It’s common for farmers to come together at planting or harvest to help their neighbors in need. What makes a certain group of 10 Scout County farmers unique is that they have worked together each growing season since 2005 to benefit farmers worldwide.
“As the Biblical saying goes, if you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day. If you teach him to fish, you have fed him for a lifetime,” Dave Boeding says. “Hearts to Harvest is about teaching farmers around the world how to feed themselves.”
Each year this group rents 40 acres of farmland and takes care of the crop from planting through harvest. All profits from each year’s corn or soybean sales help teach poverty-stricken families in third-world countries how to feed themselves with assistance from Growing Hope Globally.
“We have helped families gain farming skills in India, Africa, Bosnia and Central America,” Dave says.
Dave retired from farming full-time in December 2021 and continues to operate his Latham® Seeds dealership. He also helps his son Ben, the fourth generation to farm the Boeding’s land. Ben operates a trucking business that his brother, Dan, helps with as a truck driver. Dave and Marcia’s third son Brian also helped on the farm until he passed away in 2014.
Having four children in the span of six years, Dave’s wife, Marcia, literally had her hands full as a stay-at-home mom. Dave was raising hogs and the couple was active in Scott County Pork Producers. They sold all the pigs in 1997, which was one year before pork belly prices plummeted.
Now that they’re both retired, Dave and Marcia enjoy spending time with their three grandsons. They live in the heart of Hawkeye Country, but they remain loyal Iowa State University Cyclones fans. Dave received a degree from ISU in agricultural engineering.
The Boedings hit the open road every chance they get. It’s their goal to visit all 50 states, including many national parks. They will have seen 40 states before they attend Latham Dealer Kickoff in 2023. They especially enjoy traveling to visit their daughter, Sara, in North Carolina where she is a doctor and administrator at the VA hospital in Durham.
Marcia also enjoys spending time caring for her flower gardens. Though her vegetable gardening days are done, Marcia enjoys sharing this Boeding family favorite dish for Sweet and Savory Cauliflower.
Sweet & Savory Cauliflower
Equipment
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 4 cups cauliflower florets or other vegetables
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoon sriracha or red pepper flakes
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until the cauliflower is well coated.
- Pour the cauliflower onto a baking sheet and place in the oven.
- Cauliflower needs room to cook properly.
- To prevent overcrowding the florets, you may need to use two baking sheets.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender.