We’ve Always Believed in the Future of Agriculture
National FFA Week is time for us to remember our roots. The Lathams have grown up in FFA, and this time every year we think about the experiences that helped shape our hope in agriculture.
Front Right: Shannon Latham
Did you know that E.M. Tiffany had the foresight to write the FFA Creed in 1928? That was a long time ago! And yet, that Creed continues to apply to Future Farmers of America today:
“I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.”
Everyone has experienced discouragement at some point, and perhaps none so much as Iowa farmers over the years. We can’t forget the derecho in August 2020, which was one of the most costly thunderstorm disasters in U.S. history.
Before that, Iowa farmers were dealt with the Farm Crisis. The Federal Reserve’s tight money policies were intended to bring down high interest rates but caused farmland values to drop 60% in some parts of the Midwest from 1981 to 1985.
Every generation has had to face massive changes. But history gives us invaluable perspective. This is where we remember the last paragraph of FFA’s Creed:
“I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.”
We are blessed to be part of a family-owned seed company that is headquartered in America’s heartland. We’re honored to work with a network of other ag advocates across the Upper Midwest who share our passion. And we’re grateful for those who are committed to being a positive influence in their communities.
Let’s celebrate everyone who carries on the tradition of wearing the blue jacket.
The mac and cheese recipe below comes from the Stenjem family of Wisconsin! This recipe is often requested for FFA banquets and FFA members’ graduations. Enjoy!
Education and the Environment are Renner’s Passion Projects
The early morning glow on a beautiful fall day.
As a new year begins, so does a new session of the Iowa Legislature. It’s important for those who understand farming practices and how proposed bills would impact their lives and the health of states like Iowa where agriculture is the backbone of our economy.
Helping people understand how critically important farmers and farming are to their daily lives is one reason Brent Renner followed his dad’s example by becoming involved in farming organizations.
“My father was very involved in Farm Bureau when I was growing up,” says Renner, a fourth-generation Iowa farmer from Klemme. “I could see Dad benefited from his involvement while making sure our government and elected officials heard a unified voice from farmers about the things that matter to us most. We have several great commodity organizations that do a great service to our farming community, and I believe it’s important to stay involved in them.”
“This was spring of 2019 with my first experience strip tilling in tall standing ryegrass. It was nerve-racking but it turned out very well,” Renner says.
Renner’s roots run deep in agriculture. His great grandfather and grandfather moved to North Iowa from southern Nebraska during the Dust Bowl era. They railed their cattle to south of Clear Lake in search of crops to feed their stock. After working as hired men for other established farmers in the area, they were able to sustain their own operations.
Like many farmers who experienced the Dust Bowl, the Renner family developed a great appreciation for how important soil is to sustaining farms and livelihoods. They have implemented strip till and no till into their operation. They also have implemented filter strips, waterways and wetlands where they can have the greatest environmental impact.
“As stewards of the land, it is our responsibility to leave our environment better than we found it,” says Renner. “I believe we are on the cusp of learning so many new things about soil health and how it relates to farming practices and water quality. It’s an exciting time to be in agriculture.”
Renners have implemented buffer strips and stream bank management to stop erosion on their farms.
Because farmland is often handed down from one generation to the next, farmers want to protect their legacies by caring for the environment.
“I’m been extremely proud of the work and research the Iowa Soybean Association has done on behalf of Iowa’s soybean farmers regarding the environment and water quality,” says Renner. “Bioreactors are just one example of many that we have provided research and funding for. Recently, we developed an ‘outcomes fund’ that provides farmers with the resources necessary to partner with municipalities and industry leaders and make positive changes in our water quality.”
“I really enjoy overcoming some of the challenges that this occupation can throw at you,” adds Renner. “It’s fulfilling to raise a good crop and still protect the environment. Mother Nature can throw a lot of curveballs at you any given season.”
He has always enjoyed farming, but Renner wasn’t certain he wanted to farm full-time until he came home from college in 1999. He and Nikki were married in 2000. They got involved with the state Young Farmer Committee through the Iowa Farm Bureau, and Brent chaired that committee the last year they served for District 2. He then worked through the leadership positions at the county level and served for three years as president for Hancock County Farm Bureau.
