Iowa Ag Secretary Recognizes Latham Seeds’ 75th Anniversary
Happy National Ag Week! This annual event is a great opportunity to say thank you to the farmers and agribusinesses that provide food and fuel for all of us. National Ag Week also provides us with an opportunity to showcase the importance of agriculture to others across our nation, as well as around the world.
Because one of his main responsibilities is being the chief promoter and advocate for Iowa agriculture, today we’re shining a spotlight on Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. He was born and raised on his family’s Century Farm near Cylinder, Iowa, where they raised crops and livestock. He remains active in the operation along with his father and uncle.
“The agriculture community shaped who I am. I still plant and harvest our family farm every year,” says Sec. Naig, who was elected in 2018 and is running for re-election in 2022.
Secretary Naig and his wife, Jaime, have three boys. Picture from L-R: Jaime, Zach, Mike, Joe, Mitch
“I’ve been in agriculture my entire life. I believe it’s important that the person holding the title of Secretary actually has experienced the industry, so they have a deep understanding of the challenges that our agriculture community faces daily.”
The people in Iowa’s agriculture community make this job worth doing, says Sec. Naig. Our farmers help feed, fuel and clothe the world. In addition, Iowa Agriculture is critical to the health of state’s economy and that of local communities.
Agriculture is about producing food and Secretary Naig has a passion to reduce food insecurity in our state. During a recent visit to the Bremer County Food Bank, he learned about a partnership between the food bank and a local pork producer who regularly donates.
“Our farmers and agribusinesses work hard every single day to feed and fuel consumers here and across the world. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them, hear their concerns, and then work together to solve those challenges,” says Sec. Naig. “My top priorities in this role include expanding markets domestically and internationally for Iowa’s farmers, accelerating the implementation of conservation practices that improve water quality, and supporting the next generation of leaders in Iowa agriculture.”
Secretary Naig recently made a visit to Clarion Locker, who is working to attain Cooperative Interstate Shipping status (CIS). The CIS program was implemented by Sec. Naig in early 2020 and provide meat lockers with the ability to remain under state inspection while also allowing them to ship their products across state lines to enter new markets.
Whether it’s representing Iowa on an international trade mission or meeting with a business that is considering moving into Iowa, Sec. Naig says he is always excited to share the great things we have going on in our state and agriculture community.
“Latham Seeds is a great Iowa business that supports Iowa’s farmers with the latest products and technologies on the market,” says Sec. Naig. “I love seeing a family business have such great success over the course of so many generations. Congratulations on 75 years of business and here’s to many more!”
Farm families celebrate special events, including milestone anniversaries and holidays, with food. When the Naig family gathers, kringla is usually served.
“Like most families, we’ve passed this kringla recipe down from previous generations. But it seems like no matter how closely we follow the recipe, we can never make it the same as mom,” says Sec. Naig. “Mom has a special way that is always far superior. I suppose that’s the case when you know the ingredients and process by heart, so you don’t have to rely on a recipe like we do at our house!”
Making kringla is an activity the Naig family enjoys.
“Jaime and I have never had an issue recruiting our boys to help with the rolling and shaping that’s required. After all, helping in the kitchen makes it a lot easier for them to sneak a bite when they’re still warm out of the oven.”
In celebration of strong families and productive farmers everywhere, enjoy this kringla recipe!
This week college basketball teams and their loyal fans will travel to eight cities for 48 games during the first four-day weekend of America’s unofficial hoops holiday. They will then move to four cities for the Sweet 16 before arriving in New Orleans where the Final Four will run April 2-4.
We’re helping fans everywhere prepare with 10 themed recipes from our blog. Whether your favorite teams win or loses, you’ll always be a winner when you bring your “A Game” to the table! Good food makes the agony of defeat more bearable or the thrill of victory sweeter.
Iowans were thrilled on Selection Sunday, March 13, when both the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State University Cyclones were invited to The Big Dance. Fresh off a Big 10 Championship title, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes were given a 5-seed. The Hawks will play 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders, which also won its conference tournament, at 2:10 p.m. on March 17.
Iowa State University will play on Friday, March 17, at 6:20 p.m. After going 0-18 last season in the Big 12 and 2-22 overall, new head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s has led the Cyclones to their first NCAA tournament since 2019. The Cyclones will be an 11th-seed this year, matching up against the sixth-seeded Louisiana State University Tigers.
Throughout the basketball season, every free throw made by Iowa State University and University of Iowa, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds donated to the American Cancer Society through Coaches vs Cancer!
The 2022 Iowa State University Check Presentation.The 2022 University of Iowa Check Presentation.
Whether you want to cheer on your favorite teams while enjoying a St. Patrick’s Day feast, simple pub grub or southern comfort food, you’ll find it in our Game Day Recipe Roundup. Below are favorite recipes that were featured by Latham Seeds on “The Field Position:
Remember to tune into after the game to the Latham Locker Room Report on Cyclone Radio. The Latham Locker Room show is a post-game radio broadcast in which analysts, coaches and players share their thoughts on the game.
