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The Dairy Good Cookbook Features Everyday Comfort Foods

Earlier this summer I was given a copy of The Dairy Good Cookbook, courtesy of the Midwest Dairy Association, to share with my blog readers. I didn’t give it away during June Dairy Month or July Ice Cream Month. I finally forced myself to part with it yesterday on “National Just Because Day”!

Honestly, I’ve had a hard time parting with my copy. If you get your hands on this cookbook, I believe you’ll see why. Each page showcases beautiful photographs and stories about real U.S. dairy farmers from California to Vermont. The chapters and recipes in this cookbook are aligned with a typical day on a farm from Sunrise Breakfast to After Chore Snacks and Sundown Suppers.

There is even information about different breeds of dairy cattle, such as country of origin and strengths of each particular breed. Did you know that Brown Swiss are the oldest dairy breed, dating back to 4000 B.C.? They produce milk with high butterfat and protein content, which appeals to butter and cheese-makers. I especially enjoyed reading about the “Wow Cows” of each breed. For example, Snickerdoodle is the most decorated Brown Swiss of all time. She’s been named Grand Champion of her breed six times at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. She also has been named the Supreme Champion, or best of all dairy breed, at the Expo plus she finished second overall two other times.

I honestly wanted to keep reading – and turning the pages for the next human interest story or cow feature article. I learned a great deal, but I didn’t feel like I was reading a textbook. In fact, I’d like to try every single recipe in the book! (I even toyed with the idea of channeling Julie in the movie, Julie and Julia. I could blog about each recipe as I made it… these recipes are certain to be easier than anything Julia Childs would have made.)

The subtitle of this cookbook is “Everyday comfort food from America’s dairy farm families,” and it lives up to its name! The ingredients listed are those that I can find in my local grocery story. However, the recipes put a new twist on traditional farm family fare like BBQ Chicken and Veggie Packets, Pumpkin Date Stack Cake with Mascarpone Frosting and Apricot-Dijon Pork Chops with Potato Pancakes and Herbed Sour Cream. YUM! Doesn’t this just make you look forward to fall?

In anticipation of autumn, I decided to share with you one recipe from The Dairy Good Cookbook that would make a great after school snack for your kids or an energizing snack for your harvest crew. Plus, it requires only three ingredients. What’s not to love about a recipe that’s both simple and delicious?

P.S. Click here for 10 Good Reasons this “Down to Earth Dietician” says you should pick up your own copy of The Dairy Good Cookbook.

Team Latham

August 28, 2015

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Government Incompetency Affects Health & Well-Being

Believe it or not, farmers have lives that involve things other than crops and livestock. I often think of other thing besides pigs! After attending a Farm Bureau district policy meeting last night, I decided to change the focus of today’s blog to government incompetency.

I’m not saying all government workers are incompetent. I personally know many who are fantastic, bright people. However, the system – the bureaucracy – is so unbelievable!

Take healthcare for instance. Think of all the regulations tying your doctor’s hands. Can she treat you to the best of her ability, or does she need to second guess what the government will demand? Another issue that is impacting the elderly in our communities are new federal regulations that have reduced in-home assistance to residents over age 65. Just yesterday, a new article ran about the Franklin County Board of Health’s proposed fix to Elderly Waiver.

Let’s not even talk about the banking industry! I might not have much money in the bank, but the business I do with my bank has gotten much more complicated.

At our last county Farm Bureau board meeting, local school superintendents shared with us their concerns for the coming school year. The common theme was government regulation and how it affects the teaching of my grandkids!

The superintendents also talked about bird flu because a county to our west is very heavy into poultry production. Millions of birds died from this disease, so we discussed this topic again last night. My “favorite” government agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), stepped up to the plate with all kinds of spur-of-the-moment rules as to how to deal with the bird flu situation here. In all its wisdom, the USDA decided to dig a deep and wide trench – one-half mile long – to bury millions of chickens on one farm. To make matter worse, this farm had drainage wells that had yet to be closed!!!

The USDA’s approach is quite different to our state’s approach. Iowa Department of Natural Resources posted these answered online to commonly asked questions about dead animal disposal:

Can I bury dead livestock?

Burial must be no greater than 6 feet deep with a minimum of 30 inches of soil cover. Burial must be in well drained soils and be at least 2 feet above the highest groundwater elevation. Burial must be at least 100 feet from a private well, 200 feet from a public well, 50 feet from an adjacent property line, 500 feet from a residence and more than 100 feet from a stream, lake or pond. Burial cannot be in a wetland, floodplain or shoreline area.

