Family traditions have earned a soft spot in the households of many during the holiday season. Many of our employees and customers alike have shared with us their Christmas traditions from cutting down and decorating a tree the Friday after Thanksgiving to making gingerbread men ornaments. Company president John Latham fondly remembers how his grandmother, Evelyn Latham, made popcorn balls for each grandchild each Christmas.
As a family-owned company, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds also is rooted in tradition. One of the special aspects of traditions is they can be altered to fit a specific generation. Without even knowing it, Willard and Evelyn Latham made a home filled with tradition. Their former house – on an Iowa Century Farm – remains home to Latham Seeds.
The Latham Team started a new company Christmas tradition in 2009 when Latham Seed Company and Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids came together to form Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. Right after Thanksgiving, we put up a tree in the office lobby. Each Latham employee hangs the ornament with his/her name on it, and then a holiday potluck follows. This potluck is like no other!
There was such an abundance of food at this year’s potluck, we set up a “buffet” line in the hallways for desserts, salads, hot dishes and soups. We enjoyed everything from homemade white chili to ravioli bake, scrumptious cheesy potatoes and the BEST M&M cookies! Now these were the type of cookies that you would want to stuff your pockets with when you walked by!
The experiences the Lathams creates for their employees are similar to the memorable experiences we all work to create for our customers. It truly feels like a family event as we are decorating the office, trimming the tree and lining up for food. Company culture is one of the most important parts of being part of a team, and I find it satisfying to know Latham Seeds has holiday traditions like this one.
Today we are sharing with you the Crockpot Chicken & Noodlesthat was brought the potluck. Let me tell you, this is a must-try recipe!
Family Creates “Independent” Niche in Dairy Country
Some high school graduates seem to take a path that leads them straight toward one career. But Clinton Buss of Belmont, Wisconsin, took a road less traveled. The experiences he’s had during the past decade help him better related to his customers today.
“It took me 10 years to figure out what I really enjoy doing is working right here,” says Clinton, who joined Highway Feeds full time in 2013. He works with his sister, his mom and his stepdad in their independent feed and seed business.
Pete serves as president, owner and general manager of Highway Feeds. He places the orders and is primarily responsible for fertilizer, chemicals and equipment sales. Sheila takes care of accounts payable and receivable. Because she’s always on site, Sheila also primarily takes care of walk-in customers. Angie sells feed and trains calf contractors. She also orders animal care products.
While Clint is primarily responsible for sales of Latham® seed and makes most of the feed deliveries, he helps wherever he’s needed. He’s often called to make deliveries, pick up grain and even feed cattle on contract.
Clint’s job experiences help him talk to farmers about different aspects of their farming businesses. He grew up on a dairy farm and spent three years after high school dairy farming with his dad. Then Clint went to work for Highway Feed for two years before taking a job working homeconstruction one summer. When the seasons changed, Clint went to workat the sale barn in Belmont and Bloomington.
“Working at the sale barn was even harder work than dairy farming,” he explains. After spending long days running on concrete working with stubborn cattle, Clint needed to make change. He studied law enforcement for one year before returning to Highway Feed where he’s been ever since.
“I really like the independence of our operation,” says Clint. “Like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we offer our farmers independent options. Our customers are free to choose what products best fit their operations. I really enjoy sitting down with farmers and helping them select seed products on a field-by-field basis.”
When Clint gets a chance to step away from the business, he enjoys taking day trips and bow hunting with his wife. Clint and Lauren, who were married in October 2015, have started their own Hereford and Black Angus herd. They also are enjoying sitting down to a homecooked meal, and this pasta recipe often hits the spot for a mid-week quick dinner.
Harvest is Crock Pot Season for this #FarmHer
Approximately 350 high school and college females are gathering today in Ankeny, Iowa, for the second annual Grow by FarmHer (#GrowIowa16) event. Last year I had the honor of being part of a panel about advocating for agriculture through blogging. This year Laura Cunningham, Kilah Hemeseth and I will be representing Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, which is proud to support the movement underway to recognize the important contributions women are making in everything from growing zucchini to practicing ag law.