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Welcomes Kate Van Manen as Digital Marketing Strategist
Kate Van Manen, Digital Marketing Strategist
She was supposed to be on vacation that summer day instead of working. He had an internship he was supposed to be at, yet he happened to be at his parents’ farm helping give a tour to a group. Their meeting was serendipitous.
Today Kate and Jacob Van Manen are raising their children just a quarter mile away from where Jacob was raised – and where his parents still farm – near Kellogg in Central Iowa. They raise cattle, field corn, soybeans, sweet corn, tomatoes and pumpkins.
Tomato production was Kate’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) when she was in FFA, so she has renewed her interest in vegetable production. In 2020 they built a high tunnel, so she enjoys spending quiet time picking tomatoes after her children are asleep.
“As our kids get older, I’m excited to share with them lifelong lessons, as well as spiritual truths that closely align with many aspects of the farm,” says Kate, who grew up on a farm in Northwest Iowa near Storm Lake. Her family raised corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. “Many tasks on the farm are done with family, which is something really special. Our daughter, Kennedy (age 4), gets excited about picking sweet corn at 5 a.m. with her great grandma. Kennedy also enthusiastically scoops cattle bunks in her Frozen® dress. It will be fun to see what farm tasks that Karter (age 1) enjoys.”
“There is something about letting your kids get their hands dirty and drink from a hose,” adds Kate. “One fun Dutch tradition that I married into is ‘coffee time.’ Great Grandma Trudy Van Manen lives across the road from us. She hosts a coffee time daily at 9 a.m., which brings everyone together for a break during which we enjoy the most delicious, homemade Dutch treats. Some mornings there are four generations present! It’s a simple thing but so special.”
Shared family values are one of the reasons Kate decided to join family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
“I am glad to be back in the ag industry professionally as I enjoy working with the most amazing, down-to-earth people,” says Kate, who had managed social media and assisted with marketing efforts for another regional seed business after she graduated in 2014 from Iowa State University with a major in Agriculture Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. Most recently, she worked in marketing and communications at a regional hospital. “I really appreciate the level of flexibility and trust that Latham Seeds provides to its team members. I feel very empowered to manage my time and projects and grow in my career skills. I also appreciate their values and importance on family and the understanding of farming challenges.”
Kate says she is especially looking forward to attending Latham® Dealer Kickoff this summer. She says she looks forward to meeting Latham dealers in person and interacting with them and their spouses online in her new role as digital media strategist for Latham Seeds. Kate is responsible for developing strategy and implementing tactics for Latham’s social media channels.
Jacob, Kate, Kennedy and Karter Van Manen
In her free time, Kate enjoys traveling, gardening, fitness and going on gator rides with her family to check their crops. They often spend a few hours – after 5 p.m. during the summer months – pulling weeds from their pumpkin patch. Kate also enjoys cooking.
“I did not grow up baking Dutch treats, and I’ve learned that’s entirely something different!” says Kate. “I usually volunteer to bring vegetables to Van Manen family gatherings, but a friend shared with me a recipe for Dutch letter bars. This recipe is so easy to make, and it tastes exactly like Dutch letters without all of the work. I brought these bars to coffee time once, and everyone thought they were delicious! I make these when we need something sweet in a pinch.”
Advent Devotional Feeds the Souls and Inspires Book
His plans are not always our plans. His timing is not always our timing. Yet, His plans and His timing are always perfect.
Because He First Fed Us
Several years ago Anita McVey was asked to write an entry in a church’s annual Advent devotional. Church members shared a Christmas memory or wrote about what a particular passage meant to them, plus shared a recipe. She had no idea then a seed had been planted in her heart to write a 30-day devotional, “Because He First Fed Us: Ordinary Meals – Extraordinary Messages.” With artwork by her son Marcus, this light-hearted book highlights ordinary meals found in the Bible that reveal extraordinary messages.
“I believe food is a love language. It nourishes, heals, comforts and delights the body and soul,” says Anita, who began blogging in 2016. “When food is transformed into a meal, it becomes love in action. All the senses are engaged: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. Memories are revived. Stories are told. Gratitude is expressed. Conversations flow and wisdom is gleaned.”
Shortly after starting her “Picnic Life Foodie” blog, Anita said she would read something or remember something in association with a Bible verse or story and think, “That would make a neat devotion.” After building a list of about 10 general topics, the idea for a book formed. She started saving more notes and phrases. Those pieces started turning into sentences and paragraphs and, eventually, devotions.
“Pairing my own memories about food and meals with Biblical truths has been a journey I never expected,” says Anita, who earned a master’s degree in Statistics from Iowa State University. “It is my hope and prayer that you will laugh and learn as you read and that your own memories of meals with family and friends will warm your heart and soul.”