How many animals can I bury?

You may bury up to 44 butcher or breeding hogs, 7 slaughter or feeding cattle, 73 sheep or lambs, 400 poultry carcasses on any given acre per year.

This is just one example of how the federal government isn’t taking the appropriate steps to prevent the spread of disease from one farm to another. Last night a couple of farmers, who had returned from a study trip abroad, told about the lack of follow up after their farm visits. Upon returning to the States, they filled out custom cards declaring they had been on farms in other countries. However, they were not checked any further. Was I not just talking about millions of livestock dying from disease?

Do these government officials even know what to look for? Do the people sitting behind desks in Washington, D. C., writing rules for the EPA know anything about the water flow on my farm? They haven’t been out to ask me, but I’ll bet they have a computer model made that looks just like my farm. It was probably made by the same computer that made Mr. Gores’ Climate Warming model!

As I have written many times in the past, whom we elect make a difference. Study the issues. Listen to the candidates. And vote!

Larry Sailer, Musings of a Pig Farmer

August 25, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Late-Season Scouting Leads to Better Seed Decisions

The effects of our wet, cold planting season continue to surface. If you drive through the country now, you’re likely to see Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and White Mold affecting soybean fields. You may find Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Goss’s Wilt in corn fields. You’ll also see a growing number of weedy fields.

Seed selection is the key to effective management in all the above instances. Planting tolerant varieties, or avoiding very susceptible varieties, is the most effective way to reduce yield loss. Be sure you note the rating given to each product in a seed catalog before you select it for a particular field.

Weeds also can be managed through careful seed selection.

This growing season we’ve had many farmers, like Mike Albertsen of western Iowa, seek out Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds for our strong lineup of LibertyLink soybeans. Due to increased weed pressure across the Upper Midwest, LibertyLink soybeans are in high demand for the 2016 planting season. It’s not too soon to place your order with Latham!

To help simplify your seed selection process, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds designates some of its most defensive products as IRONCLAD™ Soybeans. These brands include exceptional genetics and industry-leading protective traits to win the battle against yield-robbing pests and disease. These products are selected for their “defensive” characteristics, but that doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice yield. In fact, our results in the 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trials shows how Latham’s IRONCLAD brands actually protect yield.

NOTE: Each Latham® soybean brand that receives the IRONCLAD distinction must be Soybean Cyst Nematode resistant and carry an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better. In addition, it must protect against either White Mold or Sudden Death Syndrome with a rating of 2.2 or higher. Plus, IRONCLAD products have strong defensive ratings against Phytophthora Root Rot and Brown Stem Rot.

We know that corn acres face their share of challenges, too. That why Latham brand hybrids with the GLADIATOR™ designation combine the industry’s top genetics and traits including a mandatory rootworm event. In our 2016 product guide, you’ll see that GLADIATOR hybrids with single modes of action against rootworm are denoted with a “G” distinction. Products with dual modes of action against root worm are denoted with a “2G.” If you’re planting corn-on-corn or you’re in an area with severe rootworm pressure, make these products part of your 2016 crop plan!

We take pride in working with our customers to help them select the seed products that will help maximize yields and increase profitability. If you have questions about what trait might be best for your fields, please send us an email or call 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1-877-465-2842).

Webspec Admin

August 24, 2015

Agronomics, Disease, General, Insects, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Friday Favorites at the Fair
How much do I love the Iowa State Fair? Enough to have spent six of the past 8 days on the fairgrounds, even though presidential hopefuls made it difficult to get anywhere in good time! Interested in seeing one? Follow the swarm! There’s a good chance you’ll find a celebrity or two flipping burgers for the cattlemen or grilling chops with pork producers. More than a dozen candidates were confirmed to speak at The Register’s Soap Box during the 2015 fair.

Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

Since it’s Friday on TheFieldPosition – and the one day of the week that we faithfully share recipes – today’s blog post was inspired by many of the things I’ve seen and done in the past week. I got the idea for this post on August 14 when I read Friday Favorites by Iowa Girl Eats blogger Kristen Porter. She covered everything from her favorite fall fashion, fresh foods, Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins and DIY shelving to her favorite “woah!” (I dare you to say this word and not smile.)