Farmers and FarmHers, ranchers and RancHers, come from different backgrounds and experiences. Farming operations across the U.S. – and even within a state – look different due to the typography of the land, soil types and weather variations. Cropping enterprises differ from livestock enterprises. Some people raise nuts and berries while others raise crawfish and corn. Some people farm one acre while others farm thousands of acres, yet there’s one thing these people all share… they love the land.
I love that girls today are growing up without being defined by gender. I’ve met so many hardworking and determined farmers like April Hemmes and Meghan Miller who not only drive their own combines and tractors but repair them, too. Women today can farm on their own, or they can farm in partnership with their husbands, brothers, sisters, fathers or grandfathers. There is no “one-size-fits all” description of today’s FarmHer.
30 percent of all U.S. farmers are female. (I’m proud to raise pumpkins and goats at Enchanted Acres. Yes, it’s a little farm. But it’s my farm. I’m also honored to work with Midwest farmers daily as part-owner in our family-owned seed company.)
47% of FFA members are female, and women hold approximately 50% of state leadership positions. (When I served as the president of my FFA chapter during the 1988-89 school year, I was the only female member.)
For the first time in history, more women are enrolled in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Iowa State University. (When I was a CALS student in the early 1990s, the ratio was 5:1 men to women.)
Another exciting development is that RFD-TV is airing new FarmHer documentaries each Friday at 8:30 PM CST. If you’re not able to tune in tonight, these episodes air again on Sundays at 8:30 pm CST and Wednesdays at 7:30 am CST.
In honor of all the FarmHers who are busy bringing in the crop this harvest season, today we’re sharing a “fix it and forget it” recipe from the Iowa Food & Family Project. Crock pot recipes are key to enjoying homecooked meals at our house during this busy season, and I’m looking forward to giving this one a try!
by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Coordinator
Growing up on an Iowa farm helping my family raise pork, we always celebrated October Pork Month. Little did I know, October is also Cheese Month! To celebrate the month of good eats, I found it fitting to share about my experience I when I traveled abroad to the country that takes tremendous pride in their cheese.
As a cheese lover, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a trip to Italy earlier this summer. The Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative hosted a group of Iowa State University (ISU) students on a study abroad trip to study food, farming and Italian culture. I found this to be the ideal time for a trip, as the trip dates fit perfectly between the end of graduation and before my job started at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
Pasta, cheese, wine and farming – what more could a person ask for? This was a trip to remember. I was lucky enough to spend 10 days in this beautiful country, enjoying eye-opening experiences every day.
In hopes of sharing a sweet taste of Italy, I’ve put together my top 10 takeaways for traveling abroad:
Pack smart! On the first day, we spent more time in the sky than on the ground. It was only my second time of riding a plane, so that was an experience in itself! Biggest takeaway: Pack your 3-oz. liquids in a Ziploc bag inside your carry-on luggage. Also bring a book, neck pillow and light blanket.
Who needs roads when there are water canals? Just when I thought we’d never make it, we arrived in Venice. It was obvious we weren’t in Iowa anymore when we piled into a water taxi to get to our hotel. Instead of roads, they use canals. The buildings appeared to be taken out of a coloring book. Venice is a city that is chock full of unique history.
Water ferries take longer than one would think. One afternoon my group decided to venture to Burano Island, which was known for lace making. Once we boarded the ferry, we were crunched for time. To make our 5 PM meeting, we could only spend 10 minutes on the island! That was 10 minutes to unload the ferry, see the island, buy lace, get a ticket and load the ferry to head back to Venice. Once we arrived in Venice, we had to run from one side of the island to the other to make the meeting. The kicker? The lace we bought ended up not being original to the island. Real or not, I can’t wait to wear the lace scarf proudly!
Steering a Gondola is not my calling. Gondoliers should take pride in what they do. Similar to a very large canoe, these boats are steered by hand. Peacefully floating down the canals of Venice is not as easy as it looks!