After fulfilling his term on the county Farm Bureau board, Brent became involved with the Iowa Soybean Association. He started by serving on the District Advisory Council before he ran for the board. He won an at-large position and was re-elected in 2019. He is serving in his second year of his second term. Active on several ISA committees during the past five years, Brent’s passion has is education and environment. He also serves on the North Iowa Ag in the Classroom board.
Now that their family is growing, time together is treasured even more. Brent and Nikki’s oldest son, Caleb, is a freshman at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) where he looks forward to running track this spring with the Trojans. Their son Braden is a junior at Garner Hayfield Ventura High School where he plays basketball and golfs. Their youngest, Madison, is an eighth grader in the same district. She loves dance and music. She also serves as manager of several sports teams.
The Renner family enjoys camping and fishing when they have a chance. Their favorite getaway is Decorah in Northeast Iowa where there are lots of trout streams. Not only does spring bring trout fishing season, it also is asparagus season. The Renner family freezes asparagus to enjoy year-round and especially during holidays. Today they are sharing with us one of their favorite recipes for roasted asparagus.
“Gotta love the spunk she has!” says Patty of the time her 91-year-old mother spent in the field during 2020 beet harvest. “I’m so glad she got to enjoy it with her David!”
They had never planted Latham® Hi‑Tech Seeds but that didn’t prevent Mike and Patty Bergquist of Foxhome, Minnesota, from become a seed dealer when asked.
“We were looking for a way to bring our son, David, home and this ‘solution’ seemed to present itself,” said Mike as he recalled that particular day in 2015. “You might say opportunity knocked when Latham’s regional sales manager came to our door and talked with us about Latham Seeds.”
They weren’t able to get the soybean brand they were accustomed to planting, so the Bergquists decided to try Latham Hi‑Tech Soybeans. They also put Latham brand corn to the test, and it topped their on-farm yield test. They were sold on the Latham’s on-farm performance!
No one else in their area had a Latham Seeds dealership, but national companies had several dealers in the area. Mike liked the idea of working with a family-owned company that shares his values of commitment to family and community.
Mike Berquist
Mike served for three years in the U.S. Navy. He returned home to farm with his step-grandfather, Harold. To supplement his income, Mike started working campaigns in 1975 at the local sugar beet processing plant. He worked at the plant whenever Harold didn’t need him in the field.
Mike and his wife, Patty, were married in 1977. Harold offered to let the newlyweds move a trailer house onto the farm. They appreciated living on the farm. Four years later their first child was born, and Mike had to choose between accepting a promotion at the beet plant or farming full time with Harold. He chose farming.
Harold passed away in 1985. The 1980s Farm Crisis made it challenging for a young couple to support a growing family, so in 1988, this father of five went back to working campaigns at the beet plant. Mike accepted a full-time position there in 1989. He worked his way to plant supervisor and retired from Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative on June 3, 2019.
Because Mike only got weekends off once every four years, it helped to have David involved with the farming operation. David, the Bergquist’s youngest child and only son, completed the John Deere program at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton. He worked full-time for four years at RDO Equipment as a John Deere technician while also helping his father farm. David was able to double his farming operation and started farming full-time in 2018. David married his high school sweetheart, Chloe. They’re the proud parents of two sons, Briar and Bowen. Chloe also works as a dental hygienist.
Mike with salmon
The Berquist’s oldest daughter, Kari, and her husband, Tim Marquardt, live nearby in Rothsay with their three children: Hunter, 14; Hadley, 12; and Hudson, 9. Kari is a stay-at-home mom, and Tim works for Wilkens County. Mike and Patty’s second oldest, Heidi, works for Red River Human Services in Breckinridge where she lives with her three fur babies.
Third in birth order is Katie. She is a daycare provider for her brother’s children. Her husband, Derrick, is an engineer for Willrich. They have three sons: Dawson, 9; Carsten, 6; and Grayson, 4 months.