Anity McVey – Picnic Life Foodie
Childhood memories Anita cherishes include growing up on her family’s farm in Northwest Iowa where she said she had a steady diet of faith, family and farming.
“We had pork and chicken directly from the farm, to the butcher, back to the farm and into the oven. We ate eggs from the hens in the coop and drank milk from my uncle’s dairy cows. The garden we planted and harvested was enormous, and we didn’t waste a thing. Canning and freezing were core classes,” says Anita. “Is it any wonder I am so obsessed with food?”
While cooking and baking about 10 years ago, Anita said she would reminisce about the person who gave her a recipe or the time she spent with her mom and grandmothers making a particular meal. Blogs were a new, but intriguing, concept to her at the time. Her oldest son helped her create a website for PicnicLifeFoodie.com, and she started writing! She also posts on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
“The name ‘Picnic Life Foodie’ did not come to me easily. I knew I wanted something sentimental and nostalgic. I thought of the meals we would eat as a family in the field during planting and harvesting seasons or the days when Dad would take us to the nearest lake and Mom would pack a simple lunch for all of us. Church potlucks, family reunions, school field trips … so many of my best memories centered around simple food with wonderful people. I have always loved picnics, but I realized it didn’t matter if they happened outdoors on a perfectly sunny day or indoors around a traditional table. There was a feeling, a lifestyle, that I wanted to encourage others to embrace.”
Through the writing experience, Anita says she has found that God gives us our passions, so we can tell our story from a place of enthusiasm and truth.
“I can’t talk about my history with food, without talking about my family. I can’t talk about my family without talking about faith. They are all intertwined,” she says. “God has been leading me through and giving me the courage to try something out of my comfort zone.”
Anita hopes her experience encourages others to try something new and to overcome their fears.
“I never imagined I would share my faith in a written form!” writes Anita in the “Gratitude” section of her devotional book. “I am so grateful God presented this opportunity to me. By telling my stories, my hope is that I have created a memoir of my faith for my family, friends and anyone who picks up this book to read even a single page.”
Anita’s gratitude extends to some amazing people, who have helped her find her way through this book. She writes:
“My mom: the most selfless, humble, and faithful person I know. Thank you for starting each day of my childhood with devotions, ending each day with prayers, placing an Advent wreath at the center of our Christmas decorations, teaching me how to cook and bake with love, and for always, always reminding me to Whom I belong.
Marty: my husband. You crack me up, rein me in, lead ‘from the back,’ and never let me down. Thank you for standing with me in the hardest of times, sharing joy in the little things, and loving the imperfect me. It is because you encouraged me to take a different path that this book exists.
Nick: my son, my social media guru, and the reason I officially started writing. Thank you for taking me over the hurdle of creating a blog and for answering a parade of questions with patience and humor. Your creativity and drive motivate me, and your ability to find the best of every situation is a true gift.
Marcus: my son, my artist, and the one who has taught me all about perspective. Thank you for inspiring me to look more closely at nature, art, movies and to discover the beauty in the details. I am so grateful that you agreed to illustrate this book and share your talent here. The messages of this book are more inviting and intriguing because of your work.”CHRISTMAS IN THE KITCHEN “Fudge served in a blue bowl” trigger so memories for Anita, who grew up baking batches of Christmas traditional German cookies with her mom and grandmothers. They would break out the third-generation cookie cutters to make sugar cookies. Every year her Grandma Glienke would serve fudge in a blue Depression-era glass bowl. Forty to 50 family members would cram into her grandmother’s living room on Christmas Eve, singing hymns and exchanging gifts. Today Anita is sharing her tried-and-true, family-favorite recipe for decadent, creamy, and easy-to-make fudge. May it create wonderful memories for your family, too!
Shared family values and common interests are what brought Cole and Mandy Danner together. The two met at a social event hosted by the Block & Bridle Club when they were students at Iowa State University (ISU) where they learned of shared interests in raising and showing cattle. Both had been active members of both 4-H and FFA. Mandy showed club calves, and Cole started his herd as a 4-H Beef project. Cole also was active on the 4-H Livestock Judging Team. He competed in National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the National Western Stock Show and at National FFA Convention. He earned a college scholarship for livestock judging and a spot on the ISU Livestock Judging Team.
The Danner Family in September 2021.
Cole and Mandy have been building their cattle numbers since they got married in September 2012. They moved to an acreage outside of Laurens, Iowa, where they rented farmland and farmed alongside Mandy’s family.
“Cole and I farmed row crops for seven years and enjoyed it thoroughly. We learned a lot in those years and cherish all the memories. But how does the old saying go? The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes!” says Mandy. The couple has experienced many life changes in recent years.