Meal time is an event. Americans tend to rush meal time while Italians make meal time an event. I found it interesting to see how much time, effort and pride was taken in each course of every meal. As a food lover myself, I enjoyed that meals were not rushed. I learned to appreciate my food and the preparation that went into making it.
The Italian countryside is breathtaking. Although a picture can’t do justice, get your camera ready! We stayed at a winery nestled in the countryside in Cremona. At this stay, we were treated to a delicious, homemade five-course supper. This was my favorite part of the trip because we got to get away from the hustle of the city and appreciate Italy.
Cheese, cheese & more cheese! We toured many cheese production facilities in different towns and all sharing certain similarities. Many times I felt we were sitting in a pool of whole milk when getting a tour! I had never toured a cheese factory so learning the process of cheese making from the Italians was very exciting. I always knew cheese is aged, but there’s some serious pride Italians have in the old age of their cheese.
Family traditions run deep. We enjoyed a few days packed full of farm tours. After taking many Midwest farm tours, it was great to see and hear about their operations. We were fortunate enough to see a pear farm, wineries, a prosciutto factory and go on traditional balsamic vinegar tour and testing. Among all of these tours, I found the importance of traditions and love of family that is carried down from one generation to the next. I found that as a similarity to American agriculture, as farmers throughout the world take substantial pride in what they do.
Pasta holds a larger spot in my heart than I thought. The largest personal takeaway for the trip is all things pasta. My mom taught me how to make pasta when I was little, so it holds a special place in my heart. On this trip, we were lucky enough to learn how to make ravioli from Italian women! I also came away with a new favorite type of food, gnocci, which I think of as potato pasta. Gnocci may be purchased in the grocery store. It tastes great in pesto sauce, cheesy pasta or soup.
There’s no place like home. As cheesy as it sounds, there’s no place like home. We spent 10 great days abroad and learning more than I could have ever imagined, but I was happy to return home to Iowa. Every place is unique and home to someone, and I find it important to know where that is.
If you’d like to get a taste of Italy in the comfort of your own home, I’m including a recipe for my favorite Italian dish. I found this recipe is from allreciepies.com. View the recipe below or click here.
Move over Iowa Nice! The smack talk, skewing of stats and hard-core tailgating is about to begin across the state as Iowans prepare for the annual Super Bowl Saturday. Kickoff for the interstate rivalry between the Iowa State Cyclones and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes is set for 6:42 PM tomorrow at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
The annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series came up during a working lunch yesterday at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. “If you go back 17 years, Iowa State leads the series 9 to 8,” said company president John Latham. That might be true, replied our general manager Tom Lizer, but let’s look at total points scored during that time period. In fact, let’s go back 20 years because the series is tied with both football teams earning 10 victories!
The “fun and games” have begun. Anyone visiting our office today will notice it’s casual Friday. Latham team members are donning logo wear for their favorite teams. This noon we’ll grill burgers for our annual tailgating potluck. This spread will include everything from Calico Beans and Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños to Sour Cream and Bacon Deviled Eggs to Buffalo Chicken Dip. (If you’re not a fan of potlucks, you’ve never been to one of ours! People take pride in the dishes they create. It’s definitely not a day to count calories or skimp.)
Today we’re sharing recipes and party-hosting tips to ensure you have fun, whether you’ll be following the game from your living room or in a parking lot or at the stadium. Click on one of these related links below:
For more tailgating recipe and ideas, check out Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ “Tailgating” folder on Pinterest.
It’s Friday on TheFieldPosition, so that means we’re also featuring a recipe here. Today’s recipe comes from one of Latham Seeds’ raving fans, our uncle Jim Latham. His recipe for Friendship Salad is a good reminder to keep the competition “friendly” this weekend.
P.S. Remember to tune into the Latham Locker Room Show, which airs following every football broadcast on the state-wide Cyclone Radio Network. This segment airs following the play-by-play and includes exclusive “locker room” interviews with players and coaches.
Schools across the Midwest will soon close their doors, and many families will enjoy taking a summer vacation. Mark Vosika, who farms near Pocahontas in West Central Iowa, looks forward to seeing new country with his wife, Heidi, and their two daughters.
