By Kelly Visser, Iowa Soybean Association communications program coordinator
There’s no better celebration of food, family and farming than the iconic Iowa State Fair. Whether it’s meeting baby piglets, cheering on grocery bagging competitions or enjoying a new fair food, fairgoers from both rural and urban communities can make lifelong memories during the incredible 11-day event.
The Iowa Food & Family Project will have an exhibit in the South Atrium of the Varied Industries Building, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair. The display will offer fairgoers a unique perspective about agriculture, farm families, food and food retailers.
More than 250,000 fairgoers are expected to “follow a farmer” through a one-of-a-kind combination barn-and-home, complete a short quiz and enter to win several fabulous prizes including a $500 meat & dairy bundle, $500 Hy-Vee Gift Card, $500 Earl May Dream Garden and Casey’s Pizza for a Year!
Visitors can take their turn at the Food and Farm Trivia Wheel and meet celebrity artists as they paint a larger-than-life mural celebrating Iowa and the families and food that grow here. Here’s the celebrity guest painting schedule:
Chuck Long | Thursday, August 9 at 1 p.m.
Cy and the Iowa State University Cheer Squad | Wednesday, August 15 at 1 p.m.
Governor Kim Reynolds | Thursday, August 16 at 1 p.m.
Follow the Iowa Food & Family Project on Facebook for live updates from the fair.
Iowa State Fair by the Numbers
It takes a lot of volunteers, food and fuel to power the fair each year, and Iowa’s farm groups play a huge part in making it happen! Here are a few fair food fun facts:
Approximately 160,000 eggs on a stick are handed out each year.
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters serves 28,000 pounds of beef each year.
On average, more than 7,100 gallons of ice cream are served at the Dairy Barn.
Each year, 75,000 pork chops are served.
Beer and hot dogs are fair favorites that are made with corn.
The turkey grill opened in 1983.
The fair spans 400 acres. A farmer can grow 94,000 bushels of corn or 26,000 bushels of soybeans on 400 acres.
A world record for the most people simultaneously eating corn dogs was set at the fair in 2008, with 8,400 corn dogs consumed!
Iowa State “Fare” Cookbook
You can continue enjoying fair food all year long with recipes from Iowa Food & Family Project’s Iowa State “Fare” Cookbook. The cookbook serves up tried and true recipes created by Cristen Clark, a farmer, award winning-cook and fair aficionado. Click here to download a copy of the cookbook.
By Kelly Visser, Iowa Soybean Association communications program coordinator
There’s no better celebration of food, family and farming than the iconic Iowa State Fair. Whether it’s meeting baby piglets, cheering on grocery bagging competitions or enjoying a new fair food, fairgoers from both rural and urban communities can make lifelong memories during the incredible 11-day event.
The Iowa Food & Family Project will have an exhibit in the South Atrium of the Varied Industries Building, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day of the fair. The display will offer fairgoers a unique perspective about agriculture, farm families, food and food retailers.
More than 250,000 fairgoers are expected to “follow a farmer” through a one-of-a-kind combination barn-and-home, complete a short quiz and enter to win several fabulous prizes including a $500 meat & dairy bundle, $500 Hy-Vee Gift Card, $500 Earl May Dream Garden and Casey’s Pizza for a Year!
Visitors can take their turn at the Food and Farm Trivia Wheel and meet celebrity artists as they paint a larger-than-life mural celebrating Iowa and the families and food that grow here. Here’s the celebrity guest painting schedule:
Chuck Long | Thursday, August 9 at 1 p.m.
Cy and the Iowa State University Cheer Squad | Wednesday, August 15 at 1 p.m.
Governor Kim Reynolds | Thursday, August 16 at 1 p.m.
Follow the Iowa Food & Family Project on Facebook for live updates from the fair.
Iowa State Fair by the Numbers
It takes a lot of volunteers, food and fuel to power the fair each year, and Iowa’s farm groups play a huge part in making it happen! Here are a few fair food fun facts:
Approximately 160,000 eggs on a stick are handed out each year.