“Whoah” is probably the one word that best describes the annual state fair contests for the big boar, big bull and big ram. I’m still amazed at the enormity of these animals, although I’ve viewed them nearly every year since I was 12. Weights for these species have been recorded since 1991 and the record holders are:
- Big Boar 1335 pounds 2012
- Super Bull 3404 pounds 2009
- Giant Ram 507.5 pounds 2014
The Giant Pumpkin is another favorite stop on my annual “fair tour.” You can’t miss these beauties, which are located outside the John Deere Agricultural Building. Since I operate a little pumpkin farm in my free time, I’m more than intrigued by the amount of care that must go into growing one of these. Perhaps next year I can talk my teenagers into helping me experiment to see how big we can get one to grow. I have no desire to enter this contest, but I think a giant pumpkin would make a great photo op at Enchanted Acres.

Conveniently for me, the giant pumpkins are located outside the home of the butter cow. While the sculpted cow is the star of this show, but I always enjoy seeing the other butter sculptures that depict a special anniversary or a headline-making event like this year’s Monopoly board game.

Favorite Thing to Do
There is so much to see and do at the Iowa State Fair, but the truth is, my favorite thing is catching up with old friends and making new acquaintances. A walk through the livestock barns is sure to be a walk down memory lane! I’m likely to run into friends I made through 4-H or FFA or while attending Iowa State University. I enjoy seeing how the family tradition of showing livestock is carried on as my friends’ kids are now taking their turns in the big ring.

photo courtesy of Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

Last Saturday I really enjoyed volunteering at the Sandscapes sculpture, sponsored by the Iowa Food & Family Project, in the south atrium of the Varied Industries building. Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is a proud supporter of IFFP and its mission to help consumers make food choices based on fact, not fear. Today I spent a few hours sharing the same message for Common Ground Iowa on the Grand Concourse.

photo courtesy of Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association

Favorite Ride
While it doesn’t have the thrill of the Giant Slide or the history of Ye Old Mill, I love the view from a seat on the Sky Glider. It’s fun to look down on the exhibits and search the crowd for familiar faces. Plus, it feels good to get off one’s feet for a few minutes! Side Bar: Did you know Ye Old Mill is the fair’s oldest permanent attraction? It’s more than 100 years old. This year it was recognized as being one of only three remaining mill rides in America. Dubbed “the tunnel of love,” this ride attracts about 45,000 people annually!

Favorite Food
“Food on a stick” is practically synonymous with the Iowa State Fair. Fair time is also a time when food vendors test new flavors. This year 16 new foods were introduced, including the Ultimate Bacon Explosion. I honestly never tried one because I was too full from my annual favorites: Hot Beef Sundae, Pork Chop on a Stick, and the grilled turkey tenderloin.

If you’ve never before had the turkey tenderloin, you don’t know what you’re missing! That’s why today on TheFieldPosition, I’m sharing this recipe courtesy of the Iowa Turkey Federation. It’s a great summer grilling recipe plus it’s a great tailgating recipe. Go ahead and give it a try this weekend!
Team Latham

August 21, 2015

General, Poultry, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Where One Door Closes, Another Opens

If you follow Musings of a Pig Farmer on Facebook, you might have seen my August 8th status update that included a #felfie of my wife and me in the pig barn. I wrote, “Today marks the end of daily pig chores for me… but a new beginning where I can make a difference for a much larger number of pigs by improving hundreds of barns.”

I’ve hinted over the past couple of month about making a “career move.” Instead of using so much brawn to take care of pigs daily, I decided it’s time for me to use a little more of the knowledge that I’ve gained as a pork producer to help others improve their operations. While this may seem like a big change made in a short amount of time, it’s actually been in the works since last fall.

You may recall that last fall I had one of those “I never thought it would happen to me” moment when my combine caught on fire. Although I had insurance, I didn’t have as much coverage as I should have. (Did I mention that I never thought a combine fire would happen to me?) As a small crop farmer, this fire was a real game changer! The price of grain at that time was below breakeven prices, so I took a little time during the winter months to examine my options. The commodity markets weren’t improving, but another opportunity presented itself.

Because I literally have a lifetime of experience raising pigs and I even ran my own construction company for 15 years due to the 1980s Farm Crisis, I was approached by a pork company to inspect buildings their contract growers are using to raise hogs. I analyze what’s wrong or what can be improved with the building. Then I hire crews to do the work and help round up parts needed to make the repairs. Then I go back and check on the work in progress. I also make sure the work that gets done actually made the buildings better. It makes for many trips, many showers and many booties!