“We enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures. We really enjoy watching the scenery change as we drive, and of course, Mark enjoys seeing the different crops that are grown,” says Heidi, a registered nurse who spent about a decade working in long-term care, home health and hospice before switching to medical claims review.
A few of the Vosika’s favorite places include Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. They also enjoyed Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island. Heidi says, “We had so much fun exploring Arches National Park and JEEPing in Canyonlands that we’d love to visit Utah again.”
No matter where the Vosikas roam, they always look forward to returning to home. Mark and Heidi feel blessed to raise their family in the same home where Mark was raised. Their oldest daughter, Maddie, is a high school junior and sold more than $1,000 in FFA fruit sales. Their youngest daughter, Jessica, is in seventh grade. She enjoys cross country, basketball and soccer. Jessica also enjoys helping Mark on the farm, running the grain cart and moving equipment. She also likes to spend time with him in the shop.
“What I like the most about living here is that our kids get experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have. They see the long hours that go into farming, and they see how dedicated their dad is to the operation. They learn about farm safety, and they learn to accept more responsibility at a younger age,” says Heidi, who grew up in town and now enjoys the privacy of country living. Participation in extracurricular activities helps their daughters develop leadership skills, which will be of value if they decide to follow in their dad’s footsteps.
Mark is a township trustee for Sherman Township. He also serves as a director for Pocahontas County Corn Growers and as a District 1 Director for Iowa Soybean Association. As a trained diesel mechanic, Mark proudly promotes biodiesel to increase lubricity and longevity of engines. As a soybean and corn farmer, he says it just makes sense to use homegrown fuel.
Mark and his brother, Mike, farm in partnership. Mike usually runs the combine and planter; Mark does the spring fieldwork ahead of the planter and hauls grain from the field in the fall. Mark also does all the equipment maintenance and repairs, saving valuable down time and decreasing out-of-pocket expenses.
Just as Midwest farmers work to get their crops in the ground this month, gardeners also are busy working the soil and planting seeds. April is National Gardening Month, so the Vosikas are sharing recipes that use spring produce. Chicken Oscar is one of Mark’s favorite meals, and the entire family enjoys dessert.
Nothing showcases spring in Iowa quite like fresh asparagus and rhubarb. Get a taste of spring this weekend!
We all know that we should “eat healthy.” Diet is a key lifestyle factor affecting the risk of developing cancer, and research shows that eating more polyunsaturated fat is key to reducing death from coronary heart disease. So why is it many Americans prefer to grab a candy bar or bag of potato chips for a quick snack and order pizza for supper?
Convenience and simplicity are key in determining food choices. Did you know soybeans are a simple way to add protein and fiber to your diet? Soy protein is so healthy for you, too. It’s low in saturated fat and has no cholesterol. It’s also high in polyunstaurated fat and provide essential omega-3 fatty acids.
Here are two more good reasons why you should consider adding soyfoods to your diet:
Isoflavones Protect Against Ovarian Cancer Risk. It’s estimated that more than 14,000 U.S. women died of this disease last year. However, Japanese researchers have examined the association between the intake of isoflavones and ovarian cancer in seven different countries. The results shows the risk of having ovarian cancer is reduced by approximately one-third that when comparing high isoflavone intake with low intake. NOTE: Soyfoods such as tofu, soymilk, and edamame are uniquely rich sources of isoflavones.
Consuming More Polyunsaturated Fat is Key to Reducing Death from Coronary Heart Disease. The American Heart Association has endorsed the use of soyfoods because they are low in saturated fat and high in polyunsaturated fat. New research from an esteemed group of investigators has found that consuming too little polyunsaturated fat was responsible for three times more deaths than consuming too much saturated fat. This analysis included 186 countries in 21 world regions and 3.8 billion adults.