“We were blessed with our first child, our son Bentley, in January of 2017. He is a farm boy through and through! He will jump at any opportunity to go farming. He loves the farm life so much we converted our entire basement into his little play farm setup complete with every piece of equipment you can imagine: barns, cattle, fence, silos, and grain bins,” says Mandy. “In May of 2021, we were blessed with our second child, our daughter Myla. We can already tell that she loves the farm life by the way she looks at the cattle, and the smile on her face when she goes outside.”
Bentley is a farm boy through and through.Bentley and Myla love checking on cattle and being outside on the farm.
Another change for the family occurred in January 2019 when Cole took a sales job with C&B Operations, a John Deere dealer in Storm Lake, Iowa. He has since moved into a store manager position. Cole and Mandy continue to help their family farm during spring planting and fall harvest. They also continue to operate a Latham® seed dealership.
“I joined Latham Seeds in 2012 because it’s an independent, family-owned company,” says Cole. “There’s a great support team in place, and I really enjoy working with people who have the same values.”
“Farming runs in both of our families, and we feel blessed to farm as a family,” says Mandy. “It’s priceless to work side by side with the ones you love. Cole and I both believe in the future of agriculture and look forward to carrying on our farming traditions.”
Today the Danners are helping promote beef by sharing one of their favorite recipes for Ground Beef Stew, as well as another recipe for Caramel Pecan Bars. It sounds like a winning combination for a chilly, fall evening.
Caramel Butter Pecan Bars
2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup cold butter
1.5 cups chopped pecans
1 jar (12 oz.) caramel ice cream topping, warmed
1 pkg. (11 1/2 oz.) milk chocolate chips
Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press into ungreased 9×13 pan. Top with pecans. Drizzle caramel evenly over pecans. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min. or until caramel is bubbly. Place on a wire rack and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let stand for 5 minutes. Then carefully spread chocolate chips over caramel layer. Cool at room temperature for at least 6 hours, or until chocolate is set. Cut into bars. Yields 4 dozen.
Coming Back from Childhood Cancer, One Step at a Time
Watching their daughter win grand champion bucket calf at the 2021 O’Brien County Fair brought tears of joy to Jerry and Sara Hofman’s face. They had their eye on the prize, but their joy didn’t stem from ribbons or trophies. Not only did Gaupo the steer have to learn how to lead in the show ring, but their 11-year-old daughter had to learn how to walk again after battling cancer for the past two and half years, including nearly nine months of cancer treatments and hospitalization.
The Hofman Family
Jewel Hofman was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the most common cancer that starts in the bones, in April 2020. Her left leg was amputated below the knee on July 31, 2020. After the surgery, Jewel came home for a few weeks before she underwent months of chemotherapy at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.
“It was so amazing to see Jewel lead that calf into the ring with a smile on her face because she hadn’t walked for such a long time,” explains Sara Hofman. “She was in bed basically every day from the time she started chemo in April 2020 until chemo ended in January 2021. She didn’t have the energy to even try walking on her prosthetic leg until March of this year.”
While many people across the world felt stressed by navigating daily life during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hofman family was trying to figure out how to care for cattle in their feedlot, pigs in their nursery, crops, and all five of their children during a health crisis.
“Jewel received treatments for three out of four weeks in Iowa City. We live five hours away, so Jewel had to stay in Iowa City,” said Jerry. “Because of Covid, only one parent was allowed in the hospital room at a time. Sarah and I would take turns staying with Jewel. Sara would stay for one week, and I would stay home. Then we would switch.”
Sara adds, “We would meet outside the door of the hospital and hug each other tight as we make the switch. Then I would drive back home alone. It was so tough being apart. Jewel’s siblings couldn’t visit her in the hospital due Covid restrictions. It was tough on the younger two because Jewel and Lily were inseparable before her treatment, and Dirk is close to Jewel because he’s just one year younger.”
The Hofman’s oldest son, Titan, took over the day-to-day operations of the farm in 2020. At that time, he was a 20-year-old, full-time student, studying Agribusiness at Iowa Lakes Community College. He made time to plant and harvest the family’s corn and soybean crops that year. Their middle son, Colt, joined the Army when he was 18. He was in basic training in July 2020 when Jewel had her amputation.
The Hofman family is in a different place now. Titan and Nicole were married on May 21, 2021. They live nearby, and Titan is driving semi plus farming some of his own ground, as well as farming with Jerry and Sara. Colt has returned home and is working for an electrician. Lily has started her junior year of high school, and Dirk is in the fourth grade. Jewel is making strides in fifth grade.
Although she is back in school and her hair is growing back, Jewel’s journey with cancer will continue for the rest of her life. Families of childhood cancer patients will tell you they learn to appreciate the mountains because you never know when you’ll experience another valley. Every three months the Hofmans will travel to Iowa City for scans and tests to ensure Jewel has no active cancer. Rather than be filled with the fear of the unknown, they choose to live life filled with hope and joy.
