Each Prunty Contributes His Own Ingredient for Farming Success
Today’s technology makes it possible for farmers in different states to conduct secondary research online in the off-season and put it into practice during the growing season.
“We had a hole in our bean lineup, so I went online and started looking for seed,” says Aaron Prunty, who farms with his dad, John, and his brother, Paul, on the South Dakota-Minnesota border near Pipestone, Minn. “I really liked what I read about Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials and decided to give it a try. In our first year, we planted a plot that included Latham’s 1858 and 1538, which ended up winning. All three of the Latham numbers we planted performed well, and the 1858 out-yielded the competition in every side-by-side we put it in. We decided to plant exclusively Latham® soybeans the next year.”
Aaron is responsible for making the seed decisions for the family’s farming operation. His brother has a real knack for fixing equipment, and their father has been primarily responsible for taking care of their independent farrow-to-finish pork operation.
The Prunty family raises all crossbreds. They save their sows and buy boars: Hamp, Duroc, Large Whites and Yorks. As a result of keeping a fairly closed herd and mixing their own feed on site, they avoided PEDV. They also were one of the first producers to start vaccinating for PRRs.
“We’ve always been farrow-to-finish. We farrow year-round, every week,” says John. “I love farming and that makes all the difference in the world. Fortunately, my wife has been a partner with me through the years.”
John’s wife, Elizabeth, mainly took care of the farrowing barn but now Paul is doing more of that. In fact, each family member is making the most of his natural abilities and interest. Aaron graduated in 2007 from South Dakota State University in Agronomy. Paul earned a degree in Animal Science in 2013 from SDSU.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with Dad. He has a lot of respect for us and our abilities,” says Aaron. “Dad very much leads by example. He doesn’t leave the dirty work just for us; he pitches in. He’s a really good mentor and he’s always been on the cutting edge of technology.”
John says, “It’s really fun farming with the boys. They’re full of shenanigans! I’m transitioning to retirement, but I’m having too much fun to quit.”
While each family member has his or her main responsibility, they all help where needed. John runs the combine, while Aaron and Paul trade off running the grain cart and semis for soybeans. Elizabeth runs the grain cart for the corn harvest. They’ve also divided up the spring field work. Paul does the strip tilling and plants the corn; Aaron plants the soybeans.
You could say that farming is in the Prunty’s blood. They’ve traced their ancestors back to the 1600s and learned they were farmers in Northern Ireland. In honor of the Prunty’s Irish heritage and their love of farming, we’re sharing a recipe for Irish Pork Stew.
Like many boys who grow up on a farm, Landon Aldinger was fascinated with equipment.
Years later he would combine his fascination with equipment and farming with skills in technology and engineering to help others get more results using fewer inputs.
Landon (left) and Mike Aldinger own Precision Farm Management. It has evolved from a focus on acquiring and using the latest products to using technology to implement more precision agricultural services.
Watching big machines on the family farm led to Landon getting a bachelor’s degree in Ag Engineering from Iowa State University. He then worked nearly seven years, as a Senior Design Engineer, for the Toro Company in Minneapolis before his story finally came full circle. “I really enjoyed my time and my career in the cities,” says Landon. “But when I turned 30, my priorities started to shift. I was ready to head home and become more involved in the farming operation.”
Grady Aldinger loves being involved on the farm. Here he is during the fall 2020 harvest.
Landon had been assisting his father, Mike Aldinger, since 2008 with their seed, chemical and consulting business. Mike started the business as Ag Fertilizer and Chemical in 1977 with his father (and Landon’s grandfather), Merle. After Merle retired, the business became Precision Farm Management, Inc.
Like farming itself, Precision Farm Management has evolved from a focus on acquiring and using the latest products to using technology to implement more precision agricultural services like variable rate seeding and variable rate fertilizer, including variable rate nitrogen.
We’re proponents of all things VR (variable rate) whether it’s nitrogen, fertilizer or seed,” says Landon. “Placing the correct amount of inputs in the appropriate areas just makes sense and offers opportunities for enhanced return on investment. We offer these services to our customers and find a plan that fits their capabilities and operations.”
McCoy Aldinger (pictured at 6 months) was born March 2021.
Once all their crops are harvested and the next year’s crop has been planned and the seed orders have been written, Landon works on projects related to his Aldinger Engineering LLC consulting business. He also spends time “carpet farming” and helping his oldest son, Grady, fix his equipment in their living room. Landon sees signs of a second generation engineer/farmer in his son.