After hearing about so many virtues of soyfoods, I hope you’ll feel inspired to add some to your diet! No need to fret over a meal plan as today I’m providing recipes for a four-course menu:
Find daily tips for using soyfoods and #SoyInspired recipes during April SoyFoods Month on Facebook. Join our Twitter chat for a chance to win a copy of Tofu Cookery. Also check out our Soyfoods Month Pinterest board!
By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern
The grilling aroma has been filling the fresh spring air on days we’ve been blessed with warm weather! Hamburgers, hotdogs and brats are always popular choices but switching it up can be fun.
Pizza and shish kabobs are some of my favorite foods to grill. When grilling pizza, my family has found it works best to put the pizza on a baking stone or tinfoil. Cooking the crust halfway in the oven before adding the toppings helps ensure an evenly cooked pizza. It also gives the pizza some structure, making it easier to transfer it to and from the grill.
Once we transfer the pizza to the grill, we put the lid down and cook it for about 20 minutes at approximately 250º F. Today I’m sharing the pizza crust recipe we’ve successfully used on the grill.
Pizza Crust
1 cup warm water
1 pkg yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 1/2- 3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp olive oil
Mix yeast, sugar, oil and warm water together. Set till foamy. In a mixing bowl, add 1 1/2 cup flour and salt. Mix until smooth. Continue adding 1/4 cup flour at a time until reaches the consistency that you like. (I usually add about 2 cups total.) Knead about 3-5 mixtures, or until tacky. Coat the inside of the mixing bowl with 1/2 tsp olive oil. Place dough in bowl and cover for about 1 1/2 hours. Press in greased pan. Bake at 450 until slightly brown.
What’s better than eating food on a stick? (Just thinking about food on a stick reminds me of the state fair, and that certainly brings back a lot of memories!) My favorite summer food is shish kabobs. One of the best things about kabobs is that you can make them your own way! I love putting peppers, onions, mushrooms and squash on a stick with the chicken. We’ve found it helps the veggies stay on the stick if we begin and end with a piece of meat. We also marinate the chicken for a day before we grill it.
Here’s our “go-to” sweet marinade for shish kabobs.
Chicken marinade recipe
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 soy sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp salt
Combine these ingredients. Marinate 2 pounds of meat (chicken or beef) in this sauce overnight.
Some suggestions for kabobs:pineapple, zucchini, mushrooms, boiling onions, green peppers. Grill 15-20 minutes.
Grilling sweet corn has always been on my list that I need to try! There are endless flavors and styles of grilled sweet corn, which can also make a great summer dish because of the bright yellow color. Give these food items a try when you are looking to veer away from the typical grill-out food. Embrace the nice weather and everything it entails, and start grilling!
Half marathon, check. Workout 45 minutes everyday, check. Eat healthy, check. No family history of heart disease, check. Heart attack, check!
If you are like me, you would scratch your head to hear someone in her early 40’s suffered a heart attack. That, of course, happens to people that are much older or who have risk factors like smoking, obesity or high cholesterol. I’m proud to say that I don’t fall into any of those categories, but the truth is, I now will live with heart disease the rest of my life.
Here is an excerpt of a blog I wrote about my heart attack:
It started as a normal day. I exercised in the moring, got the kids to school and went to work. After school we ran around and did our normal daily routines. I took [my daughter] Brenna to Irish dance lessons. We had supper and all went to bed. At 2:00 am I woke up with crushing chest pain. First thought, “I gave up caffeine today for Lent. Could that be the cause? What if I’m having indigestion?!”
I got up and walked to the coach and sat in the dark for a minute. By now, I’m noticing the pain is in my jaw. I finally start to acknowledge that this is something bigger than I could possibly imagine. I have a Bachelors in Nursing and remember from my training that women present differently than men. (You can read more about the night I suffered a hearth attack and follow my road to recovery here: http://pinnie40.blogspot.com)
February ushers in National “Go Red for Women,” which brings awareness of heart disease and stroke by asking people to wear red and get more informed. The one thing I would like readers to know is how women’s symptoms can be completely different from men’s symptoms.