This job has me on the go! I log about 1,000 miles weekly, traveling many back roads in Iowa and Minnesota. I’m now in a position where I can literally improve the care of hundreds of thousands of pigs by making sure these barns are improved. I find myself creating spreadsheets and using more than my allotted share of band width while filing reports from remote locations.

Spending hours daily on a tablet, smartphone and laptop has been different! I’m used to using my “smart technology” to stay in touch with my friends across the world through Facebook and Twitter throughout the day. Now I find myself using business and office programs during the work day, but the challenge has been fun. Learning the paperwork flow has been my biggest challenge. Work orders, purchase orders and parts numbers can be mind-numbing for an old pig farmer!

Bio-security is an important part of the job, too. I’m always putting on the little blue booties like are used in operating rooms. I spray cans of disinfectant and take several showers daily. All of that has taken some getting used to, as well. The biggest adjustment has been not doing my daily chores. I miss my pigs, and I miss taking pictures of cute pigs.

Maybe I’ll look for opportunities to take selfies with some new equipment or a presidential candidate! It appears everyone in the race for president has been enjoying pork chops on a stick this week as they tour the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Speaking of presidential candidates, it’s been suggested that I throw my cap into the arena! Thanks to comments made on Facebook, I know I’d have at least two votes. All the rest of those running would have to share the leftovers. Ha! 🙂 Seriously though, whom we elect makes a difference. Now is the time to find out how candidates stand on issues of importance to you. I know I’ll be checking on their records related to issues important to me like food labeling, dietary guidelines and eminent domain.

You can bet that I’ll be contacting elected officials to let them know how their proposed laws and rules will impact agriculture. Although I’m not raising my own pigs right now, pork production facilities are still very much a part of who I am and what I do. I also still grow corn and soybeans, plus I’m still a Latham® Hi‑Tech Seeds dealer. Not only is agriculture important to my livelihood, it’s important to our state and federal economy. That’s why I’ll continue to advocate to preserve choice and to promote common sense. I invite you to join me… Make your voice heard!

Larry Sailer, Musings of a Pig Farmer

August 18, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Getting a “Food-Fix” at the Iowa State Fair

Guest blog by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

One of the many features the Iowa State Fair is known for is the delectable food. The food at the fair comes in all shapes and sizes, from deep fried, to bacon wrapped and chocolate dipped! There are 64 options this year that will be served … on a stick! It seems that food on a stick is more fun to eat, or maybe it’s easier to walk and talk with, but it’s quite a hit!

There is something about this greasy goodness that brings people of Iowa together. With over 200 food stands, the vendors at the fair have found a way to incorporate all types of food for all types of tastes.

The food vendors at the fairgrounds will be hosting 16 new foods this year. There will be everything from a new steak wrap at the Cattleman’s tent to deep fried PB & J and apple pie on a stick. A few “must-trys” from the new food list for me are the chocolate dipped strawberries on a stick and the corn in a cup! I will forever have a sweet tooth for a tasty corn dish, so I can only image how this will be! I have shared my favorite scalloped corn recipe below – give it a try!

Kayla Degner and I enjoying the 2014 State Fair after enjoying a pork chop on a stick – another must have!

From back in elementary school, we were all taught the food groups and the importance of eating food from all the categories every day. For a quick review, the food categories are the following: grains, vegetables, fruit, milk and meat and beans. Of course, exercise is included, too, but let’s assume that will come throughout the course of the day as you walk around the fair and check it out!

You would be able to fulfill your grains and meat by eating any sandwich or wrap. Whether you choose a beef brisket sandwich or a gyro, you’ll find yourself with a full stomach! As far as vegetables go, you can pick up some grilled vegetables, or try a salad on a stick. I’d be interested to see how that looks on a stick, but I’m sure they find a way to make the vegetables stay!

As I mentioned above, you can get a fruit serving in your diet by eating the chocolate covered strawberries. An even healthier route would be picking up a fresh fruit cup from one of the vendors. The last food group to fulfill would be some dairy! The Iowa State Fair offers five different types of ice cream, so you can pick whichever you’d prefer! I would have to stick to the original soft serve, but the options are endless. Find a complete list of the food served at the Iowa State Fair here!

The Iowa State Fair brings people together while enjoying the venue and wide variety of food, regardless of your preference. Head to the state fair within the next couple weeks and enjoy it!

Webspec Admin

August 14, 2015

General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH LATHAM ON AUG. 28!
OUR ANNUAL SEED-2-SOIL® FIELD DAY WILL BE HELD AUGUST 28 on our Research Farm in Alexander, Iowa. We’d like to invite every farmer within our marketing territory to join us for plot tours and lunch. Everyone in attendance has a chance to win an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)!

