What brings a smile to your face? Perhaps it’s the sweet taste and smooth texture of ice cream on a hot summer day. Maybe you’re amused by the boundless energy of baby animals or the cute things small children say. If you find yourself smiling while you’re reading, you’ll want to visit New Day Dairy! The good news is… we can help you get there.

New Day Dairy near Clarksville, Iowa, will be one of the fabulous farm stops during Expedition Farm Country, Aug. 25-26, 2016. This two-day tour of North Iowa will include a drone demonstration on Aug. 25 at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, an overnight at the Historic Park Inn plus a series of farm visits on Aug. 26 including the Niess family farm near Osage.

“Technology in agriculture” is the theme of Expedition Farm Country, and New Day Dairy is state-of-the-art. Lynn Bolin, and her husband Dan, a fifth generation dairy farmer, started their own operation on December 9, 2015, with 110 cows. They’ll introduce you to their farm hand “Rita,” a robotic milker. You’ll also get to meet their two adorable children, Amara, 5, and Vance, 3.

As soon as I parked my car in front of their dairy barn earlier this summer, the Bolin’s daughter walked right over to me. She reached out her arm to shake my hand and said, “I’m Amara (pronounced, A-mar-a). I’m really good at tours.”

Now if seeing a child welcome you to her farm doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will! Both children proudly told me what they know about the cows, and when he got more comfortable in my presence, Vance invited me to play in the sandbox. Just think how much better our world could be if more people played nicely in the sandbox!

The Bolin’s intentions are genuine as demonstrated by the way they welcome guests and care for their productive, thriving cows. The mission of New Day Dairy is simple: Develop. Milk. Bless. This family wants every guest to be blessed by a positive experience as they gain a better understanding the connection to the source of their milk.

To help consumers stay connected after they leave the farm, New Day Dairy started a monthly newsletter. Readers can learn how many calves were born that month, which cow is producing the most milk and special activities on the farm.

In the future, the Bolins plan to take the “farm experience” one step farther by opening a European-inspired guesthouse attached to their barn. Their vision is to give individuals the chance to experience a modern working dairy farm.

See New Day Dairy for yourself on Aug. 26 with a group of consumers interested in learning how food is produced. Expedition Farm Country is being offered through the Iowa Food and Family Project with support from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. If you’re interested in attending, email lfoss@iasoybeans.com. Simply state why you’d like to embark on the farm tour!

Keep an eye out for more blog posts coming soon about other stops on the farm tour. In the meantime, enjoy a sweet treat from New Day Dairy. This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal a la Mode, which is the perfect dessert or afternoon snack, comes from the New Day Dairy blog.  Visit the Bolin family’s website or connect with them on Facebook!

By Amber Hammes, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

At this point in the year, most Iowans are counting down days until the Iowa State Fair. July is chalked-full of county fairs, vacations and preparing campers and livestock trailers for another trip down to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Kate Stewart, 2015-2016 Iowa Dairy Princess, has been just as busy celebrating National Ice Cream Month!

Kate is a fifth generation dairy farmer from Oelwein, Iowa, where her family milks 150 Holstein cows three times per day and farms 290 acres of alfalfa and corn. She grew up following the footsteps of her four older siblings by becoming active in 4-H, FFA and the National Junior Holstein Association.

“Whether it be showing cattle at the fair or testing my dairy knowledge in dairy quiz bowl contests at the state and national level,” Kate says, “these incredible organizations have given me countless opportunities to grow as a dairy enthusiast.”

In 2014, Kate served as the Fayette County Dairy Princess. She spent the year serving frozen yogurt at local schools, throwing cheese sticks in parades and educating 2^nd grade classrooms about the role dairy plays in a healthy lifestyle. After having these amazing experiences, she wanted to continue to reach more people and advocate for the Iowa dairy industry. In August 2015, Kate was crowned 2015-16 Iowa Dairy Princess.

The Midwest Dairy Association created the Iowa Dairy Princess position over 60 years ago to be a public figure that advocates on behalf of dairy farmers. Kate and Leslie, along with the Midwest Dairy crew, promote the importance of getting three dairy servings per day with the #Dairy3ForMe pledge.

“The 2015 Dietary Guidelines have come out and they are still recommending that we get 3 servings of dairy every day to help us live healthy lives,” Kate said. “So make sure to grab a cheese stick for a snack on the go, celebrate ice cream month with a serving of ice cream, and grab a glass of milk after a workout – it just so happens to be the best way to rehydrate and refuel your body post-exercise!”

Kate’s adventures as the Iowa Dairy Princess take her across the state, serving as an ambassador for the dairy industry. She gets to attend Iowa dairy farmer’s open houses, county fairs and dairy community events. Sadly, Kate’s term will end in August. She will be handing over her crown to the 2016-2017 Iowa Dairy Princess on August 10^th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The public is welcome to attend the coronation and show support to contestants who work hard to advocate for the Iowa dairy community. For more information, visit the Iowa Dairy Princess Facebook page and stay up to date on Iowa Dairy Princess appearances throughout the year.

