- Rhubarb-Black Raspberry Pie by Jamie Reinke
- Cherry Topped Cheese Pie by Sandie Worner
- Pecan Cream Cheese Pie by Janie Meyers
- Red Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie by Janie Meyers
- Peach Pie by Bonnie & Karl Frederickson
- Peanut Butter Pie by Nancy Ruesink Schad
- Chicken Pot Pie by Meg Benson
- BBQ Chicken Pie by Sarah Mumm
- Creamy Strawberry Pie by Sarah Mumm
- Sour Cream Raisin Pie by Deb Lizer
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Pi Day Recipe Submissions
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Seed Dealership Offers Opportunity to Come Home
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.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Celebrate March with Pi(e)
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!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Do Your Heart Some Good & Practice Random Acts of Kindness
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!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Mini trees Cupcakes
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!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Weekend Entertainment is “Easy as Pie”
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!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Winding Road Leads to Home
Aaron Wenger is proud to be the fifth generation to live on this century farm just southeast of Elgin, nestled in between the beautiful rolling hills of northeast Iowa. But, he took the most unusual road to get home.
As a child of a career military officer, Aaron spent his childhood moving from place to place. His two brothers and he moved all over the nation, living in a total of eight different states. One constant was spending summers in Fayette County, Iowa, where he stayed in his grandmother’s large farmhouse and helped his uncles farm. Helping with farm work gave him a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day and connected him to the land and the people here.
That’s why, after graduating from Tipton Rosemark Academy in Memphis, Tennesee, Aaron knew he was going to make his way to the Midwest. He accepted a partial football scholarship at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, where he played linebacker.
“I really enjoyed playing football,” says Aaron. “As an athlete, I liked competing. I liked challenging myself physically and mentally.”
Aaron loved belonging to the team and the experience of college football, but he felt the urge to look toward the future and decided to transfer to Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames. Friends and cousins were attending ISU already, so adjusting to a new college was pretty easy for Aaron.
After graduating in December 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Ag Studies, Aaron worked for a farmer in Central Iowa for two years. He used this time to build connections in Fayette County and plan a transition to his grandparents’ farm.
Aaron’s uncle was willing to help him begin farming. Aaron provided labor on his uncle’s farm in exchange for the use of his uncle’s equipment. An agreement was also reached with his Grandma Wenger to move into her farmhouse, which allowed Aaron and his wife, Kali (Kay-lee) to start making that house their home put putting their own touches inside.
There have been a few changes since Aaron and Kali were married in December 2010. Aaron’s grandmother now enjoys living in town. Aaron and Kali are adjusting to parenthood as their son, Broc, will soon be 8 months old. Also this spring, they decided to build a hog building to diversify their operation and spread out the risk of farming.
It had been 30 years since pork had been produced on the Wenger farm, so it took a great deal of work to get ready for the first group of pigs. Aaron built a new wean-to-finish barn. When many Iowa farmers were concentrating on getting spring field work and their crops planted, Aaron was juggling a workload that also included disinfecting buildings before his second group of hogs arrived.
Fortunately, Aaron has the support of his wife. Kali, a native of Parkersburg, Iowa, grew up on a dairy farm. Her grandpa started milking and her dad operated the dairy until 1997 when he entered the hog business.
“Raising hogs was a family effort,” says Kali. “We worked together. My parents made working fun, and it certainly helped all of us kids develop a strong work ethic.”
After graduating from high school, Kali earned an associate’s degree in child development from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. She then transferred to Upper Iowa University in Des Moines where she completed a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Now she puts her background and experience to work as the preschool director and teacher of the 4- and 5-year olds at Valley of Elgin.
Aaron and Kali are looking forward to raising their children on the farm where they can gain an appreciation of caring for the land, nurturing crops and growing food to help feed the world. They’re proud to make their home in Elgin, the little Switzerland of Iowa, where the hills are alive with the sounds of bawling calves, snorting pigs and powerful tractors. It’s where roots run deep and friendships are formed.
It was Aaron’s friendship with corn product specialist / regional sales manager Nick Benson that drew him to Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. “Nick spoke very highly of Latham’s diverse product offerings and explained how the family-owned, independent company can draw best genetics and traits from the industry. After seeing my yield results after the first year, and then watching how well Latham® products performed during the drought, I didn’t have any reason to look anywhere else. I like the idea of supporting a family-owned business. Plus, Nick takes the time to place products on a field-by-field basis for me. I couldn’t ask for better service.”
Today the Wengers are sharing a couple of their family favorite recipes. These ham balls are perfect for fall tailgates, whether they’re enjoyed outside the football stadium or inside a farm field during the harvest season. These meatballs can be made ahead of time and freeze well. Mix up a batch for supper, followed by Cherry Crunch for dessert!
Cherry Crunch
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Bisquick®
- 2/3 cups sugar
- ¾ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup softened butter (not melted)
- 1 can cherry pie filling
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients, except the pie filling, with a fork.
- Pat 2/3 of the dough in the bottom of a greased pie pan.
- Spread pie pilling.
- Crumble remaining dough over filling.
- Bake at 400° for approximately 25 minutes.