“Grady continues to love all things agriculture and equipment,” says his proud dad. “It is not uncommon for him to head out to the field for a few hours to ride along and ‘help’ any way he can. I love watching his excitement. He was beyond excited for fall 2021. We’ve been counting down the days to harvest!”
There will soon be competition for the buddy seat as Landon and his wife, Kinsey, welcomed their second son in March 2021. “McCoy has been such a blessing to our family,” says Landon. “He is such a happy baby. We can’t wait for him to experience all things farm-related and to see what the future holds for him.”
The Aldingers vacation with their extended family each summer in Brainerd, Minnesota. They enjoy fishing, playing miniature golf, boating and eating ice cream.The Aldingers vacation with their extended family each summer in Brainerd, Minnesota. They enjoy fishing, playing miniature golf, boating and eating ice cream.
In addition to raising kids and crops, the Aldingers also raise cattle and pork. About four years ago, they built a new wean-to-finish hog building.
“The hog barns are a great source for fall fertilizer and offers us an alternative to using commercial fertilizer on some of our farms while improving our soils’ organic matter,” says Landon. “My parents built one hog barn about 15 years ago with the intent of building another one since the property was zoned as a two-barn site,” says Landon. “It made sense for me and Kinsey to build the second hog barn to diversity our farm income. Producing cattle and pork, the seed dealership, chemical sales, plus consulting helps us diversify.”
In celebration of October Pork Month, today Landon and Kinsey are sharing one of their favorite pork recipes for Sausage & Squash Soup
When Melissa (Bisbee) Moretz was 5 years old, she went into business with her brother and sister. Their father purchased a few ewes for them to raise. They were in charge of feeding and lambing them. As they grew older, they accepted more responsibility, including the finances.
“This is where my farming background began. It was an effort made by my parents to help my siblings and I save money for college, but it developed into much more. As we grew older and became 4-H members, we decided to sell the sheep and get into cattle and swine,” says Melissa, who served as a high school ag instructor and FFA advisor before becoming a senior portfolio manager in 2017 at a local bank. “I showed breeding beef at the county fair along with market swine at the county and state fair. I farrowed swine for my Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program in FFA. I participated in many career development events (CDE), met many people, served as a chapter officer for two years, and learned what hard work really was.”
The Moretz Family
With so many life lessons learned, it’s no wonder that Melissa and her husband, Nate, desire to raise their family on a farm. She says she loves coming home from work and taking their children to the barn.
“Raising our children on a livestock and grain farm has already begun to instill a strong work ethic within both of them,” says Melissa. “Having livestock gives my children an opportunity to learn about the circle of life at a very young age. They have also learned how to care for any bucket bottle calf that ends up on our farm, and they get so comfortable with them that they are more pets than cattle by the time they are weaned from the bottle.”
The Moretz’s two-year-old daughter enjoys chasing her brother around the farm and checking on the family’s calves.
Their five-year-old son is in preschool. He loves to farm any chance he gets. His two favorite things about the farm are spring calving season and riding in the planter or combine with his papa (Nate’s father).
“This year for Kole’s class show-and-tell, we were able to do a Zoom meeting with his class. Kole shared a new calf that was born the day before our Zoom meeting. Kole explained to his class how to take care of calves and why we raise them. The class even got to name the baby. Rainbow is now happily out in our pasture with her momma.”
The Moretz’s two-year-old daughter wants to keep up with her brother. When she isn’t chasing her brother around the farm, she helps her mom deliver meals to the field. She enjoys a good picnic in the tractor. She also loves playing outside on the swing set and going for bike rides.
Nate and Melissa also farm with Nate’s parents, calving about 120 cows/heifers each spring. As young farmers easing their way into the operation, Nate and Melissa began to purchase market steers and heifers to finish out. Melissa says they care for each animal in the best way possible with two goals in mind: (1) keep our animals safe and healthy; and (2) produce quality offspring.
“A special bond forms between people who are working together to accomplish a common goal,” says Melissa. “Both Nate and I were raised on farms and want to teach our children the life lessons that, in our opinion, are learned best on the farm. Responsibility, hard work, life/death, and teamwork are a few of the valuable lessons I have learned on the farm and want to share with our family.”
In addition to raising kids, crops and cattle, the Moretz family has been Latham® seed dealers since 2015.
The Moretz children pose for a photo on a pallet of Latham seed. The family has been Latham seed dealers since 2015.