Their youngest daughter, Holly, was a nanny until her twins arrived. Her husband, Travis, is a John Deere technician in Wheaton and also farms. They are the parents of five boys: Michael, 10; Bennett, 6; Henry, 2; and 5-month old twins, Kamden and Cooper.
This photo was taken Sept. 29, 2020 From left to right: Bowen, 6 months; Grayson, 2 months; and 4-month old twins, Cooper and Kamden
“I love having our grandkids come to the farm,” says Patty, a proud grandmother of 12 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. “We hang out in the shop, go for Ranger rides, rock babies and read books. It’s so much fun to hear the laughter and to see smiles on the kids’ faces. We let them stay as often as they want now. We know that in a blink of an eye they will be too old. We hope they have good memories of staying with us.”
The older grandkids are active in sports, so the Berquists enjoy attending their basketball, football and baseball games. In summer months, the Bergquist family enjoys camping together.
“There is a lot of love when we all get together, and that’s the way we like it!” says Patty. “We’re making memories and more memories!”
Today Patty is sharing with us one of her family’s favorite recipes for Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Casserole.
This is an image of Gus and his mentor from IHPA, Doyle Kincy, after they had installed the package of bees into his first hive.
In addition to harvesting their row crops, many Midwest farmers clear off their vegetable gardens and prepare flower beds for the winter. I’m one of those gardeners who leaves ornamental grasses to provide cover for birds throughout the winter. While I was picking up garden hoses and doing some other yardwork before an October snowfall, I started thinking about what happens to pollinators in the winter.
While most bees and wasps hibernate, honey bees stay active throughout the winter. So how do honey bees stay alive during a long, cold Midwestern winter when perennial plants are dormant and our fields are barren? I remembered a fellow member of the Communications Committee for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has a son who keeps bees, so I reached out to Pat Arthur and his son Gus to help me learn more about beekeeping.
“Beekeeping is not scary, nor intense, nor is it a romantic process,” says Gus, 17, who has been keeping bees for four years. “Beekeeping is instead a thoroughly calming, mentally stimulating, and all-around pleasant experience with the reward of the knowledge that you have ensured the continued survival of your hive, plus you get honey from it (naturally).”
Here Gus is holding a package of bees which contains about 10,000 workers and a queen. This is what Gus used to start his first hive
Gus got interested in keeping bees after he and his family watched a presentation at the 2016 Iowa State Fair by Andy Joseph, state apiarist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). During that presentation, the Arthur family learned about a youth scholarship from the Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA).
“I thought keeping bees sounded like fun, so I applied for the scholarship,” says Gus. “The scholarship included a hive of bees, the necessary equipment to keep them, an introductory class on beekeeping, as well as a mentor to show me the ropes of beekeeping. The package was a tremendous gift to get me started on my beekeeping journey. My mentor, Doyle Kincy, continues to share his knowledge and guidance to this day.”
“Beekeeping is a fascinating process of observing the hives, identifying and diagnosing any potential problems, and coming up with a potential solution over and over again, leaving the entire task greatly thought provoking,” adds Gus. “The most fascinating part of it is that no two beekeepers seem to do this in the exact same way, and so beekeeping is able to become different for all who keep bees.”
Hive inspections are an important part of beekeeping to ensure the colony is doing well. This image is me watching Gus doing an inspection of during his first year as a beekeeper.
Honey is collected once per year, generally prior to the State Fair. Gus and his dad process their own honey. It starts with coaxing the bees out of the supers, which are the top hive boxes that contain the harvestable honey. A box with an almond-scented aroma is placed on the top super, and the scent drives the bees lower into the hive enabling the removal of the top super. Supers are removed this way one at a time. If it has been a good year, a super could contain about 30 pounds of honey.
Each super contains nine to 10 frames of honeycomb that the bees have capped with a thin layer of wax. The wax cappings are carefully cut from the frames of comb with a long, serrated knife. The frames of comb are then spun in a centrifuge to extract the honey, which is run through a filter to remove impurities such as wax.
Winterizing Hives
The winterization process for the hives begins with a Varroa mite parasite check and treatment, which, occurs immediately after the honey is removed from the hive.