A CaringBridge Site was created for Jewel. It‘s a caring social network to help people stay connected with family and friends during a health event. Follow along with her journey at teamjeweljade on CaringBridge.
Blessings Abound
“Many people go through tough times without the comfort of knowing their Lord and Savior or having support from their family and their community,” says Jerry. “We can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support. We have been tremendously blessed.”
One answered prayer was finding a physical therapist within driving distance who could help Jewel gain strength and learn to walk on her prosthetic leg.
“I was really nervous when I called the local hospital because we live in rural Northwest Iowa. What are the odds that the type of physical therapist Jewel needed would work there?” says Sara. “I was told, ‘We have exactly what Jewel needs.’ Samantha, whose husband is a bilateral amputee, made an immediate connection with Jewel. She knew exactly what Jewel needed, and Jewel worked hard to make Samantha proud.”
Some might say it was coincidence that a physical therapist married to a bilateral amputee worked just 20 miles away from the Hofmans, but they believe it was meant to be. Another Godwink occurred when twin calves were born, making a perfect candidate for a bucket calf project.
Jerry’s parents raise about 40 cow-calf pairs. When their first cow to calve had twins in March 2021, the bull calf was pulled off and bottled. Once Jewel returned home from the hospital, she visited Guapo every day and began bottle-feeding him. (Guapo, which means “handsome” in Spanish, is the main character in the movie “Ferdinand.” The family also owns a bull named Ferdinand.) Jewel’s brother Dirk helped her break Guapo to lead and give him baths.
“Gaupo has been the friend Jewel needed. She talks to him and he listens without giving her advice. He also gave her a reason to learn how to walk on her prosthetic leg because she was determined to show him at the county fair,” Jerry said. “Jewel plans to show Gaupo again next summer as a market steer, and Dirk plans to show a bucket calf at the county fair.”
Jewel bottle-feeding Guapo.
Life Marches On
Life at the Hofman house is returning to its seasonal fall rhythm as the kids have returned to school and the crops are maturing. Jerry is caring for the feeder cattle daily. Sara has returned to the day-to-day management of a nursery that was built just two years ago.
From the outside, it looks like the Hofman family has returned to life as normal.
“When a cancer patient’s hair grows and he or she looks healthy on the outside, people think this person is all better,” says Sara. “Different cancers require different treatments. Jewell got the worst of the worst because her cancer is so rare and so serious. The side effects of chemo are brutal. Jewel still struggles.”
During Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September, you can help the Hofman family educate others about childhood cancer by sharing facts and stats on social media. Another way to help is by following Latham® dealer Kyle Schminke and his daughter Sarah on Sunday, October 10, as they run in the Chicago Marathon to raise funds for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon (UIDM).
The UIDM has pledged $5 million to the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital that was named the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Pediatric Cancer Center. (The 11th floor is the one that gets “the wave” during University of Iowa home football games.) This student-run organization also has pledged $2 million to establish the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Clinical and translational Research.
The Schminkes will be running with a list of 26 names of children on their arms. Jewel’s name will be one of their “mile motivators.” Sarah knows that looking down at the names on her arm will be the motivation she needs to keep running and to finish strong. #Jewelstrong.
“We can’t thank Dance Marathon enough,” says Jerry. “While Jewel was in the hospital, a guy ran for 24 hours straight. He spelled out the names of kids as he ran, and Jewel was one of the names he spelled. We appreciated that so much. We also had wristbands made with Jewel’s name. One lady wore that wristband when she traveled to D.C. to advocate for childhood cancer. Their support means so much.”
In honor of September as Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, today we’re sharing one of the Hofman family’s favorite recipes.
The Erger family poses for a photo in Iowa’s largest frying pan in Brandon.
They say in Iowa, “If you build it, they will come.”
That’s exactly what happened in 2004. Someone commented to Dave Erger from Brandon, Iowa, that it must take a really big frying pan to feed the entire town during its annual Cowboy Breakfast Festival. So a pan was built and now hundreds of tourists annually make a roadside stop for a photo opportunity.
“My dad, along with several other local farmers, met in Dad’s shop,” says Andy, who is the fourth generation to own and operate his family’s farm in eastern Iowa. “It was supposed to be more of a joke, but before they knew it, it had become a pretty big deal.” Iowa’s largest frying pan is an impressive nine feet wide and 14 feet long, including the handle. The skillet could fry 44 dozen eggs or 88 pounds of bacon.
Farmers are known for rising to any challenge, whether it’s fabricating a giant frying pan or surviving a global pandemic. Unfortunately, Dave Erger faced a health challenge in 2014 that became life changing. He suffered a heart attack that resulted from Lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes one’s body to attack itself. Lupus has made farming more difficult for Dave. As a result, Andy has accepted more responsibility in recent years. That’s why in the spring of 2021 Dave and his wife, Teresa Erger, approached Andy and his wife, Jamee, about purchasing the farm.