“Our Latham Hi‑Tech Seed dealership has really taken off in the past couple of years. This has been a great side business for us and a supplemental income,” says Melissa. “Many customers continue to be impressed each year by the products they purchase. They show their appreciation by ordering larger volumes the next year and/or referring us to other farmers in the area. There’s nothing better than word-of-mouth advertising! We are very excited to sell for Latham and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
In celebration of May Beef Month and the season of tractor picnics, today we’re sharing one of the Moretz family’s favorite recipes for pizza burgers.
Lessons in Leadership: 5 Insights from Shannon Latham
by Darcy Maulsby, Iowa Storyteller, Darcy Maulsby & Co
Success in life requires a backbone, not a wishbone. Just ask Shannon Latham, who was diagnosed with scoliosis (an extreme curvature of the spine) when she was in junior high.
“My mom will tell you one of the hardest days of her life was watching me put on my shoes after I was fitted into my back brace,” said Shannon, who grew up in Greene, Iowa. “The prosthetist told my mother I needed to learn to do things for myself. She watched with tears in her eyes as I tried to bend to grab my shoes off the floor.”
Shannon had to wear the back brace 23 hours a day for two years. She’ll never forget the day a guy in study hall thought he would be funny by pulling a chair out from under her as she sat down.
“I fell on the floor and didn’t know how to get up because I couldn’t bend at the waist,” said Shannon, who always tried to disguise the brace under her clothing. “I believe he was shocked senseless because he never offered me a hand up. Instead, I grabbed a table leg and pulled myself up.”
These experiences became defining moments in her life. “My parents never let me believe I was a victim, and for that I will be forever grateful.”
This instilled a spirit of strength in Shannon. When she enrolled in the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University in 1989, the ratio of males to females was 5 to 1.
“I believe one of the main reasons I’ve succeed in agriculture is because I haven’t made an issue out of my gender,” Shannon said. “I treat all people with respect. I study hard and work harder. I take detours where others stop at roadblocks.”
That kind of backbone defines the American spirit, which Shannon embraces through:
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1. A strong work ethic. From the time she was old enough to walk, Shannon helped her parents feed livestock.
“I loved everything about living on our small farm and was passionate about my 4-H sheep project.” She worked hard to grow the size and quality of her family’s purebred, registered Suffolk flock.” She tracked expenses like feed and revenue from sheep sold. She also had to come up with a farm name and promote it.
This marketing mindset inspired her commitment to complete her MBA with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Iowa. It also influences her role as vice president at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. Shannon has written unique content weekly through “The Field Position” blog from 2008 through today.
2. Small-business savvy. Shannon’s parents were small-business owners who taught her the value of a dollar.
“My mom took me to the bank when I was 10 years old and helped me open a checking account that was solely for buying and selling sheep,” Shannon said. “I wasn’t allowed to spend what I didn’t have.” When Shannon returned to North Iowa after her first full-time jobs in the Des Moines area, she applied her business skills in a whole new way.
“When my husband, John, decided to start his own hybrid seed corn company in our garage, it wasn’t long before I was spending half my time helping market Latham® brand corn.” As the demands of this work grew, Shannon knew something had to change. “I told John, ‘I love you, but I can’t live on love alone.” John agreed to make Shannon an equal partner in his corn company. Today, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds market corn, soybeans, alfalfa and cover crops across seven Upper Midwest states.
3. Assertiveness. Shannon landed her first full-time as director of legislative affairs for the Agribusiness Association of Iowa.
“I reported to Dan Frieberg, who’d say, ‘We didn’t hire you to take a seat at the table. We hired you to be a voice for our members’.” As a 21-year-old lobbyist, Shannon needed to talk to a state senator about an unintended consequence of a bill he had sponsored.
“I offered an amendment to solve the problem,” she recalled. “He got in my face and said, ‘You tell your boss not to send a little girl to do a man’s job.” I looked at him and calmly responded, ‘In all due respect, Senator, my boss sent me to do this job because he knows I’m competent and capable’.”
4. Pursue Your Passion. The summer after Shannon’s junior year of high school, the 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus trip proved to be a life-changing experience.
“We had the opportunity to meet with Iowa’s congressional delegation. We also listened to an American Farm Bureau lobbyist speak, and I was intrigued by the political process.”
In 2020, Shannon was elected to represent District 54 in the Iowa House of Representatives. She serves as the vice chair of Appropriations Committee. She also serves the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees, as well as the Economic Development Budget Subcommittee.