“In early to mid-fall as the weather starts to cool, the size of the hives’ entrances are reduced to protect them from potential robbery from other hives when nectar becomes scarce,” explains Gus. “Additionally, a metal mouse guard, black insulative wrap, winter feed, and insulation material to absorb condensation are placed on the hive. In November or December, an additional treatment for parasites may be applied to the hives.”
This is an image taken 10/26/20 after an early snowfall. The image shows the black wrap Gus describes and you can also see the mouse guard we install in front of the entrance to keep mice from taking up residence in the hive during the winter months when the bees may not be able to defend the hive as well.
“We wrap the hives in a black insulative wrap to help keep the heat inside the hive and warm it a little due to black-body radiation,” says Gus. “For the most part, the bees do a good job of keeping the hive warm by vibrating their flight muscles. They ball up around the queen and slowly move about the hive over the course of the winter, consuming their honey stores.”
In case the honey stores are depleted, Gus makes boxes of clumped sugar and leaves them inside the hive. The honey and sugar provide food sources until spring. Generally, sometime in March as the weather starts to warm, the hives are readied for spring. The measures that were in place for winterization are removed. Gus also makes a 1:1 mixture of sugar and water in a container within the hive. This division board feeder nourishes the bees until spring flowers bloom.
Many annual flowers, like lantana and salvia, attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Here’s a link to Proven Winners® recommendations for annuals that attract pollinators. Perennials like coneflowers and bee balm also attract pollinators to your yard. Click on the links below for additional tips for attracting pollinators.
When we feed honey bees, they treat us! Today Gus is sharing with us one of his family’s favorite ways to enjoy the honey they produce. Making baklava has become an annual harvest tradition for the Arthurs after they process their honey.
“We enjoy trying recipes that use a lot of honey because we think honey makes everything taste better,” says Gus. “Making baklava is a little tedious, but it is oh so worth the effort!”
Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Farm Family
The day the second atomic bomb was dropped, Clabe and Leora Wilson’s postman brought a telegram to their acreage near Perry, Iowa.
One son was already in the U.S. Navy before Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Four more sons worked as tenant farmers with their father near Minburn until, one by one, they were serving their country in the military. All five of Leora’s sons enlisted in World War II. Only two came home.
After praying that her grandmother’s losses would never be forgotten, Joy Neal Kidney felt compelled to tell their story by writing a book. She published “Leora’s Letters” in 2019. This book came out right after the Dallas County Freedom Rock, which features the five Wilson brothers, was dedicated.
“God certainly had to be behind the timing of everything. I’ve been amazed and humbled by responses to the story of a woman who lost four family members – three sons and her husband – in three short years. Grandma reframed her original yearnings of having a home of her own and family nearby to live fully for four more decades,” says Joy, the oldest granddaughter of the book’s heroine.
Leora’s boys asked that she mail them a photo of her with her chickens, so in June 1943 she granted their wish.
As the family optimist, Leora made time to write hundreds of letters in addition to doing all her regular chores. She kept her five sons informed of the news. She also kept up the morale of the whole family, which included two daughters who were married and raising their families in Iowa.
Leora literally wrote volumes of letters that had been saved by her children for decades. Joy says condensing the volume of letters into a readable story was a challenge.
“First, I transcribed the dozens and dozens of family letters for those who survived,” explains Joy. “Then I researched to learn what had happened to the three brothers who were lost. I began submitting essays to newspapers and magazines, and my stories were published regularly. I eventually decided the story needed to be shared more widely and in book form.”
“Leora’s Letters” is available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook narrated by Paul Berge. Autographed copies may be purchased at the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge, Beaverdale Books, the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale, and Adel Quilting and Dry Goods.
Writing this book has been a labor of love for Joy, who had such health challenges that she could not write for nearly two decades. As her symptoms began to lift, Joy began writing again. She attended the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop and joined a community online through Write That Book.
“No matter your age, if God has given you a story to share, just begin it and don’t quit,” advises Joy. “Journal every day, find kindred spirits even if only online, ask for feedback, have an open heart for learning. Learn and enjoy sharing on social media.”
Joy plans to write a second book to share Leora’s stories during the Depression Era. She also has mapped out the story for her grandmother’s growing up years.