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters serves 28,000 pounds of beef each year.
On average, more than 7,100 gallons of ice cream are served at the Dairy Barn.
Each year, 75,000 pork chops are served.
Beer and hot dogs are fair favorites that are made with corn.
The turkey grill opened in 1983.
The fair spans 400 acres. A farmer can grow 94,000 bushels of corn or 26,000 bushels of soybeans on 400 acres.
A world record for the most people simultaneously eating corn dogs was set at the fair in 2008, with 8,400 corn dogs consumed!
Iowa State “Fare” Cookbook
You can continue enjoying fair food all year long with recipes from Iowa Food & Family Project’s Iowa State “Fare” Cookbook. The cookbook serves up tried and true recipes created by Cristen Clark, a farmer, award winning-cook and fair aficionado. Click here to download a copy of the cookbook.
Thank you to all of the Latham® dealers and their families, who traveled earlier this month to Bloomington, Minnesota, for our annual sales meeting and new product introduction. Turnout was tremendous! We hope you enjoyed your stay at the Radisson Blu Mall of America and left the Twin Cities feeling excited about your future with family-owned, independent Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
The theme of “Live Your Legacy with Latham Seeds” was carried through in everything from the 1940s truck centerpieces, which were a replica of the truck Willard Latham used to haul oats to market when the company first began, to our presentations.
One Kickoff presentation that was rated the highest was a keynote address by Kent Stock. Kent left us with this question, “What do you want to be remembered for?” It’s a question for which he’s become famous. In fact, there was a movie based upon it.
As a former teacher, coach and principal, Kent coached the Norway, Iowa, baseball team to victory in their now-famous final season. As depicted in the 2007 film, “The Final Season,” the Norway baseball team defied the odds and won the small school’s 20th state title in what would become the team’s final season before it was forced to merge with a bigger, neighboring school district. (NOTE: Those of you interested in watching this movie can purchase it off Amazon.)
“Every person who’s ever worn a Norway uniform is out there with you today,” Coach Stock told his team during the state championship game. “Now think about this… No Iowa baseball dynasty has ever won a state championship in their final season. We’re playing for everyone who knows that Norway is a great place to come home to. And no matter what happens today, this time next year, the jerseys you’re wearing will be polishing chrome in Madison High School. So ask yourself one question, ‘How do you want to be remembered’?”
How do you want to be remembered? Whether or not we’re intentional, we all will be remembered for something. At Latham Seeds, we’re proud to live Willard Latham’s legacy. Seed traits and technologies, as well as the way we get seed to market, have changed since 1947. Our business philosophy, however, has not. We’re still committed to farmers helping farmers. We’re committed to helping you increase your yield and preserve your family’s legacy for generations to come!
One way we all can preserve our legacies is by taking care of the environment. In the spirit of sustainability, the Radisson Blu Mall of America houses honey bee colonies from the University of Minnesota Bee Squad. In fact, Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar inside the Radisson Blu features many menu items that put a unique twist on traditional Midwest fare. Some of the menu items enjoyed by those attending Latham Dealer Kickoff included Minnesota Wild Rice Pancakes with Chokecherry Syrup and Walleye Cakes, which are Minnesota’s version of New England’s Crab Cakes. Another menu item that features honey produced on the rooftop at the Radisson Blu is Honey-Lavender Cheesecake, so we’re sharing a similar recipe with you today. Enjoy!
4 Generations Lend Helping Hand to Harvest Fresh Ears Daily
As the old adage goes, “If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you, it was meant to be.” For Jacob Van Manen, sometimes you must leave the farm to realize just how much you miss it.
“I always enjoyed helping on the farm, but it wasn’t until I went off to college and received a couple of job offers to work in an office that I realized I couldn’t stand working inside all day,” Jacob says.