In my case, years of estrogen supplements from birth control pills caused a rare dissection in
my right coronary artery. I had two stents placed to reinforce the wall of my artery. Those stents will be a part of me for life, and I even received a serial number certificate (to show to doctors during procedures) as a reminder. I’ve also gone from one daily medication to a daily pill box with four medications. These medications will be my lifeline for the rest of my life, helping to guard against cholesterol and blood clots that could cause another heart attack.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is where it gets real. It – Can – Happen – To – You!!! Even though I’m a nurse and should’ve known better, I spent precious time googling my symptoms thinking it had to be something else. Don’t let death be the result of being embarrassed to call an ambulance. I delayed in making the 911 call and my vitals crashed in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Below are a list of symptoms that you should take seriously:
Chest pain or discomfort (may not be on left side)
Pain in your arm, back, neck and jaw
Stomach pain
Shortness of breath, nausea and light headedness
Sweating
Fatigue
Many women will experience vague or silent symptoms that might simply go unnoticed. Flu, indigestion, jaw pain, chest pain and shortness of breath are all signs of a heart attack. I had chest pain, jaw pain and felt nauseated. But I was still able to have a conversation, Google symptoms and doubt what was really going on. Sadly, all the symptoms aren’t always present. Be aware and take multiple symptoms seriously.
My other advice is to have discussions with your doctors. If you fall in the risk groups, work with your care providers and family members to improve your health. It might seem like hard work now, but the reward will be many years ahead with loved ones.
Not only was “Nothing Compares” the theme of the Iowa State Fair, but it describes the feeling Ben Jacobsen of Dows, Iowa, had after his barrow was named the 2015 Champion FFA Market Hog.
“It’s been a long time goal of mine and a dream realized to win Grand Champion Market Hog at the Iowa State Fair,” said Ben Jacobsen, a Clarion-Goldfield FFA member. “Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!”
Ben raised $14,300 in local support from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, Woolstock Equipment, Farmers Co-op in Clarion and AgVantage. Hy-Vee purchased the price-winning pork for $29,250 with 25% of the purchase price going toward the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) program. In fact, Jacobsen received an IFAA scholarship in 2014.
Receiving scholarships and earning the coveted purple banner is proof positive that Ben knows how to work hard both inside and outside the show ring. He enjoys researching sires and dams. He understands the importance of feeding proper diets and working with his hogs. His real leadership passion has been leading county-wide showmanship clinics and sessions on how to select prospect pigs.
While Jacobsen admits that being named 2015 is a great honor, he also hopes that his involvement in the industry helps younger 4-H members – including his two younger brothers – become successful with their projects. Ben’s brothers enjoy showing at the Wright County Fair in addition to World Pork Expo, the Iowa State Fair and Aksarben. They’re also involved in school activities. Matt, a high school freshman, is out for golf. Caleb, a 7th grader, participates in cross country and track.
Their older brother is setting a good example by holding many offices in both FFA and 4-H. Ben continues to exhibit his leadership skills at Iowa State University, where he’s a sophomore majoring in Ag Business and minoring in Animal Science. He is a member of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) agricultural fraternity, where he serves as grill master for all charity events, fundraisers and fraternity events. Ben is also general co-chair of the AGR / Block & Bridle Club’s Spring Showdown, a large swine jackpot show held at the Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center in Ames, Iowa. In addition, Ben is working toward his goal of being a member of the Iowa State Livestock judging team.
Working toward goals and setting stretch goals is a lesson Ben has learned from his parents, Corey and Kim Jacobsen. The couple farms between Dows and Alexander where they also raise corn and soybeans and custom finish hogs. Corey and his parents have been production growers for Latham Seeds since the early 1980s. In 2015, he broke a long-standing seed production record by producing a whole-field yield of 81 bushels per acre.
Soybeans are an important to our livestock industry as 75% of the soybean meal produced in the world is fed to pigs or poultry! Did you know that Iowa farms grow more corn and soybeans, raise more pigs, and produce more eggs than any state in the nation?
In honor of the crops and livestock they produce, today Kim Jacobsen is sharing one of her family’s favorite pork recipes.