“Jamee and I have spent countless hours crunching numbers. We met with our bankers, FSA consultants, and tax advisors. We were relieved when we received confirmation in April that our loans had been approved,” says Andy. “Keeping my family farm running and thriving has always been a dream of mine. I get to share my dream with my wife and our children.”
The Erger Family
Andy and Jamee are the proud parents of four daughters and one son: Kayleigh, Amiliah, Davennah and Rosaleigh and Gilbert (Gib), who was named after Andy’s great grandfather.
Jamee is learning all the ropes of becoming primarily responsible for their Latham seed dealership, Erger Seeds.
With Andy taking on more of the farming responsibilities in addition to his custom hay baling business, Jamee is learning all the ropes of becoming primarily responsible for their Latham® seed dealership, Erger Seeds. Andy became a Latham® Seeds dealer in 2014 because he knew the extra income would help support his family.
“Latham products have worked great on our farm, so I wanted to share it with others around me,” says Andy. “Our dealership also has provided opportunities to create new friendships.”
Andy and Jamee are very much business partners. In addition to helping Andy with the farm and seed dealership, Jamee runs a Revital U business and helps their daughters with an egg business.
“Our home-based businesses allow us to show our kids how the world works and how much work it takes to be successful in the things you care about,” says Jamee. “Having chickens has helped teach the girls responsibility by managing money and taking care of animals. They also help care for three horses, many cats and dogs.”
The Erger family in spring 2021 started a Labrador Retriever breeding business called North of the River Family Labs. Their dogs are fully AKC registered, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certified, and Embark genetic tested.
They work and play hard, too. They make time for family fun like boating, camping, horseback riding, four-wheeling, visiting parks or zoos or roasting s’mores over a bonfire. The Erger family also makes time to exercise together.
The Erger girls run an egg business with the help of Jamee.
“It’s good to teach our kids about self care,” says Jamee, who like her mother-in-law, is committed to exercise and eating a balanced diet.
“We only get one life to live, so we want to make sure we live it to its fullest,” says Andy. “We love the life of farming and we always put our full attention to anything we care about whether it’s taking care of our family, farm, pets or seed customers. We understand the blood, sweat and tears that are shed by generations of family farms, so we want to help our customers and neighbors be successful.
Andy adds, “It’s nice to be part of a family-owned seed company that was founded in Iowa. The Lathams strive to treat their dealers like family, and in turn, we strive to treat our farmer-customers like family.”
One way they show their customers how much they appreciate them is by delivering homemade cookies and bars during the spring planting and fall harvest seasons. Jamee also enjoys taking meals to the fields for her family during baling hay, and harvest.
“I feed em’ and leave em’,” says Jamee. “It’s important to me to make sure that the guys get a decent meal to help keep them going.”
One way Erger Seeds shows customer appreciation is by delivering homemade cookies and bars during the spring planting and fall harvest seasons.
Today Jamee is sharing with us her favorite cookie recipe, which is a perfect complement to her homemade ice cream. Enjoy June Dairy Month and July Ice Cream Month!
Schminke Family “Goes the Distance” to Support Childhood Cancer
Many Midwest farmers will be harvesting crops on Oct. 10, 2021, but Kyle and Sarah Schminke of Shellsburg, Iowa, will be running in the 43rd Chicago Marathon. Their goal is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, as well as money for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon. Training is already underway for this father-daughter team, and we’re inviting you to cheer on this Eastern Iowa Latham® dealer.
The Schminke Family
“I knew I wanted to get involved on campus, and I had seen some of my older friends post about the University of Iowa Dance Marathon,” says Sarah, who will begin her junior year this fall at the University of Iowa, majoring in Communications Studies with a minor in Rhetoric and Persuasion. She also is earning an event management certificate.
While many people wouldn’t look forward to running a marathon let alone paying a $1,250 entry fee to serve as a charity runner, the Schminkes are looking forward to running this together.
“It’s important to Sarah, so it’s important to me,” says Kyle, who farms with Sarah at his side. His wife, Kyla, works at the local family practice clinic in Shellsburg. His oldest daughter, Dawne, works for UnityPoint pediatrics as a patient service representative.
“Older people are sometimes critical of the younger generation, but just look at the passion the students like Sarah have for Dance Marathon!” adds Kyle. “When you do selfless acts, you feel better. It motivates you. Sarah understands she has a pretty good life, and we should be thankful for what we have. I’m so impressed by the selflessness, and I’m so excited for Sarah to be doing this.”
This father-daughter team has a goal of finishing the race and raising awareness. They’re confident they can, and they will! Kyle completed Iron Man competitions in 2015 and 2016. Sarah ran track and cross country but tore her ACL during her senior year of high school. She wears a brace when she runs, but she isn’t complaining because many people have it so much worse.