Jacob and his sister, Emily, were raised on their family’s farm in East Central Iowa. This dynamic duo has been selling Van Manen Sweet Corn for virtually their entire lives. They officially took over the business about seven years after their father, Kevin, said he was ready to retire from raising produce. As is the case with most farmers, Kevin never really retired.
Today four generations of the Van Manen family — including Jacob’s wife, Kate, and Emily’s husband, Braden — have come together to help with the family operation, whether to pick produce, manage roadside stands or any number of other chores. Kevin’s mom, Trudy, shows up faithfully every morning to drive the gator for her grandkids (and great grandkids). Kevin and his wife, Julie, began growing sweet corn in the 1980s and have sold it at roadside stands for 30 years. As their family has grown, their roles have changed and the farm has evolved.
Kevin and Jacob both farm full time. In addition to raising produce, they raise field corn and soybeans. They also raise Holstein feeder calves and pigs. Jacob’s wife, Kate, works right here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds as our digital marketing strategist. She has added a produce season to the mix by selling pumpkins and mums at self-serve stands in the fall.
Everyone plays a role in this family business. Sweet corn is picked fresh every morning and then transported to town before the roadside stand opens. Van Manen Sweet Corn & Fresh Produce has expanded during the last five years to four, full-time stands. They also have added Muscatine watermelon and cantaloupe to their inventory.
Family members’ roles have changed, too. Kevin and Julie used to pick produce daily. Now Grandma Julie is usually on “kid duty” with four little ones, ages five and under. Kevin feeds the cattle and hogs as others pick corn.
“I just love growing things,” says Jacob, who enjoyed exhibiting horticultural products through 4-H and FFA. He still enjoys entering his produce in the open class competition at the county and state fairs. “We’re just a hardworking family that loves what we do.”
Jacob looks forward to passing along his love of agriculture. He and Kate are the proud parents of Kennedy and Karter. Emily and her husband, Braden, live 20 minutes south of the family farm and have two children, Isabella and Anastasia.
“It’s really cool that my kids will have an opportunity to grow up on a farm like I did. Not many kids today get to do that. Not many people realize sometimes we work 80-plus hours a week to bring in a crop,” says Jacob, who is a fifth-generation Iowa farmer. “Not many people today know where their food comes from. We want consumers to understand the care we take to produce safe, healthy and nutritious foods for their table.”
The Van Manen family opens their farm to tours. They also were a recipient of the Choose Iowa Award from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig.
Check out their stands available Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (or sold out) through July and August.
Cowboys Gather in Eastern Iowa for Annual Memorial Day Roundup
“BYOH” isn’t what one expects to see on an invitation to an annual Memorial Day weekend party, but then again, this isn’t your typical party.
Cowboys from miles around will load horses into trailers and travel to Robb and Jennifer Ewoldt’s farm in the picturesque hills of Scott County near Davenport, Iowa, for the 20th annual branding weekend. The group varies from year to year, but Jennifer says there are about 20 friends and family members who show up year after year, plus a few new hands join in the fun. This year a businessman from Germany, as well as a Wyoming native who’s now working in the Davenport area, have expressed an interest in participating.
“We prefer to ride horses to work our cattle because it causes less stress on the cattle,” explains Robb, whose parents in 1970 bought 70 acres of a former Boy Scout camp and built a farmstead. Robb’s dad, Gary, worked off farm full-time, so Robb and his mom, Sally, were primarily responsible for tending to the crops and livestock. He grew up riding horses out to the cow pastures.
Now Robb, Jennifer and their two sons enjoy riding their own horses across the rolling countryside. They moved onto the farm last November when Robb’s parents moved to town. It’s a family effort to take care of the 125 cow-calf pairs. Eleven-year-old Alex and 9-year-old Isaac enjoy riding out to the pasture to check on cattle and throw out salt blocks. Alex is a second-year member of the Bluegrass Junior Farmers 4-H Club and is looking forward to showing his first Bucket Calf this summer at the Mississippi Valley Fair.