Her leadership in agriculture has earned her many awards, including the Iowa Soybean Association’s Advocate for Agriculture, inclusion in the 2016 FarmHer Hall of Fame, and ISU’s Greenlee 2020 Professional Achievement Award. Of all the titles she’s held, however, “mom” is her favorite. She shares her favorite Henry David Thoreau quotes with her two children, including, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
5. Giving back. In addition to serving in the Iowa Legislature, Shannon serves on her church council. She was a Girl Scout leader for 12 years and served as the inaugural chair of the Communications Committee for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). She continues to serve on the ASTA Communications Committee. She is a former member of the Seed Science Foundation board, the Iowa 4-H Foundation and the Franklin County 4-H Foundation. She thinks back to Melva Berkland, who was her supervisor during an internship with ISU Extension Communications for 4-H.
“Melva taught me to view challenges as opportunities, and that perspective has made a world of difference,” said Shannon, who believes a positive outlook is essential to leadership. “Many of life’s greatest lessons are learned – and life’s greatest blessings can be found – on the road less traveled.”
When she isn’t serving her state or her community, Shannon enjoys traveling around the state to enjoy one of Iowa’s Best Burgers or spending time in the kitchen creating a meal her family will enjoy around the table. Today she is sharing with us one of her go-to meals when company is coming. She says Pork Roast with Raspberry Sauce is a fix-it-and-forget type of meal that looks impressive.
Sustainability Has Been Practiced for Years by 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year
Iowa Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year award presentation
A healthy environment, positive economic bottom line and responsible social participation are critical elements for a sustainable agriculture, says Iowa’s 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year Mark Jackson of Rose Hill. Jackson is proud to be a fifth-generation farmer in the rolling hills of Mahaska County in southeastern Iowa.
Jackson was honored during a ceremony in 2020 when Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig presented the award, which is sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
“With all that he does in conservation, and with all of his work to pass that knowledge on to future generations, Mark is absolutely deserving of this award,” said Secretary Naig during the award presentation.
Jackson’s dedication to conservation and water quality was instilled within him from a young age. After graduating from Iowa State University in 1974, Mark began farming with his father and grandfather. His earliest conservation efforts included planting no-till corn into soybean stubble in the 1980s.
Mark Jackson with Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds tell the story of agriculture to consumers at the Iowa Food & Family’s exhibit at the Iowa State Fair.
“As simple as no-till may seem, it wasn’t common at the time and definitely comes with its own unique share of challenges. I started with the basics by seeding grassed waterways where there were none, grassed headlands on hillsides and grass buffers along streams. Biodiversity includes creating pockets of wildlife refuge as part of our efforts for healthy soils and clean water,” says Mark. “I encourage everyone to try cover crops, start small and strive for continual improvement. Go to education meetings, network with others, broaden your knowledge base and utilize cost-share programs.”
For his early conservation efforts, Mark was awarded Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher of the Year in 1982 and the American Soybean Association Conservation Legacy Award in 2006.
“Part of our farm has been in the family for 130 years, so we recognize the value today of what my grandfather did. Through today’s technologies, we have improved upon my grandfather’s basic efforts. We conduct on-farm research, including cover crops, working closely with the Iowa Soybean Association and Practical Farmers of Iowa. We continue to update our practices in our efforts to improve our land for the next generation,” says Mark, who farms in partnership with his son, Mike, and works closely with his brother, Tom.
Mike and his wife, Mary Beth, are proud to be the sixth generation living on their family’s 130-year Legacy Farm. They’re raising their three kids in a house built in 1908 by Michael’s great great grandfather. They, too, are living their legacy by caring for the land. For their commitment to cover crops and soil health, Mike Jackson was named one of America’s Best Young Farmers and Ranchers in December 2019 by DTN/Progressive Farmer.
Less than two percent of the U.S. population actively farms, so the Jacksons believe it is vitally important to help others understand what they do and why.
“As a child, I loved listening to stories handed down and have grown to cherish my deep connection to agriculture,” says Mark, who chronicled aspects of farm life monthly in the Iowa Food & Family Project’s online “Farm Life Journal.” He also gave a TED talk “Hands Across Generations” because of his sustainability efforts with Unilever.
Whether he is talking to various groups or writing a diary entry, Mark covers everything from sustainability to equipment repair and farm expenses. He also shares personal family stories about the joys of farming with his children and grandchildren.
Mark and his wife, JoAnn, are the proud parents of two children and five grandchildren.
“Family is what it’s all about,” says Mark. “I also enjoy the fall harvest because it is the culmination of our year’s efforts. Most farmers get 40 chances in their career, but I’m fortunate to be completing my 46th year. I guess you never have to work a day in your life if you enjoy what you do.”