Legacy of Service
With Veteran’s Day approaching, it seems especially fitting to shine a light on the legacy of service to this country by Joy’s family. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all who have served, living or deceased, so we’re paying tribute to all of the Wilson and Neal family members who have proudly fought to defend the freedoms we enjoy.
Joy’s husband: Guy Kidney grew up on a Carroll County farm. He served in Vietnam, Air Force, air traffic control.
Joy’s father: Warren D. Neal, a farmer who became a pilot, retained as an instructor of advanced pilots. He was named as Commander of a B-29 at the end of the war, with a date set for Saipan and combat, when the war ended. He returned to the farm. NOTE: Joy’s mother, Doris, had dated Warren off and on throughout high school. When Doris started talking about joining the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Warren was afraid they would never get together. He asked her to get married right in the middle of war. Click here for an 8-minute story on how an Iowa waitress became an officer’s wife.
Joy’s father’s brother: Willis K. Neal was a farmer who became a pilot. Combat: C-47 pilot “over the Hump.”
Joy’s mother’s brothers:
Delbert G. Wilson, Navy. Served 1934-1937, reenlisted during WWII. Combat: Served on a tanker on the East Coast and across to North Africa.
Donald W. Wilson, Navy. A plank-owner on two aircraft carriers (member of the crew upon commissioning). One was THE Yorktown, which was sunk in the Battle of Midway. Awarded a Naval Commendation Medal.
Dale, Danny, and Junior Wilson, all left the farm to become pilots. Dale was the copilot on a B-25 Mitchell in New Guinea. Danny was a P-38 pilot in Europe. Junior became a P-40 pilot, not yet sent into combat.
Joy’s cousin Bob Scar: Grew up on a Madison County farm and served as Marine pilot in Vietnam.
Made with Love
Many of the letters Leora received from her sons referenced how much they missed her homecooked meals. Like many farm families of that era, they enjoyed roast beef, real mashed potatoes and gravy with sides of broccoli and cottage cheese. Leora was famous for her Caramel-Pecan Cloverleaf Rolls.
Today Joy is sharing with us one of her favorite fall recipes for red cabbage recipe.
“I enjoy the lovely color and it’s delicious,” says Joy. It’s also a recipe those with gluten allergies may enjoy.
“This photo is the way I remember my grandma,” says Joy. “She is under her beloved American flag, with the little Capri bell charm that her son Danny had bought in Italy. She wore it from her watch the rest of her life.”
CELEBRATE OCTOBER PUMPKIN MONTH WITH ENCHANTED ACRES
The gates to our magical pumpkin patch, Enchanted Acres, will be open every weekend from Sept. 25 through Oct. 25. Our hours are 9 AM to 5 PM every Friday and Saturday and 11 AM to 5 PM every Sunday.
Our humble beginnings started in 2012 with a rented tent where we hosted pumpkin painting workshops. Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, we are once again focusing on pumpkin decorating workshops and other simple pleasures, like Books in the Barn story time, for families and small groups. Each weekend we host unique experiences for people of all ages.
Stay up to date with workshops being offered on our Enchanted Acres’ Facebook page. Facebook is also where we share photos and videos of our adorable goats, including our mascot Nibbles and her young twins.
Our opening weekend was event-filled from goat yoga to chainsaw art carving demonstrations by Logs 4 Heroes to a visit from the cookie dough food truck. We also hosted a succulent planting workshop, and Sarah Morton Fitness of Hampton taught a fun goat yoga class in our pasture.
The Marketplace Café is open on Saturdays and Sundays, serving up popular Apple Orchard Panini and Pumpkin Patch Panini. Every weekend we also serve up homemade lunch specials, ranging from Hot Beef Sundaes to Chicken Tacos made from the chickens we raise.
Check out our Schedule of Events, and make plans to join us throughout the season. NOTE: Special workshops, including the 1 PM crafting sessions on Saturdays, require advanced registration. It’s our hope that a visit (or two or three!) to Enchanted Acres becomes an annual tradition.