In addition to raising cattle, Robb’s family has a 2,400 wean-to-finish hog enterprise. Robb no-tills about 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans plus custom harvests another 1,000 acres. Jennifer works full-time off the farm as a veterinarian at Scott County Animal Hospital. Plus, every two weeks she makes time to write a column in the Quad City Times. She gives readers a “behind-the-scenes” look at what’s happening year-round on their Iowa farm.
“One night at the supper table I was expressing my frustration to Robb about another negative article I had read about farming. I told him there are so many good stories about farming that never get told. He responded by asking me why I wasn’t telling them,” says Jennifer, who was honored as an Iowa Master Farm Homemaker in 2014. “I thought Robb made a good point, so I drafted a few sample stories and sent them to the City Editor. To my surprise, the newspaper editor was very open to my ideas. I’ve been a regular column for since 2009.”
One reason Jennifer’s columns are so relatable to consumers is mostly likely due to the fact she didn’t grow up on a farm. A native of Prince Edward Island in Canada, she learned to ride at the stables and that’s also where she developed an interest in becoming a large animal vet. Jennifer graduated from veterinary school at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. She then did a one-year internship at Iowa State University, where she met Robb, and went on to complete a three-year surgical residency in veterinary surgery at The Ohio State University.
Jennifer and Robb are a team in the farming operation. She drives equipment when needed and serves as the farm’s veterinarian. She tags and treats the cattle, does pregnancy checks and gives vaccinations. During each roundup she’s responsible for giving calves the shots they need and does the castrations.
In fact, all the wranglers have the process down. It’s a like a team roping event you might watch at the county fair where one cowboy ropes the head and another the heels. Then the crew jumps into action. One person holds the head and a front leg; another person controls the back legs. Injections are given, and an ear is tagged. Males are castrated, and each animal gets branded with the Rafter E.
“We use freeze branding, so the iron brand is placed in liquid nitrogen. The cold changes the color pigment of the hair from black to white, so the cold brand is more visible on a black calf than a hot brand would be,” explains Robb.
Why go through the work of branding? “It’s so much fun,” answer Robb and Jennifer in unison with smiles on their faces. As the old saying goes, many hands make short work. Once the work is done, the Ewoldts and their hands will enjoy kicking back around the campfire and telling tales while enjoying some delicious homegrown beef.
Robb says his favorite meal is a grilled ribeye with a side of grilled onions. Robb likes to cook the onions low and slow for about an hour, so he puts those on the grill first. Simply quarter two Vidalia onions; place minced garlic and a ½ pound of butter in the center. Wrap them in foil. While the onions are grilling, Robb seasons the ¾-inch thick steaks with McCormick’s meat tenderizer and garlic salt to taste. He works them over with a hand-held meat tenderizer and then seasons the other side.
Click here for grilling tips from the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this highly effective marketing tagline, the beef brand is being refreshed. National and state beef councils are taking this opportunity to educate a new generation of consumers about the many benefits beef. They’re also featuring a new generation of cattle farmers, who take great pride in producing quality beef.
In honor of May Beef Month, I chose to feature one of the most passionate beef enthusiasts I know. Andee Hammen is a young cattle farmer, who helps bring beef to family’s tables across America.
Andee and her family raise beef on their farm in Jolley, Iowa. Their operation includes her dad, Gary; her mom, Linda, and her sister, Brittany. In addition to 150-head commercial cow-calf herd, the Hammen family raises corn and soybeans.
“My dad definitely sparked my interest in beef production,” says Andee, who first got involved in her family’s beef operation by raising bottle calves as a kid. “Helping bottle feed calves on our farm is one of my fondest memories. I’ve always been an animal lover, and I think it stems from raising bottle calves when I was young.”
The older Andee got, the more involved she became in 4-H and FFA beef projects. That experience also led her down an ag career path. She chose to major in Agricultural Communications at Iowa State University and took many beef production courses as electives.