Mark is sharing with us one of his family’s favorite recipes for Baked Pork Chops and Rice.
Phil Long Puts His Passions for Teaching, Technology and Research to Work
One of Phil Long’s favorite spots has been a tractor seat. When he was growing up in Jenera, Ohio, he would ride beside his dad in the tractor or combine.
Restoring tractors has been one of his favorite pastimes ever since Phil restored a John Deere B as an FFA project. He served as president of the Cory-Rawson FFA plus earned the Ohio and American FFA Degrees. In addition, Phil was a 10-year 4-H member.
Phil’s involvement in 4-H and FFA greatly influenced his career path. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at Ohio State Agriculture Technical Institute (ATI) and worked on the ATI farm.
“My interest in precision ag started at ATI. I worked a lot with precision ag on the equipment with ROI with swatch control on sprayers, auto steer and auto guidance,” says Phil. “My boss would let me move the globes around from combine to tractor. He also had students get in the cab with me, so I could teach them how to run the equipment.”
After attending the ATI for two years, Phil transferred to Purdue University where he was involved with Agronomy Club and crops judging team. He also taught the crops judging team for two years. His interest in crops and soils piqued his interest in research and prompted him to pursue a master’s degree in soybean production.
“In grad school, I got to do quite a lot of work with reflectance tool called the Crop Circle. I ran the crop sensor a lot. You see them put on sprayers now to adjust nitrogen rates on the go. In simplest terms, it shows how much photosynthesis is going on and how much nitrogen it needs. It’s kind of like an ‘on the go’ tissue test as you drive through the field. It was interesting to get to experiment.”
“There aren’t many people who get a project as good as I did with my thesis,” adds Phil, who got the opportunity to work with Dr. Shaun Casteel on his research project. “I got to look at soybean lines that most people don’t ever get to see. We were working with cultivars from the 1920s. We were studying 80- and 90-year-old cultivars to see how they have changed and observed how nutrients moved throughout the plant.”
Also while he was in grad school, Phil shared an office with a doctorate student in wheat breeding. The two graduate students got along famously, so Phil took a job with Purdue Extension to remain close to Shaylyn while she finished her PhD. Upon graduation, Shaylyn was offered a job as a corn breeder in Iowa. The couple had always planned to move to Iowa, but they never planned for it happen just two months after their wedding. Phil then took a job working with a precision agriculture software company prior to joining the Latham Team.
“I ran every precision program in that position. I worked with every monitor because we installed things in cab and weather stations. I learned so much in a short time,” he says.
“What intrigues me the most about precision agriculture is that we can focus on specific areas of a field and manage the field with a level of accuracy that was never before possible,” adds Phil, who joined Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in February 2017 as a precision agronomy advisor. He and Kilah Watson have been broadcasting a weekly “Ask the Agronomist” video series since November 2017. I’m proud to be part of a team that helps reduce risk for our customers, save them time and make them money.”
Phil says he really enjoys working for a family-owned company and being part of a team. He feels blessed to find a job he enjoys that is so close to his wife’s home farm. He and Shaylyn farm 80 acres on their own. Phil also helps his father-in-law farm. He custom seeds soybeans and cover crops, as well.
In their free time, Phil and Shaylyn enjoy being outdoors fishing or hunting. Their Black Labrador Retriever is named Rivie (pronounced Riv-ee). She enjoys going pheasant hunting with them.
“Shaylyn is an outstanding shot. I’m not as good as she is, but I enjoy it,” says Phil. “We also really enjoy kayaking. I love beautiful water so much that I proposed to my wife on a kayaking trip.”
Phil and Shaylyn also enjoy cooking together. Today they’re sharing with us one of their favorite recipes.
Stockwell Joins Latham Seeds as RSM for Northwest Iowa
When the cicadas sing and the crickets chirp, Tyler Stockwell and his family pack up the camper and enjoy spending the weekend at their favorite campgrounds. They’re making memories swimming, playing outdoor games and enjoying time with friends.
Tyler and his wife, Rachel, are the proud parents of three children. Their eight-year-old daughter, Aleya (pronounced A-lee-a), is interested in swimming and dancing. Their three-year-old twins, Brielle and Brant, are developing their own interests. Brielle enjoys playing with dolls and coloring. Brant likes playing with fire trucks because he likes to be like his dad.
Tyler began serving on the Laurens Fire Department in 2009 as a junior fireman.