We often post event updates throughout the season on Facebook, so be sure to “give us a like.” You can follow along with the fun all year long through Facebook and Instagram. In addition, we provide a complimentary quarterly newsletter to which you can subscribe by clicking here.
We look forward to seeing you see you soon at Enchanted Acres in Sheffield, Iowa, where memories grow! In the meantime, we’re helping you celebrate October as Pumpkin Month by sharing with you a few of our favorite recipes:
Latham’s 2020 Virtual Field Day Was “Made for You”
At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we have hosted multiple field day on wheels. We’ve showcased emerging technologies that allow us to check crops from the air, but this is the first year we didn’t have to worry about the weather on our field day. It’s also the first time we a virtual day event.
Welcome to 2020! The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses around the globe to deliver information using technology like Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube. Although we prefer to meet with farmers in person, our team of industry experts has developed some interesting and informative content for you. We hope you enjoy it and find it of value!
Below is a recap of our 2020 Latham® Virtual Field Day with links, so you can watch agronomic presentations from the comfort of your office or the cab of your tractor or combine:
Fortunately, weather events did not affect our production fields. It looks to be another banner year for Latham seed production! You’re invited to join us for this 40-minute industry roundtable with Latham’s Product Team.
In this “challenges of harvest” roundtable hosted by Bob Foley, farmers from across the Upper Midwest tell us how they’re managing harvest in not-so-ideal conditions.
Soybean Product Manager Mark Grundmeier provides tips for Selecting Soybean Products that are Built for Battle. Did you know farmers don’t have to give up yield when planting defensive soybeans? Mark talks about how Latham’s exclusive IRONCLADTM products are bred to combat local diseases.
In this 20-minute workshop on seed placement and performance, Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long explains how to use Latham’s product guide to choose seed products for 2021. Did you know that placement can affect yield by up to 20 percent? That’s a 20- to 50-bushel yield swing! Phil walks us through how to match management style to product characteristics for best placement and performance.
One of the things we enjoy most about hosting field days is sitting at the table with Latham® dealers and customers. We always enjoy hearing about our customers’ families and learning more about farming operations. If you attend a Latham Seeds’ event, you can count on great conversation and a wonderful meal.
In true field day fashion, we are sharing with you a typical field day menu. Below are links to some of our favorite fall recipes:
Cranberry Waldorf Salad (Although this recipe isn’t from “The Field Position” blog, it’s a hit every time I make it for a group that visits Enchanted Acres pumpkin patch.)
With the cool fall weather this week, we thought it would be the perfect time to share a new crockpot dish. Scroll down to find a recipe for Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine. Recipe and image sourced here.
Yield is Measured in Barrels and Bushels at Silo City
“Rain makes grain” is a common phrase in the country. In Clay County, Iowa, they know corn makes good whiskey.
When Megan Jones heard farmers could deliver bushels of their own corn to Century Farms Distillery and have it turned into whiskey, she thought it would make a unique Christmas present for her husband, Will.
“I connected with Century Farms Distillery and worked out the details. While I was on vacation with Will, one of our friends delivered 50 bushels of Will’s corn to the distillery. As a lawyer, I thought it would be so neat to wrap up the contracts for the corn sold to the distillery. Will was absolutely confused by the contracts at first, but now people are drinking Silo City whiskey! A few select bottles have been put into circulation through promotional events.”
Anyone can have his or her corn turned into whiskey with their farm on it at Century Farms Distillery in Spencer, Iowa. The person who sells the grain gets to choose rapid aged or slow aged, as well as the charring of the barrel. As a result, each farm’s whiskey will taste differently.
Whiskey from an Iowa Century Farm is appropriately labeled. This Northwest Iowa distillery bottles whiskey from “younger farmers” under the Prairie States brand. Each bottle includes a QR code, so you can scan the QR code and read the story of the farm where the corn was grown. Click here to read about the Jones family’s Silo City.
“Ryan and Amanda Bare, the owners of Century Farms Distillery let us know how pleased they are with how our whiskey turned out. They said, ‘Taste is great and the yield was tremendous. We filled three, five-gallon barrels and one 53-gallon barrel with your whiskey. The five-gallon barrels should be ready next year’,” says Megan.