About National Ice Cream Month

July was established as National Ice Cream Month in 1984 by the American Dairy Association in conjunction with President Ronald Reagan. The third Sunday in July (this Sunday, the 17^th!) is National Ice Cream Day. This year, Kate and Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess, Leslie Sivesind, will be attending an Iowa Cubs baseball game and throwing the first pitch. If you’re headed to Principal Park on Sunday, be sure to stop and say “Hi!” to Kate and Leslie! You can also talk to Kate at the Iowa State Fair, where she can be found working the dairy cattle shows, Midwest Dairy Association booth and Butter Cow exhibit.

Kick your boots off, scoop up a dish of dairy-licious ice cream and enjoy the remainder of the summer with Kate and all of us at Latham!

Wondering where you can get your ice cream fix at the Iowa State Fair? Here’s a list of all the vendors and their locations on the fairgrounds!

On Monday’s blog, we shared how one of the oldest Black Angus operations in the nation got its start in 1896. Today we’ll learn more about the Greiman family’s legacy from 89-year-old Don Greiman of Garner, Iowa.

Don’s grandfather, Fred Greiman, fell in love with the Angus breed for their smooth body style and excellent carcass. One day in 1896 Fred saw a poster advertising that a South Dakota farmer was interested in trading a Percheron stallion for an Angus bull. The two farmers corresponded by mail. After some months, they agreed to exchange animals. Fred placed his prize-winning Percheron stud on a railcar and eagerly awaited for the arrival of his Angus bull.

“My grandfather couldn’t wait for that bull to come in!” explains Don. “When he went to the train station, he found a ‘wild and wooly’ 400-pound bull calf in a crate. It certainly didn’t look to be a good trade at the time, but that bull ended up paying out. He was crossed with Short Horn cattle and their offspring was sold at a premium.”

When Don’s grandpa sold his first crossbred Angus-Short Horn, he topped the market. Fred was told by the buyer that he’d always be able to merchandise cattle like that.

“Grandpa’s philosophy was it doesn’t cost any more to feed good quality stock than it does poor stock, plus you’ll take more pride in your operation,” said Don. “He continually worked to upgrade his cattle operation by buying purebred Angus cows with a calf at the side.”

It was a philosophy shared by Don’s father, Addis. Addis was interested in continuing to upgrade the family’s stock, so he contacted his good friend and mentor Fred Haane for advice. As publisher and editor of the Angus Journal, Haane said, “Don’t just buy any Angus cattle. Buy good genetics. Buy Earl.”

“Earl Marshall” was a young bull that was the most prolific in the Black Angus breed and became the foundation for Greiman & Sons Cattle. Earl produced a lot of champions for Don and his brother Cliff. As members of the Elcon Midget Indians 4-H Club, the brothers exhibited cattle at several county fairs and the North Iowa Fair in Mason City.

At the age of 21, Don showed the Reserve Champion Angus Breeding Heifer at the 1947 Iowa State Fair. That year he also won showmanship and was awarded a gold watch engraved with “Wallaces Farmer presents this to the Champion Showman.”

It’s no wonder that Angus beef and the Iowa State Fair has held a special place in Don’s heart. After graduating from Iowa State University through the ROTC and serving for two years at the Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., Don and his wife returned to Garner. He decided to start a county beef producers association and became its first president. This was the first of many board seats he would hold.

Don was the first president of the Iowa Purebred Beef Council. He also was president of the Iowa State University Alumni Association. In addition, Don served on the American Angus Association’s board of directors when Certified Angus Beef® was initiated.

“At that time, purebred producers were facing a real challenge marketing the meat produced from their livestock,” explains Don. “Feedlots were springing up out west, and the meat grading system changed. We knew our Angus produced a superior product, and it was a difference consumers could taste.”

Case in point… Don and his family were invited to join an old college roommate at the new Minnesota Vikings stadium. He offered to provide the tailgate meal, consisting of his farm-raised steaks, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet corn. Also present at that tailgate lunch were board members of the Minneapolis Junior Chamber. They were so impressed with the quality of the meat that Don sold three whole beefs that day!

“We knew we were onto something,” said Don. “Judges liked how our beef hung on the rail. When our kids would enter our Angus at a carcass show, we would win. Folks like those whom we met at the Vikings game like how it tasted. We just needed to find a way to change the industry’s grading standards.”

Quality grades indicate palatability, or tenderness, juiciness and flavor of the cooked beef. The Angus Association developed higher standards for Certified Angus Beef, so Angus cattle are segregated at harvesting facilities. Then a USDA inspector goes into the cooler and grades them. To be authentic CAB, that carcass must be graded in the upper third of choice or prime.

The Certified Angus Beef label has been credited with (1) increasing the number of registered Angus cattle in the U.S., (2) providing a higher return to its producers, and (3) becoming a “destination product” for consumers.

In honor of the Greiman family’s tradition of raising Black Angus, today we’re linking to recipes featuring Certified Angus Beef. Don says it’s hard to beat a grilled ribeye. His wife, Yvonne with whom he will celebrate 63 years of marriage on June 6, says nobody makes braised beef brisket better than their daughter-in-law Mary.

Light the grill and enjoy some beef this weekend along with a slice of Yvonne’s Swedish Apple Cake!