“My father has been on the Laurens department for nearly 20 years, and he’s now the safety officer,” says Tyler, who served on the Laurens Fire Department for six years. He joined the Emmetsburg department in 2016 and remains an active firefighter. “Dad gave me the opportunity to start serving when I was just 16. I enjoy being a care giver to people in times of crisis.”
In addition, Tyler is active in his church and remains involved with his family’s farming operation. He was raised on an Iowa Century Farm northwest of Laurens. He’s still active in the operation, which includes corn and soybeans, 40 head of cow-calf pairs plus a feeder-to-finish hog confinement. Tyler also runs a 5,000 head wean-to-finish site.
“My grandfather was a huge role model,” says Tyler. “I grew up doing cattle chores and going to the coffee shop with him. He then passed down the operation to my parents. We have continued to implement new strategies to achieve higher yields than we have ever seen in the past.”
After majoring in Ag Technology with a minor in Ag Sales from Iowa Central Community College, Tyler took a job with a local cooperative. He has worked as an agronomist in the cooperative system for the past five years where sold seed, fertilizer and plant protection products. Most recently, he managed a team of agronomists.
“What I enjoy most about selling seed is helping growers make the right choice for their acres,” says Tyler. “I also enjoy watching the team I work with succeed while building relationships. I’m looking forward to leading the sales team in Northwest Iowa, meeting the awesome Latham® dealers we have in the area and bringing new dealers onboard. Latham Seeds has a great portfolio of products for our area, which is one of the reasons I wanted to join this family-owned company.”
A new seed selling year is underway. The 2021 Latham Seed Guide is hot off the presses, and Tyler is busy making calls to farmers in Northwest Iowa.
Tyler & Rachel
In his free time, Tyler enjoys golfing and hunting. He and Rachel also play on a couples bowling league in the winter. Today they’re sharing with us one of their family’s favorite camping meals. We hope you savor the best of summer, too!
Latham® Dealers from across the Upper Midwest gather each July to kick off a new sales year. Months ago – long before the COVID-19 pandemic altered our lives – our team selected “Made for This” as the theme for our 2020-2021 sales year. Now this theme is more fitting than ever.
Farming takes grit. Farmers across Latham Country overcome many challenges each year. Markets are uncertain, and weather is always unpredictable. Although we have faced even more challenges since March 15, 2020, we continue to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps because that’s what those of in agriculture do!
We feel called to live our legacies. It’s a passion that drives us to get up early and work late to get the job done. After all, we are MADE FOR THIS.
Those of us in agriculture are resilient. We innovate and adapt to change. For the Latham Team, adapting to change meant we had to take our annual Latham Dealer Kickoff online this week rather than meeting in beautiful Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as we had originally planned.
A small group of Team Latham members gathered in Ames, Iowa, to produce a virtual Kickoff meeting. Why Ames? Ames is centrally located between our Alexander headquarters and our team members who live in Des Moines. Ames also has beautiful rental facilities and, most importantly, it offers reliable internet service. Plus, Iowa State alumni like John and me welcome the opportunity to return to their alma mater. This beautiful community also offers a wonderful farmer’s market. (Click here for a related blog post about one of the vendors and a recipe for cucumber brine.)
Cornbred is known for award-winning barbecue, but it’s side dishes are also delicious. Kilah recommends the brisket mac & cheese!
Each July I look forward to writing a recap of Kickoff that posts on our blog, sharing presentation highlights and local points of interest. One highlight of our time in Ames this week was a visit to Cornbred Barbecue where you can dine on the beautiful outdoor patio or inside the beautifully restored train depot. I also stopped outside my old dorm to admire a few of the Christian Petersen sculptures. If anyone has time for a road trip to Ames this summer, be sure to stop by Reiman Gardens where the “Wild and Whimsical” exhibit will be open through Oct. 4.
Here are links to Kickoff blog posts from the past three years:
Today I’m linking to a recipe for Fresh Strawberry Moscow Mule like the one I enjoyed at Cornbred Barbecue. We’re also sharing with you one of our family’s favorite recipes for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. This “fix it and forget it recipe” is one that I make in the summer when we’re busy working outside. I hope you and your family enjoy it, too!
In times of uncertainty and unrest, it’s human nature to look for stability and comfort. That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important to celebrate holiday traditions. Not even a worldwide pandemic can take away our freedom to celebrate our nation’s independence with family and friends – from a safe social distance, of course.
Summer isn’t cancelled. Make the best of it! Photo credit to Jessica Wood.
