Food Adds Flavor to Family Traditions

Traditions are near and dear to many families, especially during the holidays. The Dawes family of Adel, Iowa, has carried on a unique family tradition for more than 25 years. Every Christmas they gather for a warm meal at their grandparents’ house followed by an annual family cribbage tournament. Now four generations take part in the heated competition, as older family members reminisce about games from years’ past.

The Dawes Family

From playing cribbage to working together on the family farm, values of teamwork and integrity were instilled in Beau and his brother, Colby. Beau grew up just three miles from where he now lives and says the home farm is where his favorite memories took place.

For example, Beau drove to the field for the first time with his grandpa. His grandma would pile all the grandkids into the front seat of the old farm pickup and let each of them have a turn driving. They would pretend to go through the McDonald’s drive-through, so there was no damage to the crops. He found himself on other side of his favorite memory more than 25 years later, teaching his kids the same “skill.”

Beau and his wife, Amie, are the proud parents of three: Leah, Blake and Lane. Amie stays busy with kids’ activities plus working full time as a physician assistant in a high-risk obstetrics office. She and Beau’s mom bring family favorite meals to the field during harvest and planting season.

Beau farms with his dad, Nick, who became a Latham® dealer in 2000. Beau handles the day-to-day operations related to row crop operation, and Nick runs his own cow-calf herd on the side of their farm. After working for 11 years as a mortgage underwriter in downtown Des Moines, Beau traded in his suit coats and ties for polo shirts and caps. Then, in 2001 he became a full-time farmer and took over his dad’s Latham Seeds dealership. Beau hopes that some day a fourth generation will continue the family tradition of farming.

As an exclusive Latham Dealer, Beau takes pride in personally checking on his customers. He really appreciates working with a family-owned seed company. Beau says the Lathams look out for their people and treat them like family.

“I appreciate knowing that John Latham will make time to walk a field with one of my customers,” said Beau. “That shows a lot about the culture of Latham Seeds and the positive experience they are willing to provide for their customers.”

The Dawes family values time spent together, especially playing games and sharing meals. Today they’re sharing one of their favorite recipes that’s perfect for busy times throughout the year.

Chicken and Noodles

Ingredients

• 2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
• 2, 15-oz. cans chicken broth
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 2 bay leaves (remove before serving)
• 1/2 tsp. ground thyme
• 1 T. minced onion
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 pound chicken breasts (frozen or fresh)
• 1, 24-oz. package Reames® frozen egg noodles

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Instructions

• Put chicken in the bottom of crock pot.
• Pour chicken broth and soup over the chicken breasts.
• Add spices; top with stick of butter.
• Set the crock pot on low for 6 or 7 hours.
• Once the chicken is done, remove the bay leaves.
• Then remove the chicken breasts and shred them.
• Place shredded chicken back into the crock pot.
• Add in the frozen noodles and continue cooking for two more hours, stirring every 30 minutes until noodles are done.