Neither Will nor Megan ever thought they would be measuring yield in barrels. Then again, Megan never thought she would be measuring yield at all.
Saying Goodbye to City Life
“I was never a farm kid. In fact, the recessional song at our wedding was the “Green Acres” theme song. I said, ‘goodbye city life!’ I am so grateful for my husband’s patience as a I navigate these new waters and for the agricultural community. He is so willing to teach. We will only spread the love of agriculture by sharing it with others, and I am so very proud to be a farm wife.”
Megan and Will were married in 2014. Ironically, they both attended the same prom one year without realizing it until years later.
“Will graduated from Sioux Central, and I graduated from Spencer,” said Megan. “We met for the first time, apparently, at junior prom. Will was asked to go to the Spencer prom by a friend of a friend of a friend. We all posed for a picture together. Will and I happened to be standing next to each other with our respective dates on the opposite side. We had no idea until I was looking through old photos for our wedding slideshow and stumbled across the picture, which was taken by Theone Quattlebaum.”
It took Will’s uncle, Clinton Jones, to get the couple together. Clinton and his buddy, Dave Hessman, belonged to the same Kiwanis Club as Megan.
“Clinton and Dave decided I should invite Will to my post-election celebration,” says Megan, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Law, Politics, and Society from Drake University in Des Moines. She earned her JD degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2012, and then accepted a position with the Hemphill Law Office in Spencer. She was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2012, and her term started in 2013.
“I had already sent out invitations and had no extras,” adds Megan. “I took one invitation back from a friend. I put a label over my friend’s name and sent Will that used invitation to my event. I realized he might not get it in time, so I created a Facebook event just so I could make sure he got invited. The day of the event also conflicted with Thursday night football. Will made his choice. I mentioned to Clinton that Will didn’t show up, so Clinton had a conversation with Will. Will message me on Facebook and then we met for lunch.”
Photo credit to Tim Fuchs of TCF Photography
Seven years later, Megan and Will are the proud parents of three very active kids: Anchor, 4; Alma, 2; and Archie, 1. Anchor and Alma are in dance and gymnastics. Anchor is also in swimming. They all enjoy doing cattle chores on Sunday as the Jones family has a cow-calf operation in addition to raising corn and soybeans.
“We recently acquired a pig, and they LOVE helping to care for her,” adds Megan, who says she is enjoying learning more about raising a pig. “During planting and harvest, the kids are often in the ‘buddy seat,’ learning the trade. Anchor loves to farm our carpet with his 1/16 John Deere tractors. He can get planting, spraying and harvest done all in one day!”
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and businesses and forced people to stay at home from mid-March until June, she felt blessed that her kids stayed busy on the farm.
“We were lucky to have tractors and machinery to watch during the day on the busy farm,” says Megan. “I could send an antsy kid off to catch a ride on the buddy seat. We could always load up and go see the cows. And all of these things are wonderful learning opportunities.”
Megan appreciates being able to give her kids roots. Her parents were in the grocery business, so their family went where the company took them. To the contrary, her husband has lived in Clay County except for when he attended Iowa State University. Will always wanted to be a farmer, and now he’s living his dream in Northwest Iowa. Megan also is living hers.
“When I was in the fourth grade, my teacher had us watch the Presidential Inauguration. I was captivated,” explains Megan. “I came home and told my mom all about it and she suggested I become a lawyer. The rest is history!”
“I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to serve in the Iowa Legislature,” adds Megan, who is serving her fourth term in the Iowa House. “I love this state. I want to make sure our younger generations have the same love and excitement for Iowa as so many generations prior. One of my favorite gigs is getting to recognize constituents for their achievements. I send a lot of certificates recognizing people for their good deeds, birthdays and babies. Dropping those certificates in the mail is a highlight of my week.”
In the spirit of celebrating family birthdays and holidays, Megan is sharing with us potato casserole with a festive twist.
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!