Americans are learning to adapt festivities and create new events. Fourth of July activities in Clear Lake typically attract 100,000 to this quaint North Iowa community during five days of activities, including a carnival and one of Iowa’s grandest parades. This year’s massive fireworks display over Clear Lake has been cancelled, but the community is joining forces with nearby Mason City to offer a patriotic pyrotechnic celebration on July 3. A Fourth of July boat parade is being held in lieu of a typical parade.
Even if you must pivot – which seems to be the latest buzzword used during the COVID-19 pandemic – we hope you can take some time this weekend to celebrate. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we believe it is a privilege and a great honor to live and work in the U.S.A.
The Latham Team takes great pride in researching seed products and selected those that are bred to perform best in specific geographic areas. We are as committed to helping farmers today as my husband’s grandfather, Willard Latham, was when he founded Latham Seeds in 1947. Our business can only succeed if our farmer-customer succeeds.
This holiday weekend – and all month long – we will pay tribute to America’s beef, pork, poultry, dairy, fruit and vegetable and producers. Special thanks to Gretta Irwin, executive director and home economist at the Iowa Turkey Federation, for sharing with us one of her favorite recipes.
Our heart goes out and our prayers go up for all livestock and poultry producers as all sectors of U.S. agriculture have felt the pandemic pinch when the food chain broke. Half of all turkey is eaten in sandwiches, so turkey farmers were greatly affected when demand for product decreased significantly from Subway® and Jimmy John’s®. However, turkey farms were not included in pandemic relief funding programs.
“Due to deceased quick service restaurant purchases, we have a surplus of turkey,” says Irwin, who adds that promotions like the one Fareway launched on July 1 are so important to encourage consumers to enjoy fresh turkey. “Fire up the grill and help Iowa turkey farmers.”
July is both National Grilling Month and National Ice Cream Month. Following is a recipe roundup to help you celebrate, too:
Teresa Erger Stays Strong by Adapting and Overcoming
During a trip to Alaska in August 2018 with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, Tess Erger decided she needed to make getting in shape a priority.
When life becomes challenging for people, they’re either going to get defeated or become more determined. Teresa (Tess) Erger of Brandon, Iowa, isn’t one to get knocked over and stay down. She has learned to overcome challenges by focusing on what she can do to make a positive difference in the world around her.
Teresa is a wife, mother of two, grandmother of eight, and an entrepreneur.
“Because I have my online gym, I don’t have any excuses not to work out,” says Tess. “I can take my ‘gym’ anywhere I go. I carry my iPad with me wherever I go. Last year when the combine broke down, I did my workout in the middle of a corn field. I also have grandkids, so that motivates me. I want to be a positive role model for them. I want to be the grandma that rocks, not the one who sits in a rocking chair!”
In April 2019, Tess opened her virtual gym. She has learned to overcome excuses and makes time to exercise daily. She also encourages others to do the same. Fifty-nine women and nine men join her regularly for virtual workouts.
Tess was an aerobics instructor in the 1980s, but like many of us, she has had lots of other demands on her time based on each chapter of life. She operated her own beauty salon for 15 years. When her children started high school, she went back to college and earned a degree in elementary education with endorsements in Pre-K Special Education and Reading. Tess also earned a master’s degree in Differentiated Instructional Strategies.
While she has always helped on the farm before and after her off-farm job and on weekends, Tess has served as her family’s official grain cart operator for the past 10 years. She has learned to adapt and fill a need as it arises.
Tess’s virtual gym is filled with daily inspirational messages, workouts and recipes.
“On November 19, 2015, our family was hit hard with the reality of how quickly life can change in a blink of an eye,” says Tess. “My husband, Dave, had a massive heart attack at the age of 52. He underwent emergency surgery that day and was resuscitated twice. You prioritize and look at life differently when you almost lose love someone you love.”
“Fast forward one year, and Dave’s health continued to decline. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint why, so we ended up going to the Mayo Clinic. After three days of testing, Dave was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, Hashimoto, Sjogren’s disease. All three are auto immune diseases for which there is no cure. Dave’s disease is treated like cancer, so doctors use various medications to trick the disease into remaining dormant,” adds Tess. “We have spent so many hours, days, and weeks at the hospital dealing with the damage this disease has caused to my husband’s internal organs. His diseases have attacked everything from heart, lungs, kidneys and his nervous system to his eyes, teeth and skin. Eating healthy and getting fit became our main focuses to prolong and to give Dave quality life.”
