From the time he was a youngster growing up on his family’s farm, Ed Arndorfer dreamed of being a Minnesota farmer. He graduated from Willmar High School in 1972 and, at the urging of his parents, Ed studied Diesel Mechanics at Willmar Vo-Tech.

Ed worked full time as a mechanic for two decades, yet his heart still yearned for farming. When his father decided to retire in 1993, Ed moved onto the home place and rented his father’s machinery and equipment. His also took on a Nu-Tech® dealership to supplement his farming income, as well as help reduce his input expenses. When Nu-Tech sold to DuPont Pioneer, Ed desired to again work with a family-owned seed company and took on a Latham® seed dealership.

“I really like working with a family-owned seed company,” says Ed. “I feel like everyone at Latham is as concerned about the success of my business as I am. They know me by name and treat me like family.”

In addition to operating a seed dealership, Ed also still plants and harvest soybeans and corn every year. One of his sons, who serves as a physical therapist’s assistant full time, adjust his work schedule to help during the busy times. Others help part-time on the farm, as well.

Ed’s wife, Marcia, has worked as a medical assistant at the Affiliated Community Medical Center (ACMC) in Willmar since 1991. In their free time, the couple enjoys traveling, fishing and boating. Last summer they had a boatload of fun when they spent one week at Lake Koronius. Their seven children and 12 grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 22, were able to join the Arndorfers as their schedules allowed.

The family also enjoys getting together throughout the year. Marcia always bakes pies on the holidays, adapting recipes to fit special dietary needs. One of their grandsons is lactose intolerant, so she today she is sharing her adapted recipe for Pumpkin Pie. She’s also sharing one of her diabetic-friendly recipes for Garden Vegetable Brunch Cake.

Math has never my favorite subject. Honestly, the only way I’ve ever really enjoyed working with fractions is by measuring ingredients in my kitchen. Yet there is a group of math-loving Americans who celebrate Pi Day in commemoration of the mathematical constant of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, known as π (pi), 3.14 or 3/14.

When I think of a circle’s circumference, I think of a pie plate. Pie plates make me think of…

Shepherd’s Pie.  Spaghetti Pie. Chicken Pot Pie. Sour Cream Raisin Pie. Quiche.
Strawberry Cream Pie. Apple Pie. Colorado Peach Pie.

There are just so many ways to enjoy pie! That’s why, at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’ll be celebrating the 14th of March as “Pi(e) Day.” Join our celebration by sharing your favorite pie recipes with us!

Use our NEW recipe submission app on the right hand column of TheFieldPosition.com. Each person, who submits a recipe by March 13, will be entered into a drawing for an autographed copy of Beth Howard’s new cookbook, Ms. American Pie: Buttery Good Pie Recipes and Bold Tales from the American Gothic House. This cookbook is so new that it doesn’t become available until April 1. Get it while it’s hot!

What’s better than muffins hot from the oven on a cold, winter’s day? I adore muffins, so today I’m sharing with you a recipe that I’ve been wanting to try since last fall. Perhaps I’ll get around to it this weekend!

Since today is National Wear Red Day® and Valentine’s Day is literally one week away, today on TheFieldPosition we’re providing ideas and activities that will “do your heart some good.”

If you forgot to wear your red power tie or lipstick today, no problem! You still have 21 more days to “Go Red.” The entire month of February is National Heart Month to draw nationwide attention to the fact that heart disease, which was long thought to be a “man’s disease,” is the # 1 killer of women. Did you know that heart disease claiming more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer combined?

Don’t be scared, be proactive! Know the signs of a heart attack. Exercise regularly, and eat heart-healthy foods. Remember, a healthy mind and spirit is as important as a healthy body.

“Giving to others makes them happy and in turn it makes you happy,” says American Gothic Pie Lady Beth Howard. Find peace by serving up a few slices for your loved ones. Even if baking isn’t part of your plans this weekend, you can others’ spirits and your own during Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 10-16. Iowa farmer and author of the Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids blog, Val Plagge, offers 10 ideas to Beat the Winter Blues such as sending a handwritten “just because” note to friends or family members.

Another idea is to make your own Valentine’s Day notes or cards. Who says you have to have preschool or grade school children to enjoy this DIY project? I don’t know of a grandparent who wouldn’t love the Peek-a-Boo card. I think it would be fun to make one of these cards and stick it on a bag of Homemade Valentine’s Day Chex Mix as shared by Iowa agvocate and blogger Crystal Blin (aka @Crystal Cattle).