Andee graduated from ISU in May of 2017. She works as a content manager at Corner Post Marketing Communications in Fort Dodge. She enjoys living and working near her hometown because it allows her to remain active in her family’s farming operation.
“Dad’s passion and dedication day in and day out makes me truly appreciate this industry,” says Andee. “He encouraged my sister and me to pursue other interests, but we’ve both came back to the farm because we knew it’s where we belong.”
After graduating from college, Andee wanted to get more involved in the beef industry and applied for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP).
“I knew that taking part in this program would open my eyes up to what other possibilities and opportunities are out there for young cattlemen,” says Andee. “So far it has exceeded my expectations!”
The YCLP is a series of educational sessions designed to develop leadership qualities in young cattle farmers. Sessions touch on key beef cattle industry topics as well as activities to enhance leadership skills. Andee has also enjoyed the opportunity to meet other cattle farmers from all over the state.
Another interest of Andee’s is capturing every-day moments on their farm with her camera. She became interested in photography during her freshmen year of college.
“Being away from the farm made me homesick,” explains Andee. “Photography was a great way to bring a little piece of home and the farm with me to college. I have really taken interest in photography, and now I rarely go anywhere without my camera.”
Andee’s favorite subjects to photograph are cattle, corn, soybeans, sunsets and nature. She enjoys photos that represent life in rural Iowa, which you can see from the photos that accompany this story. You also can follow her on Instagram.
Photography is a way for Andee to preserve a lifetime of memories and to help the Hammen legacy live on.
“What I love most about raising cattle is the fact that the industry is allowing my family to create a legacy,” says Andee. “You put so much blood, sweat and tears into the operation that it just becomes part of you. We’re continually making improvements for the future generations.”
Because honoring family traditions is so important to Andee, today she is sharing with us a family favorite recipe for Teryaki Steak Kabobs.
Roots run deep and continue to do so as Latham® dealer Dave Bergquist and his wife, Chloe, recently welcomed their new baby boy into the world.
The Bergquists have followed a “like father, like son,” motto throughout generations. This makes the birth of their son, Briar, even more exciting as they hope add another generation to the Bergquist family farms.
Dave’s great step grandfather started farming in the early 1900s, and they continue to grow their operation. Dave and Mike raise wheat, sugar beets, corn and soybeans in Foxhome, Minn. The 2018 crop year marks Dave’s first year of full-time farming. He’s seeking opportunities to grow the legacy his great step grandfather started.
After completing the John Deere program at North Dakota State College of Science, Dave worked five years as a technician at a John Deere implement dealership. Through hands-on learned both in college and on-the-job, Dave has developed many skills that are much needed on the farm and in his seed dealership.
Taking on a dealership has allowed Dave supplement his income, so he can farm full time. He says he and his family enjoy working with independent, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
“Not only do they offer great products, but Latham Seeds is family owned. Everyone really does treat you like family,” says Dave.
Mike and Dave are point people for their operation, but it really is a family operation. Dave’s four sisters, his mom and his wife pitch in when needed. Chloe also works as a dental hygienist in Foxhome, Minn.
As the Bergquist family grows, Dave looks forward to working and relaxing with family. He enjoys fishing and hunting, so hopes Briar will want to join him in a few years. He and Chloe also enjoy spending time at the lake with her family. The couple met in high school when Dave was playing baseball and Chloe was keeping stats for the team.
After creating memories as a couple for 10 years, they’re looking forward to continuing family traditions and creating memories with their children.
“I grew up wanting to be like my dad,” says Dave. “As someone who you look up to your whole life, it only makes sense to do what you were taught. I really enjoy farming. It’s satisfying to plant seed, watch the plants grow and harvest the year-long accomplishments.”
Today, Chloe, is sharing a family favorite recipe. It is also a tractor-friendly recipe, and it won’t be long before Upper Midwest farmers are in the field!
Gardeners and farmers are gearing up for planting season. Whether using a trowel in a backyard garden or a 12-row planter in a field, working in the dirt can spark ingenuity and inspire an intense appreciation for where food really comes from.
Throughout the growing season, the Iowa Food & Family Project is teaming up with Earl May Garden & Nursery Center to connect Iowans though the “Let’s Grow Together” program. The program inspires Iowans to try their hand at food and flower gardening, while also learning the many similarities gardening has with farming, through blogs, videos and gardening prizes.
“Let’s Grow Together” showcases conversations between Mark Jackson, a grain and livestock farmer from Mahaska County, and Jeff Lanphier, an Earl May garden expert. Together they discuss how conservation efforts for the soil and water, managing pests and preventing disease are top priorities for both farmers and gardeners.
“Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population farms. Gardening is a connection to farming because it’s the same cut of cloth as agriculture,” says Mark.
Did you know the average American is at least three generations removed from the farm? To help bring farm life to Iowans who don’t have direct connections or experiences on the farm, the Iowa Food & Family Project has teamed up with Darcy Maulsby, a grain farmer, author and award-winning cook in Calhoun County, to author a Farm Life Journal blog series.
In this monthly journal series, Darcy provides insights on the day-to-day life of modern agriculture. She also shares her tried-and-true recipes, as well as captures the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets that can only be viewed from the tractor cab. Her heartfelt entries provide an intimate perspective on the challenges and joys of farming in Iowa, giving readers a personal connection to the fields they may drive by each day.
The glimpse into farm life is shared with more than 100,000 Iowans each month through the Iowa Food & Family Project’s Fresh Pickings newsletter and social media channels.
Variety – and pork loin – is the spice of life for Bob Plathe
There’s no such thing as a “typical” day for Latham® dealer Bob Plathe, and that’s exactly how he likes it.
“All my jobs keep me very busy, but I like it that way,” he says. “It keeps me on my toes.”
Bob works full-time at Bomgaars in Algona, Iowa, and has farmed with his son, Bobby, for more than a decade. His wife, Carol, works part-time at the Algona library. They also have a daughter, Emma. The Plathes raise corn and soybeans, and Bob is proud to be a fourth-generation Iowa farmer. In fact, his family was honored at the Iowa State Fair in 2017 with a Century Farm Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
“When I started farming in 1980, I bought Latham soybeans from a dealer,” says Bob. “I was always impressed with Latham products. They had great results then and still do to this day.”
Bob says he got to know Don Latham while serving on the Iowa Soybean Board, so that’s what first sparked his interest. After purchasing products for years, he decided to take on a Latham dealership about seven years ago.
“When you work with the Latham’s, you just feel like they are your neighbors,” he says. “You don’t find many companies where the president gives tours and explains what the products are all about.”
In addition to farming and working in agriculture, Bob finds time to serve on industry boards and stays active in his community. He served on the Iowa Soybean Association board for nine years. He also has been a leader in the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Extension council and the Farm Service Agency Committee, as well.
The Plathes enjoy watching Cyclone sporting events and try to make it to Jack Trice Stadium at least once every fall. Bob is also a fan of the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings.
After a long day in the field, one of Bob’s favorite meals is marinated pork loin. He’s sharing the recipe with us here.
So how do we cultivate a culture of leadership? Our state is fortunate to have Leadership Iowa, which began in 1982 “to instill passion in our current and emerging leaders while fostering a high level of civic engagement.” A fundamental founding principle of Leadership Iowa was to educate and motivate new leaders from all sectors: business, education, farming, labor, nonprofits and government.
These leaders have different careers, different interests and different points of view, providing a valuable learning environment for all participants. They come to realize that public and private sectors share common interests, and they see how their teamwork can help benefit Iowa and its communities.
Leadership Iowa participants travel around the state, focusing on economic development, health care, education, government services, environment, recreation and other issues. This month they are focusing on agriculture, and Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds had the pleasure of hosting the group’s first stop. We shared our story of how we’re proud to carry on the family tradition of producing the highest quality seeds for farmers to plant throughout the Upper Midwest.