Chad Colby will be back with the most recent updates on this exciting new UAV technology, and he will demo the newest equipment available to the industry. Other interesting plots and demonstrations to take in that day include:
- Enlist™ Soybean Demos: See our field demonstrations of this new technology from Dow AgroSciences that gives plant tolerance to this new brand of 2,4-D chemistry. There will also be demonstrations showing how this technology is different from Dicamba-tolerant (Banvel, Clarity) soybeans, as well as plots showing potential drift and volatilization issues.
- Product Lineup: See the new and existing Latham® brand products we’re offering for 2016 planting. Corn hybrids on display range from 92- to 113-day maturities; they can be viewed at both the Stress Wheel Demo and the Corn Product Showcase. Soybeans on display range from 1.3 maturity to 3.2 and will cover Genuity® Roundup® Ready 2 Yield® products, as well as LibertyLink®. Latham’s tremendous group of alfalfa products will also be shown that day for farmers interested in the very best quality hay for dairy or beef cattle.
- Forage Showcase / Silage and Nutrient Studies / Population and Row Spacing Demos: Besides being one of the greatest alfalfa specialists in the Upper Midwest, Latham Forage Product Manager Corey Catt is also one of the very best corn silage and nutrition experts in the field. Join Corey as he walks through his studies on forages, nutrition and seed management.
Latham® brand products are selected for their yield potential, as well as for their ability to overcome specific regional challenges. Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ alfalfa lineup was chosen to address specific needs like high-salt soils or leaf-hopper resistance. Be sure to take a close look at our LibertyLink® and IRONCLAD^TM soybeans. Latham soybean customers this spring planted a record number of LibertyLink soybeans with good reason.

IronClad is your best defense against Iron Deficiency Chlorosis that plagued high pH soils this season especially in North Iowa and southern Minnesota. Our Gladiator Corn Hybrids are selected to do yield better in corn-on-corn situations.

Why does Latham’s 2016 product lineup matter to you? It’s all about protecting yield and harvesting more bushels! You might not know that Latham won more 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trials in our footprint than any other company.

Come to Alexander on August 28 and see what Latham products you want to include in your 2016 crop plan!
John Latham, President

August 13, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tour the Iowa State Fair, Quintessential American Fun

Fair Tour 2015 begins today!

The Iowa State Fair in Des Moines officially runs Aug. 13-23, but honestly, there is a lot taking place on the fairground during the next 24 hours. Sara Pratt is putting the finishing touches on this year’s butter sculpture, celebrating the 80^th year of Monopoly, and I know several 4-H members from Franklin County will check in their horses this morning.

Thinking about how much fun 4-H’ers will have this week reminds me of all the life lessons they will learn. Now that she’s a 4-H mom, Shannon Latham of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds says she’s gaining a whole new set of life skills. Her daughter’s experience showing meat goats at the 2014 Iowa State reminded her that more than ribbons are won in the show ring. She says her daughter’s 4-H livestock projects have helped her overcome her shyness and develop self-confidence.

Last month during the Franklin County Fair, Shannon’s daughter entered a new class with her horse and met her goal of trying to lope in the show ring. She may not earn a blue ribbon loping this week, but she’s going to have met her goal of doing her best at the Iowa State Fair.

“It’s not about winning or losing. It’s not about trophies, purple ribbons and whether or not the judge was right on show day. It’s about so much more,” wrote Amanda Radtke on July 22, 2015, in BEEF Daily. She goes on to explain the important advocacy role 4-H and FFA members can play.

Radkte says she recently ran across a video interview with the Peterson brothers, the Kansas farm boys who became famous for their YouTube videos that parody popular songs while telling their agricultural story. Peterson brothers shared how they have become advocates and encouraged the 4-H youth to follow their lead.

The 4-H organization value volunteers who lead by example, and one can certainly find great example of agriculture advocacy while touring the Iowa State Fair. Walk through the livestock barns and see how our young farmers are taking care of their animals. Stop and ask them questions because this is an opportunity to learn where your food comes from and how it’s raised.

Want to learn some interesting ag FUN facts? My friend Rhonda Swanson performs her “Thank a Farmer” magic show that teaches young folks about farming and ag products. Did you know lipstick is made with by-products of pigs? Stop by the Paul Knapp Animal Learning Center and Christensen Farms Hall to see newborn animals, plus you’ll learn more fun facts at each livestock exhibit.

