to celebrate our coworkers. We keep it simple but make it personal. Here’s how:
1. Save the date. We literally invite the person to “do lunch” or plan a meeting that entails a working lunch. Then we send a private e-vite to others in the office.
2. Choose a theme. Rachael was planning a late-summer wedding, so we chose a summer picnic theme and decorated with sunflowers because those also were her wedding flowers. Today’s theme was “Italian” as Kilah often talks about how much she enjoyed her college ag travel course to Italy. In a blog entitled, 10 Takeaways from My Italian Ag Adventure, Kilah wrote: “Americans tend to rush meal time while Italians make meal time an event. I found it interesting to see how much time, effort and pride was taken in each course of every meal. As a food lover myself, I enjoyed that meals were not rushed. I learned to appreciate my food and the preparation that went into making it.” Today we made lunch a leisurely event!
3. Plan the menu. We created a signature mocktail with cute drinking cups and straws for Rachael’s party and served Summer Chicken Salad on croissants. We know how much Kilah loves Italian food. In her blog post about Italy Kilah wrote, “Pasta holds a larger spot in my heart than I thought. The largest personal takeaway from the trip is all things pasta. My mom taught me how to make pasta when I was little, so it holds a special place in my heart. On this trip, we were lucky enough to learn how to make ravioli from Italian women! I also came away with a new favorite type of food, gnocchi, which I think of as potato pasta. Gnocchi may be purchased in the grocery store. It tastes great in pesto sauce, cheesy pasta or soup.”
Because we believe in planning parties that are tailored for the person who’s being celebrated, today’s menu had to have gnocchi. January also happens to be Soup Month, so it was perfectly fitting that one of my favorite recipes is Chicken Gnocchi Soup. To complement the soup, I made Pennsylvania hoagies by filling Italian rolls with Italian meats, Provolone cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, with oregano-vinegar dressing drizzled over the top. Those sandwiches are a favorite of my husband and his family because they’re Pennsylvania natives. My husband, Aaron, loves them so much that he agreed to help me shop for groceries in exchange for his own hoagie lunch. No party is complete without dessert. Since January in Iowa is a little cold for gelato, I decided to make a lemon cheesecake.

Escape the Midwest winter for an hour or two this weekend with your own Italian luncheon adventure. Today I’m sharing with you my recipes for Chicken Gnocchi Soup and Lemon Cheesecake. Buon appetito!

Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake

1 envelope sugar-free lemon Jell-O
1 c. boiling water
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. sugar
2 pkg. 8oz. cream cheese softened
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crust

Mix gelatin and sugar in a small bowl. Add boiling water and stir for five minutes until the gelatine and sugar have dissolved. Beat cream cheese and lemon juice in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually add the lemon gelatine mixture, beating well until well-blended after each addition. Cool in the refrigerator 30 minutes (stirring once after 15 minutes has passed). This step will help make sure your pie crust doesn’t take on too much moisture when the filling is added. If you’re in a rush, it will turn out even if you skip this step. Pour into pie crust and refrigerate.
Laura Cunningham

January 11, 2019

Desserts, Food & Family, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Remember the Alamo [Bowl]!
Liberty Bowl Pep Rally. Pictured left to right: Molly Skripsky, Dan Knipfel, Steph McWilliams, Josh Knipfel, Suzy Knipfel, Joel McWilliams, Dennis Knipfel

“Do we love game day!” said Suzy Knipfel of Hampton, Iowa, proud mom of Josh Knipfel, who is starting right guard for the Iowa State University (ISU) Cyclone football team.

What could be better than game day… How about bowl game day?

“Needless to say, Josh was thrilled to play in a bowl game during his first season as a Cyclone!” says Suzy. “The team left on Christmas Day [2017] and spent five days in Memphis before the game. It was jam-packed with so many activities, as well as practices and press conferences. His favorite non-football activities were going to the Civil Rights museum and touring St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Both, he said, were humbling experiences. Memphis was one of the schools he had visited as a possible college, so it was ironic he played a game there. We got to spend some time with him walking around Beale Street, which was packed with so many Cyclone fans! He will never forget that experience.”

Head coach Matt Campbell led ISU to a 21-20 win over Memphis in the 2017 Liberty Bowl.

Photo credit to Jeremy Davis.

Cyclone Nation is hoping to keep its winning streak going and when the ISU football team makes its consecutive bowl appearance. The week of Christmas thousands of Iowans headed to San Antonio and the River Walk for the 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl. Number 25 ISU will battle #12 Washington State on Friday, Dec. 28, in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

All eyes will be on ISU’s true freshman quarterback Brock Purdy, who had his breakout game on the road against Oklahoma State. Purdy, whom ESPN named Big 12 True Freshman of the Year, has led ISU to victory in 7 of their last 8 games during which they defeated two ranked teams. Averaging 241.9 yards passing and with 66.3 percent of his passes completed, Purdy’s passing efficiency ranks sixth nationally. His 16 TD passes ranks fifth on ISU’s season list.

Another player to watch is wide receiver Hakeem Butler, who leads the nation in yards per reception at 22.1. Butler leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches. He also is ISU’s single-season school-record holder in receiving yards at 1,126.

Cyclone Jr. Club Freshman Year. Pictured from left to right: Aidan Carr, Spencer Clark, Joe Schull, Josh Knipfel

Be sure to watch for running back David Montgomery, who could be leaving the Cyclones at the end of this season for the NFL. Montgomery ranks third in the Big 12 and 24^th nationally in rushing at 99.3 yards per game. He ranks 7^th in school history in career rushing yards and 9^th in career rushing TDs.

“Josh has a lot of respect for David [Montgomery] on and off the field,” says Suzy. “As an athlete, he is the epitome of what a teammate should be. Josh has mentioned numerous times how David is very appreciative of his blockers and never fails to give credit to them. Many times, Josh has hoisted David up in the air after a touchdown.”

One of the most memorable moments between Montgomery and Knipfel happened this fall during the ISU-Baylor game. Early in the third quarter Butler was blocking for a Montgomery rush. During that run, Baylor defensive back Blake Lynch held Butler after the block. A pushing contest started and soon escalated into a brawl.

“I was just trying to make sure David didn’t get hurt or anything,” Knipfel said in a Nov. 10, 2018, The Gazette article. “When stuff like that happens, that’s when dumb injuries happen. I didn’t want David to get hurt or anything like that. I was trying to break it up and move onto the next play.” Knipfel tried to break up the fight and was ejected. He was sent to the locker room until referees in the booth buzzed down, bringing back Knipfel and ejecting Montgomery. It’s a moment that fans will always remember. (Click here to watch a video of Knipfel’s return.)

“I loved the standing ovation when [Knipfel] came back on,” Butler said. “It was like a wrestler coming into a Royal Rumble.”

Let’s get ready to rumble! Good luck tonight to the ISU Cyclones. Remember to tune into the post-game Latham Locker Room Report for exclusive interviews with players and coaches.

In honor of the Alamo Bowl game, we’ve compiled a list of tailgating and Game Day recipes that promote Iowa products, including Black Bean and Sweet Corn Guacamole Dip with a hint of Texas flavor:
- Dried Beef Pickle Dip from the Iowa Beef Industry Council
- Sausage Grinders from Iowa Pork Producers
- Tailgating Eggs from the Iowa Egg Council
Recipe from the kitchen of Suzy Knipfel.

Alamo picture photo credit to Jeremy Davis.
shannonlatham

December 28, 2018

Food & Family, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Office Traditions + Ugly Sweaters

It’s that time of year again when the Latham Seed office staff come together for our annual Employee Holiday Potluck and Ugly Sweater party. As per usual employees brought their best with a wonderful spread of good eats and lots of laughs to boot. The winner of our unofficial sweater/costume contest was Rod Fesenmeyer donning his Donner outfit.

Other crowd favorite favorites were Sharon Martin’s circa 1970 poinsettia earrings, Sandie Johnson‘s light up Christmas bulb necklace, Shannon Latham‘s Baaah Humbug lamb sweater, Becky Lane’s knickers and Christmas stockings, and John Latham’s knit wool vest.

I’m not sure it’s possible to pick a crowd favorite dish at this party, but if you’ve got a holiday get together coming up this recipe for Jalapeno Meatballs was a hit with our crowd. And better yet, it goes together in seconds and the slow cooker does the work.

Merry Christmas to all our Latham staff and thanks for a fun day of laughs!

Laura Cunningham

December 14, 2018

Beef, Food & Family, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

What’s Better Than Christmas in a Small Town?

Charming small towns blanketed in snow. Vintage trucks traversing two-lane roads. Rustic barns serving as the perfect venue for a holiday party. Feel-good story lines focused around family traditions.

Please tell me that I’m not the only one who has recently watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and thought, “People are obsessed with our lifestyle in rural America.”

Last weekend when a winter storm kept many North Iowans homebound, I lost track of the number of Facebook status updates I read from my friends who were watching Hallmark movies and baking Christmas cookies. Baking up a storm as the north wind blows and the snow flies is obviously a tradition in many of our families.

It’s that sense of family and time-honored traditions that has Americans flocking to the Hallmark channel for the Countdown to Christmas. “We love the Christmas spirit, family and the love [a Hallmark movie] portrays,” according to The Wall Street Journal article. “The beautiful, festive scenery is amazing.” And characters actually say “Merry Christmas” rather than the politically correct “Happy Holidays.”

Nearly 5 million viewers tuned into “The Christmas Train” on the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2017. Last November Hallmark became the most-watched cable network among 18- to 49-year-old men and 25- to 54-year-old women. Those viewers translate into advertising revenue. It was reported that Christmas programming accounts for one-third of Hallmark’s annual ad revenue.

No wonder the Hallmark Channel and its sister network, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, will premiere a record-breaking 37 new seasonal films between Halloween and New Year’s Eve. Here’s how the “Countdown to Christmas” has grown:

2017        33 original movies
2016        28 original movies
2015        21 original movies
2014        12 original movies

With so many wholesome movies to watch, a DIY Movie Night Popcorn Bar seems like a fitting and fun way to spend family time. If this weekend’s Hallmark movie premier doesn’t catch your eye, kick back with one of Christmas classics like “Elf,” “A Christmas Story,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Home Alone,” “Miracle on 34^th Street,” or “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Sweet treats go hand-in-hand with salty treats. Why not mix up a batch of Caramel Chex Mix?

shannonlatham

December 7, 2018

Food & Family, Recipes, Sides