Kyle and Sarah are training for the Chicago Marathon. Their goal is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, as well as money for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon.
“I’m not running for me. This is for those kids,” says Sarah. “I don’t care about how much pain I’m in. I’m running for the kids who can’t.”
Kyle and Sarah will be running with a list of 26 names on their arms of children for whom they are running. These are called their “mile motivators.” Sarah knows looking down at the names on her arm will be the motivation she needs to keep running and finish strong.
University of Iowa Dance Marathon
Sarah during The Big Event in February 2020.
The University of Iowa Dance Marathon (UIDM) is the university’s largest student-run organization and the third largest Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon of more than 300 such organizations across the United States. It is a year-long endeavor that includes monthly events, including events for families with children fighting childhood cancer, fundraising events and dancer events. Everything leads up to The Big Event, which is held annually in February.
During The Big Event, students raise money by dancing for 24 straight hours. Dance Marathon families share inspiring stories about children who have battled cancer and won, explains Sarah. Kids who lost their courageous battle are remembered Dancing in Our Hearts.
“During The Big Event my freshman year, I remember texting my mom, ‘My feet hurt so bad. Why am I doing this?’ My mom replied, ‘You only have 24 hours of pain, but those kids may have a lifetime of pain. There is a reason to everything you’re doing.’ That’s the motivation I needed to keep going that night and to remain involved in this event. I want to do what I can to help families affected by childhood cancer.”
The 2021 Big Event, which was held virtually, raised $1.4 million for kids and families. While that is certainly a sizable amount of money, it is much lower than the amount the University of Iowa Dance Marathon has raised annually in recent years. The UIDM raised $2 million in 2015 and $3 million in 2018.
Sarah during The Big Event in February 2021.
The UIDM has pledged $5 million to the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital that was named the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Pediatric Cancer Center. (The 11th floor is the one that gets “the wave” during University of Iowa home football games.) This student-run organization also has pledged $2 million to establish the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Clinical and translational Research. In addition, UIDM gives $5,000 to each family who loses a child to cancer to help cover funeral expenses.
“The more I learned about Dance Marathon, the more I fell in love with this organization,” says Sarah, who raised more than $500 as a dancer during her first event in 2020. She served on the Public Relations Committee for the 2021 year and raised more than $4,000. Sarah was selected to serve as Director of Public Relations for the 2022 Big Event. Her goal is to raise more than $4,000 again this year.
Today Sarah is sharing with us her favorite recipe for Monster Energy Balls, which provide quick energy or help her refuel after a workout. #DYK chocolate milk is another great way to refuel after a workout? Chocolate milk has twice the carbohydrates and protein content as white milk, water and other sports drinks? Plus, high water content of chocolate milk helps prevent dehydration. Go ahead and raise a glass in salute of America’s dairy producers during June Dairy Month!
This recipe also sounds perfect for busy farm families, as well as for kids who need some extra protein before summer activities.
Tips for Celebrating June Dairy Month at Home and on the Road
They say if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. What do they say when the first 11 days of June brings daily temperatures that are nearly 20 degrees hotter than the average? We say, “Hit the road!”
In celebration of June Dairy Month, Val Plagge and her family take weekly Iowa Ice Cream Road Trips.
“I am an ice cream lover. When I was in high school, my family would make an annual trip to the Whippy Dip in Decorah, Iowa,” says Val Plagge, who farms with her husband, Ian, near Latimer in North Iowa. She also blogs at Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids. “The Whippy Dip started my love for small town, ice cream shops. I had an idea to discover more great local ice cream shops during June Dairy Month, and it’s been an annual tradition for me and Ian since 2014. Now our four kids have fun traveling across the state and visiting new places.”
The Plagge family at Casa Chameleon in Belmond, Iowa.
The Plagge family chooses what ice cream shops to visit based on recommendations from blogs and social media followers.
“We have a running list of more than 50 places we want to try,” says Val. “Each week we look at our family’s schedule and decide which day will be ‘ice cream day.’ Then we pick our destination based on the amount of time we have available to travel.”
An ice cream treat at Casa Chameleon in Belmond, Iowa.
They kicked off their 2021 Ice Cream Road Trip with a stop that is close to their home, as well as close to the home of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. Casa Chameleon, LLC in Belmond, Iowa, is a seasonal ice cream shop and pizza place.
“The kids loved the combo, and we all wondered why we hadn’t come over for pizza and ice cream before!” says Val. “Casa Chameleon is known for having a big variety of ice cream flavors. When we went, they had 45 to choose from! Watching them make the ice cream was just as much of a treat as eating the ice cream. They take vanilla soft serve ice cream, mix in your flavor preference and then they put the mixture into another part of the machine to twist out and serve. We loved all their unique flavors including German Chocolate and Tutti Frutti.”