“I had no idea where farmers got the seeds they plant and was impressed by how much science and research go into modern agriculture. It’s fascinating,” said Leadership Iowa participant Maureen “Mo” Lockwood, manufacturing manager for Thombert, Inc. in Newton.
John and Shannon Latham explained how farmers don’t plant the seeds they harvest. A lot of science goes into the development of seed, and as a result, yields have dramatically increased. (Click here if you’re interested in learning more about why farmers don’t save their seed.)
“Much of what we discussed about ag is all new to me. I didn’t know much about GMOs. I also had no idea how many complicated decisions farmers have to make. When you drive by a soybean field, you don’t think about details like where the seed comes from, how the land is managed or where the crop goes after it’s harvested. I learned a lot here in Franklin County,” said Sandy Byers, director of surgical services at CHI Health Mercy in Council Bluffs.
At Latham Seeds, we contract with farmers to grow seed stock. Most of our soybeans, for example, are grown within 30 miles of our plant in Alexander, Iowa. Upon harvest, that seed is delivered to Alexander. We then check each wagon load or semi load by hand. Each variety that meets our initial inspection is stored in separate grain bins until we’re ready to clean, condition and bag it. The quality of the seed is checked every step of the way.
“I was impressed by how high tech today’s corn and soybean seeds are. I also learned a lot about what cover crops are and why farmers plant them. I liked the opportunity to visit with farmers and ask them questions,” said Leadership Iowa participant William Sonderman, manager of transmission planning and tariffs, Central Iowa Power Cooperative, Cedar Rapids.
One question asked by participants was related to succession planning. Succession planning helps ensure the family business or family farm will continue to operate by identifying future leaders and managers. We also talked about the importance of work experience and succession planning.
“I noticed how many speakers talked about the importance of working for someone else before returning to the family business. This is something that’s important to my family for our business, too,” said Michelle Cassabaum, COO/CFO, 21st Century Rehab in Nevada.
From Alexander, Leadership Iowa participants traveled to Mayne’s Grove near Geneva where they met with young Franklin County farmers about how they got started farming. They also learned about drones and precision technology that can help farmers use variable rate planting to match plant population to field conditions, as well as manage micronutrients through foliar feeding and nitrogen through timing and placement.
“Some of the things I take for granted as common knowledge about ag aren’t common knowledge for our non-farm friends. This struck me during our Leadership Iowa ag sessions in Franklin County, and I’m reminded why sharing ag’s story is so vital. Some of my Leadership Iowa classmates weren’t raised in rural Iowa but grew up in New Mexico or Massachusetts. Others are Midwesterners but grew up in large cities like Minneapolis. Even native Iowans in my class have little or no contact with modern agriculture. They have a lot of interest in learning about ag, though, and ask a lot of thoughtful, honest questions about what defines a factory farm versus a family farm, what’s being done to address water quality, why do farmers plant cover crops, and more. Who better to help answer these questions than farmers and other ag professionals?” Darcy Maulsby, fifth generation farmer and author-preneur from Lake City.
Yesterday afternoon the Leadership Iowa group also toured the Whispering Willow Wind Farm south of Hampton before ending their day with a meal on the farm of Charlie and Barb Brown of Hampton. Sitting down to share a meal allows people to reflect upon the day, share stories and reflect upon experiences.
“Even though our business serves agriculture, I don’t come in contact with all the different aspects of crop and livestock production. Now when people talk about various ag terms and farming methods, I have a much better idea of what this all means and how things work.” –Molly Varangkouhn, president, Hy-Capacity, Humboldt
We hope the Leadership Iowa group departs Franklin County with fond memories! Good food also helps make good memories, so today we’re sharing with you a favorite recipe from Claire Masker, who was a member of Leadership Iowa 2015-16 and also is director of public relations for the National Pork Board. Find other recipes, like Pulled Pork Tortilla Soup, at Pork.org.