One of my favorite things to do – besides eating a pork chop on a stick – is to take a look at the machinery displays. Some of today’s new farming equipment are massive. If you get the chance, step up into the cab. Find out how these machines are used. Also ask their price tag. You might be surprised to learn that one tractor or combine costs more than your house!

Be sure to check out the Iowa Food & Family Project’s (IFFP) exhibit in the southeast atrium of the Varied Industries Building where you can see how “What Farmers Grow, Makes Iowa Grow.” Be sure to pick up a free copy of the Iowa Food & Family Cookbook that features recipes for healthy cooking made simple. Plus, you can participate in IFFP’s agricultural trivia and activities for a chance to win a variety of prizes including Casey’s pizza for a year, $250 in Hy-Vee groceries and a farm-fresh meat bundle valued at more than $500.

There is so much to see and do at the Iowa State Fair that one day isn’t nearly enough. It really takes a tour – as in a period of time – to appreciate the concerts, educational presentations, exhibits and livestock projects. No wonder “Fair Tour” is the theme of the 2015 Iowa State Fair!

Larry Sailer, Musings of a Pig Farmer

August 11, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Minnesota Farm Fest Recap with Ken Highness

Thanks to all who visited in person or virtually during this year’s Minnesota Farm Fest. If you missed any of the event coverage on KQLX, here’s a recap:

Webspec Admin

August 11, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Feed Your Curiosity about Farming at this State Fair Exhibit
Guest blog post by Aaron Putze, Director of Communications & External Relations for the Iowa Soybean Association

What summer is complete without a trip to the Iowa State Fair? That’s what I thought.

Since we’re into asking questions, here’s one more… What do a 50-ton sand sculpture, balloon art and farm fresh recipes have in common? All will be featured by the Iowa Food & Family Project (IFFP) to demonstrate how “What Farmers Grow, Makes Iowa Go” at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 13 – 23, in Des Moines.

It’s a great theme because Iowa farmers literally work from the ground up to provide wholesome food sustainably. The exhibit will help spark conversations between farmers and consumers about today’s farms and the food system in a fun, inviting atmosphere.

The IFFP exhibit, located in the southeast atrium of the Varied Industries Building, will showcase the many ways farming contributes to Iowa and the quality of life enjoyed by those who live and work here.

Photo credit: Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Food & Family Project

Stop by and see the exhibit take shape (literally!) as Greg and Brandi Glenn (picture to the right), co-owners of Sandscapes®, transform tons of sand into a display capturing the farm-to-table connection. The work of art will be created over the course of seven days, starting opening day of the fair and standing nearly 14-feet tall when completed.

A variety of activities, entertainment and prizes will also provide fun for the entire family:
- Magician Michael Oz will bring farming to life through balloon creations for children of all ages from 2 – 4 p.m. on Aug. 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
- Snag a copy of the new Iowa Food and Family Cookbook, featuring nearly 60 recipes from Iowa bloggers and farm families, plus tips on food preparation and safety, meat cuts, healthy eating and exercise.
- Participate in agricultural trivia and activities will provide visitors with a chance to win a variety of prizes including Casey’s pizza for a year, $250 in Hy-Vee groceries and a farm-fresh meat bundle valued at more than $500.
Visitors can also discover interesting facts about farming by embarking on an AgVenture Discovery Trail that winds its way throughout the fair. Trail maps are available at fair information booths and can be redeemed at the Iowa FFP booth for a special prize.

The Iowa FFP’s “What Farmers Grow Makes Iowa Go!” exhibit is powered by Iowa’s corn, soybean, pork, beef, dairy and egg farmers with a helping hand from Casey’s General Stores, United Soybean Board, Hy-Vee and the Machine Shed Restaurant.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is also a great partner of the Iowa Food & Family Project, helping the effort maintain a statewide and year-long presence as we celebrate the continuous improvement of Iowa’s farm families and their dedication to providing wholesome food for everyone. Working together, we’re building a greater understanding and confidence among food-minded Iowans by conducting unique activities, serving as presenting sponsor of the Iowa Games and supporter of Live Healthy Iowa plus connecting with thousands of food-minded Iowans online via Twitter (@foodnfamilies), Facebook (Facebook.com/foodnfamilies) and at www.iowafoodandfamily.com.

On behalf of the Iowa Food & Family Project, I look forward to seeing you at the Iowa State Fair!
Gary Geske

August 10, 2015

Agriculture, General, Industry News