The Plagges visit a different ice cream shop each week during the month of June. Then on the first of July every year, Val updates her Ice Cream Road Trip blog post. Her post coincides with the start of National Ice Cream Month.
There are so many reasons to celebrate all summer long! Today Val is sharing with us her recipe for homemade ice cream. In addition, I’m sharing links for two of my favorite ice cream toppings: Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce and Strawberry Ice Cream Topping.
Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Gives Farm Guests a Seat at the Table
When people eat, they want to feel connected to their food.
This simple premise is what prompted fifth-generation, Iowa farmer John Maxwell to open the doors to Cinnamon Ridge Dairy. He began offering farm tours in 1997 when John Deere heard he had won the National Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
“I’m not afraid to take a risk,” said Maxwell in a 2013 Agri-View article, who took a risk by opening his working farm to the Deere tours. He expanded from there, providing educational tours as requested for guests hosted by other agribusinesses. He also since branched out by working with foreign tour and travel companies, including American Queen River boats and Viking River Boats.
John and Joan Maxwell with their grandson during a farm visit in March 2021. Photo credit to Darcy Maulsby.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Scott County, the farm’s proximity to the Mississippi River provides a convenient location for many tour groups. John and Joan Maxwell are gracious tour guides with a great story to tell. Their modern farm is committed to sustainability, and its picturesque landscape is second to none.
“The Mississippi River used to flow a mile north of here,” explained John during my recent visit to his beautiful farm. “The glacier choked off the river and crested the ridge. I named my farm for this ridge and the cinnamon-colored cows we raise.”
Award-Winning Jerseys
The Maxwells milk on average 220 purebred, registered Jerseys using four Lely robotic milkers. John’s daughter, Amy Maxwell, began managing the family’s dairy operation in 2011 after she graduated from Iowa State University. Through the years, Amy has developed other production and genetic leaders that have earned several awards including the 2018 Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy, 2018 President’s Trophy and the 2011 National Jersey Youth Production Contest.
One way the Maxwells easily track lineage is by using a unique nomenclature to denote a family of cows. For example, “Cheddar” is from the cheese family. She is one of Cinnamon Ridge’s top cows based off of DHIA records. Offspring in her family have names like Brie and Gouda.
Amy purchased her first heifer at age 9 from the Pot O’Gold Sale. Numerous descendants from that heifer remain in the herd today, including Cinnamon Nitro Noble-ET, Excellent-90% (a.k.a. “Noble”) who set the nation’s top 305-day milk record for 2020. Also in 2020, Cinnamon Ridge Dairy was named the nation’s top herd for milk and protein production on both an actual and m.e. basis for the second consecutive year. Due to their high-quality milk and their success in the show ring, older cows from Cinnamon Ridge Dairy are sold for their genetics.
A calf lounges at Cinnamon Ridge Dairy.
Farm guests can get a picture of success. An upper-level conference room featuring large picture windows overlooks the free-stall barn, so farm guests have a bird’s eye view of contented cows. Cows can choose to have their back scratched by Luna brushes, get milked, or lounge around on beds of soft sand.
“We like to see one-third of our cows eating, one-third standing and one-third lounging,” explains Joan Maxwell, who married John in 2013. An RFID tag on each cow’s neck records milk output, as well as temperature and 122 data points, which Amy studies to monitor herd health.
Farm-to-Table Meals and Market
When he saw farm visitors peering inside his kitchen windows, John decided to start offering farm-to-table meals in addition to barn and farm tours. Guests dine on farm-raised foods like steaks, grilled pork chops, burgers and shredded beef, as well as homemade bread and baked goods.
Providing homecooked meals for bus tours of 50 people takes a lot of time. John wants to create a family atmosphere, as well as practice sustainability, so he serves guests using real plates and silverware. To provide this high level of service, he hired part-time help to prepare and serve the meal. These ladies also bake the delectable, signature cinnamon rolls that sell out as quickly as they hit the on-farm store’s shelves. Fresh baked rolls, cookies, bars and quick breads are stocked at Cinnamon Ridge Dairy’s roadside stand by 6 P.M. on Thursdays.
This retail store, aptly named the Country Cupboard, opened in 2007 because farm visitors were interested in purchasing products after they toured the barn and farm. This self-serve store sells a variety of products from Cinnamon Ridge Farms: eggs, beef, pork, artisan cheese, cheese curds, meat sticks, canned jellies, local honey, and homemade baked goods.
Providing guests with a wonderful experience is top priority for John and Joan. They know the food they serve and sell, the appearance of their farm, and their hospitality all factor into a great customer experience. Handouts and dairy recipes are available inside the dairy barn and conference room.
Today I’m sharing with you one of those recipes for Unicorn Smoothies, which was named by their four-year-old granddaughter, Aubrey. Because Cinnamon Ridge produces artisan cheese and meats on their farm, we’re also providing this link to a feature story by Iowa Food & Family Project with tips for creating craveable cheese boards.