The Iowa Girl Eats offers up 15 recipes for Valentine’s Day. Honestly, I had thought about making reservations before I read her blog yesterday! Now I’m thinking I should really celebrate at home because so many recipes caught my attention from the Surf & Turf Combo of Asian-Grilled Shrimp and Dijon-Brown Sugar Marinated Steak to Individual Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes and Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars.  I’m also intrigued with a recipe for White Chocolate Dipped Krispy Treats. If I don’t get these krispy treats made for Valentine’s Day, I’m putting it on my “to do” list for meeting treats in March! (Can’t you just picture them with green sprinkles and shamrocks?)

Next Saturday morning I’ll likely be whipping up a batch of Heart-Shaped Pancakes for my family because that’s been a valentine tradition for the past 10 years at our house. Apparently nothing says “I love you” like hot cakes with a side of bacon!

To make this recipe, I used a box mix (haven’t found a homemade recipe that tastes any better than the box, so why make it so hard) :).  Then I just put the batter into mini cupcake liners placed in a regular cupcake tin, so they probably expanded wider than a normal mini cupcake tin.  That wasn’t intentional, I just didn’t have the right tin.

To decorate mini trees, load frosting in a piping bag and use a star tip.  (Confession- I also didn’t have any piping bags on hand.  So I used a quart Ziploc back and poked a small hole in the corner for the tip to go through.  Worked just fine : ) )  Start on the outside “ring” of the cupcake and work your way in, layering higher until you’ve reached a tree shape.  The secret is in the consistency of your frosting.  Frosting from a can is not stiff enough to layer, so if you’ve attempted shaping with that type of icing before and it eventually “melted” into a pile, that’s why.  Then add sprinkles of your choice and be proud of your mini tree creation!

Why settle for ordinary when you can enjoy an extraordinary weekend?

Join us, September 27-29, for the grand opening of Enchanted Acres in Sheffield, Iowa!  Have a blast firing our new pumpkin cannon.  Treat yourself at our new Snack Shack.  Spice up your Saturday with an “Easy as Pie” baking class.

“Octoberfest” begins this weekend in Sheffield, Iowa, with fun and games for kids of all ages including:

Saturday, Sept. 28

• 10 am and 1 pm classes on Pumpkin Pie Baking by Cathy Carlson of Cathy’s Country Cook’n, Hampton
• 10 am to 1 pm – Train Rides on the GBO Railroad
• 11 am to 1 pm – Face painting by Pamela Warwick
• 1 pm to 3 pm – Pedal Tractor Pull
• BBQ Sandwiches served from 11 am to 6 pm by Wholly Smoke of Dows 

Sunday, Sept. 28, from 2 to 4 pm

• Pumpkin Painting Class by Pamela Warwick
• Wine Tasting by Ridge Stone
• Texas-Style Music Jam by Don Wrolson and friends

Pick your own pumpkins from the 20-plus varieties grown on site.  Take a walk through the woods and take time to smell the wildflowers.  Play on the tire swings…  Let your inner child out!  Relax and unwind as you experience some carefree country moments with your family.

At Enchanted Acres, we’re looking forward to hosting regular Friday Family Fun Nights including Pizza in the Patch on Oct. 4 and Pet Costume Night on Oct. 18.  Throughout the fall we are planning craft workshops including glitter pumpkins, mod podge pumpkins, and of course, pumpkin carving.  Visit our website for a schedule of events.

There are literally 31+ reasons to celebrate the month of October.  October is National (insert something wonderful here) month including:

• National Chili Month
• National Cookie Month
• National Pizza Festival Month
• National Pasta Month
• National Pork Month

October is also National Apple Month and National Pumpkin Month, so today I’m linking to some of my favorite tried and true seasonal recipes:

• American Gothic Apple Pie
• Low Carb Spaghetti Squash
• Hocus Pocus Pumpkin Bars
• Spook-tacular Halloween Goodies
• The Great Pumpkin Cookie

Buy your baking apples and pie pumpkins this weekend at Enchanted Acres, located just two miles east of I-35 in rural Sheffield.  Just look for the enormous enchanted pumpkin and magical red barn on the south side of the road.  Visit EnchantedAcresIowa.com for directions and more details, and remember to “like” us on Facebook!