Tess has a Group Fitness and Boot Camp instructor certification from the American Sports and Fitness Association. She also is certified in POUND, REFIT, BoKwa, and Zumba.
“I didn’t like being put in a specific category as a fitness instructor or having limitations as to what I could or couldn’t do, so I created my own program, routines, and workout programs. I created a group called ‘Choose to Change Group Fitness.’ I have been able to adjust, modify, and develop a program that works for all ages and stages of life. One thing that was missing from my program was a nutrition, supplements/vitamins, meal plans, and helping people change how they view fitness, health, and wellness. That is when I found BeachBody®.”
“Beachbody has such a great success record with workout programs, meal plans, and nutrition,” says Tess. “I became a coach and got my certification in Portion Control. Then I started an online virtual gym for both women and men. People can now workout in the convenience of their own home when it fits their schedules, and they have me as their personal coach, motivator, and biggest cheerleader. I help people work on professional development and help them find confidence in who they are and who they want to become.”
Fitness becomes part of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair, says Tess Erger. She adjusts, modifies and develop workout programs for people in all ages and stages of life.
Working vs. Working Out
“There is a huge difference in working and working out! I feel we need to workout at least 30 minutes a day to stay in shape, build muscles and stay strong, so we can handle all types of jobs and minimize the risk of getting hurt. Working out and getting our heart rate up also helps keep us from getting fatigued. When we workout, endorphins are released which make us feel better and makes us happier,” says Tess.
“On the farm, we work hard from dusk until dawn and even longer hours in the spring and fall,” adds Tess. “Some of the tasks and jobs that must be done require manual labor. Cleaning out a grain bin, for example, requires a lot of strength, endurance and cardio. It is back breaking work. The same is true with baling hay, picking up rocks, fixing equipment, feeding and caring for livestock, and more. There also are a lot of jobs that require sitting such as driving tractors, lawn mowers, going to agriculture meetings, and hauling grain to town.”
“My workouts are my therapy,” says Tess. “I feel lost when I don’t do them. Once you start this journey and you do it every day, it becomes part of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. You do it without really thinking about it. I also need to release those positive endorphins in order to stay positive and keep my mind right. Dealing with a sick husband is stressful. Farming isn’t easy and it takes a lot of dedication and self-motivation to keep going.
Plan for Success
Planning ahead and learning portion sizes is key to success, says Tess. She uses Portion Control Containers because they take all the guess work out of how much to eat and what types of foods to eat.
Because the containers are color-coded, it’s easy to track and measure each of the food groups:
green for vegetables
purple for fruit
red for proteins
yellow for carbs
blue for healthy fats; and
orange for seeds or dressings.
“Many times, we order a salad thinking we are making a healthy choice, but it often is large enough to feed two or three people,” says Tess. “I plan meals on Saturday and prep on Sundays. I keep pre-measured snacks in baggies in the refrigerator, so they’re read to grab and go. I make it a rule to not eat in the car.”
Grapes, carrots, celery, strawberries, diced watermelon, peanuts and almonds are a few of Tess’s prepped “to go” snacks.
“When we go out to eat, I often request a burger without a bun, choose a vegetable or a fruit instead of fries, and take it easy on dressings and sauces. Remember, ‘dip, don’t drench’,” coaches Tess. “I choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. I try to stay away from pre-packaged or processed foods. If God created it, then you can eat it!”
With that said, Tess doesn’t believe in denying oneself from special treats. She says she isn’t going to pass up a piece of birthday cake or a homemade cookie. She just eats sweets in moderation.
“I eat to fuel my body not to fill my belly. I eat when I’m hungry not because it’s time to eat,” she says. “I monitor my moods and make sure I’m not emotional eating or sabotaging the progress I’ve made because I’m upset. Instead of eating to deal with my problems, I choose to push ‘play’ and do a workout instead. The most important thing is to make up your mind to get more active and eat healthy. We all can find time to do a 20 or 30-minute workout or move our bodies. You just need to find something you like to do and make it a priority to fit it into your schedule.”
Remember to practice patience. Results will come.
“It takes 21 days to build a new habit, three months to make it a routine, and one year for it to become automatic,” says Tess. “Keep in mind that our health is our wealth. Invest in yourself!”
To help you take a step toward healthy eating, today Tess is sharing with us a one of her recipes for Perfectly Portioned Lasagna Roll Ups. Perfectly portioned Lasagna Roll Ups use poultry sausage, frozen spinach, and three cheeses to make a crowd-pleasing dinner! Do yourself a favor and make a double batch. It freezes well.