Some of Life’s Best Lessons are Learned from “Home Work”
Growing up in a small foothill community outside the San Joaquin Valley in California, Debbie Barkela raised purebred Simmental Cattle. She showed market lambs and barrows, as well as horses. She also served as an officer for her FFA chapter and for sectionals, plus was a member of the FFA livestock judging team. It was all good training ground to become an agricultural instructor and FFA advisor. She has taught agriculture since August 2010 in the Belmond-Klemme Community School.
“I’ve always wanted to be involved in agriculture,” explains Debbie. “After serving on the American Junior Simmental board of trustees, I really found that I enjoyed being around kids, especially those who had an interest in agriculture.”
Upon graduating from high school, Debbie packed her bags and headed for the Midwest.
“I was able to visit several colleges while participating at AJSA (American Junior Simmental Association) Junior Nationals and met several professors,” she says. “I fell in love with the campus and felt like Iowa State was a perfect fit for me. I also had some nudging from family friends, AJSA members who were from Iowa and were ISU alums.”
While attending Iowa State University (ISU), Debbie met Chad Barkela. The couple was married May 29, 1999, and have three sons. Brady graduated from West Fork High School in 2020. Briley will be a sophomore at Belmond-Klemme and Blake will be an eighth grader this fall. Their boys raise and show market lambs and hogs. Briley also has a few ewes that he lambs and a few sows that he farrows out with the help of his brothers. The boys also spend time preparing and showing their horses throughout the year.
“Some of the most important parts of showing animals at the fair is the work that is done at home. It helps build confidence and an understanding of what needs to be done,” says Debbie. “We also need to remember that in the end everyone must have fun! No matter how competitive you are, the social part of showing livestock is important. The friends and extended family that you gain will be with you for a lifetime.”
Belmond-Klemme FFA Chapter
Whether they’re trying a new CDE (career development event) or applying for a proficiency award, Mrs. Barkela says she enjoys seeing students set goals and work to achieve them.
“My goal is to make sure every student gets a good understanding of what agriculture is and how important agriculture is to our daily lives,” says Mrs. Barkela, who was named the 2018 Star District Advisor for the North Central District.
Natalee Dippel became the first Belmond-Klemme member in 30 years to receive the American Degree, which is the highest honor in FFA. Natalee is also the first female from B-K to receive this award.
When Mrs. Barkela began teaching at Belmond-Klemme, B-K FFA had not had an Iowa Degree recipient in more than 25 years. Natalee Dippel in 2020 became the first female from B-K FFA to receive the highest honor in FFA, and she is the B-K chapter’s first American Degree recipient in more than 30 years. Eight B-K FFA members also earned their Iowa degrees in 2020.
The B-K FFA Chapter is very active in helping its community. Each year it hosts a district-wide food drive during which approximately 2,500 items are donated to the local food pantry. This year the chapter also collected food items for boxes for families in our communities. Thanks to Iowa Select Farms, the B-K FFA was able to include pork loins for families in need. Chapter members delivered boxes to families in Belmond, Klemme, Rowan and Goodell.
Belmond-Klemme FFA members also help annually with the community garden. Due to the school closing so rapidly and unexpectedly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s garden has required more community cooperation. Chapter Vice President Emma Carlson put a great plan in place and rallied community members to help start seeds for the garden. Chapter President Kaleb Carlson built a blessing box in which produce will be placed, and families in need can help themselves.
In addition to these projects, the B-K FFA has taken on new project with Growing Hope Globally. Almost 20 acres of corn was planted this spring. Money raised from this crop will be used to help educate farmers in a developing country. This project, in particular, is a way for students who don’t live on a farm to participate in a crop-growing SAE project.
“More than half our members don’t live on farms, and I wish more students realized this. One misconception is that to be successful in ag class or FFA you need to be from a farm. This is far from the truth! Our CDE’s and LDE’s (leadership development contests) help all students gain skills that will be useful regardless of what career path they take. FFA members learn everything from how to correctly run a meeting to how to select the perfect steak for supper. We all can use skills like those!”
In celebration of all the fresh vegetables growing in the Belmond Community Garden, today the B-K FFA is sharing with us a recipe for marinated vegetable salad. It’s also a great recipe for home gardeners or consumers who enjoy shopping at the farmers’ market.
