Although farming and ag-related businesses are an important part of Franklin County’s economy, one can’t assume that even life-long residents have an understanding of why or how farmers do what they do. That’s why the Ag Committee of the Greater Franklin County Chamber is hosting the inaugural Town & Country Expo on Thursday, January 15, from 10 AM until 3 PM in the Franklin County Convention Center on the fairgrounds in Hampton.

“We know consumers of all ages want to feel confident that they’re making safe, healthy food choices for their families. That’s why we’re providing an opportunity at the Town & Country Expo for farmers and consumers to actively engage in conversations about how food is grown,” says Larry Sailer, who farms in southern Franklin County, has been telling his ag story for years to groups from across the state and even internationally through his weekly Tuesday “Musings of a Pig Farmer” blog on TheFieldPosition.com.

The day-long Town & Country Expo offers opportunities for farmers and consumers to engage from trade show booths to a panel discussion about how being involved on a local level can carry your message to an even larger audience. Thanks to social media, Franklin County residents can carry their messages and share their stories with a worldwide audience.

Connecting families with their food is “old hat” for Celeste Settrini, a fourth generation rancher from Salinas, California, who also operates a boutique graphic design, media and communications agency. Settrini will be presenting the Expo’s keynote address, “Connecting Families: The Intersection of Pasture and Pavement.” Celeste will share with the audience what it’s like to live on a California ranch and offer suggestions on how producers and consumers can make a better connection.

“At the end of the day, we want consumers to have a greater trust of farmers and a better understanding of farming practices,” says Sailer.

People who know farmers or are engaged in conversations with farmers have a more favorable impression about production agriculture, according to a recent survey by the Iowa Food and Family Project of which Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is a proud sponsor. People familiar with the Iowa FFP are:

• 10% more confident that farmers care for the well-being of their livestock.
• 9% more confident that farmers protect the quality of the state’s water, air and soil.
• 9% more trusting that farmers balance doing what’s right with financial considerations.

Awareness of the connection between farming, food and families jumped 6 percentage points from last year’s poll to 31 percent. Poll results also show that consumers who are familiar with the Iowa FFP are more likely to pay attention to food labels and seek details about how food is grown. They also have a more favorable impression about today’s farm and food system.

We’re really encouraged by the results of the Iowa Food and Family Project’s poll and hope similar connections will soon be made among Franklin County residents. Because we believe the Town & Country Expo is a great first step in building that connection on a local level, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is proud to help sponsor this local event.

Be sure to stop by our booth for a complimentary copy of the “Let’s Cook” cookbook, including the recipe I made with Iowa Girl Eats blogger Kristin Porter. Available while supplies last!

There have been disputes over land to serve a public service as long as there has been ownership of land. Winners and losers are determined by where a public service is located. Big money may be made… or lost! Towns can be created – or abandoned – based on the location of public services.

The little town of Maynes Grove, near where I grew up, was abandoned when the railroad track went through seven miles farther north of Franklin County’s first settlement. As a result, the town of Hampton was born and became our county seat; Maynes Grove is known today only as a recreational area.

Over time, more utilities have been put into place. I’m trying to count how many utilities I farm over, under or around. I farm around wind turbines and under power lines. I farm over an anhydrous pipeline. Numerous power lines, phone cables, and fiber optic lines are buried on land I farm. Some of these aren’t too much of an obstacle but others (like the wind turbines) are a big pain!

Farmers have had to sacrifice for “the public good.” U.S. transportation and energy infrastructure systems are often built with use of eminent domain, which gives government the authority to take private property for public use such as an interstate. I’m sure the decision to put Interstate 35 through Franklin County at an angle was decided by a non-farmer. To a non-farmer, this would seem to be no big deal. As a farmer, it’s a huge deal! The location of the interstate makes farming inefficient as crop rows (point rows) run into each other at odd angles. The location of I-35 also divided many local farms into little pieces. Some farms, which had been in families for generations, disappeared completely.

Now Franklin County is in the midst of a battle to put a huge power line all the way down the west side and then across the south side called the Rock Island Clean Line (RICL). With a name like “Clean Line,” why would anyone want to block the building of more wind turbines?

All of the electrical current is put in at one end in Northwest Iowa and comes out somewhere southeast of Iowa. If there is an excess of energy generated by the wind turbines I farm around, for example, it cannot be added to this line. If there is a shortage of electrical power somewhere along the line, tough.

While grid infrastructure is one challenge, a larger concern is public vs. private good. The RICL is being developed by Clean Line Energy Partners, an investment company looking for big profit. These investors have petitioned the ICC to “act” as a transmission “public” utility to build, operate and maintain this line. Doing so gives them the right to use eminent domain!

How can you justify the government giving private companies the power to take private property away from landowners? “I am not against pipelines or power lines per se: the country has to have them as a key component of economic growth – but private companies should not be able to skate in under the radar as a guise of being a public service provider by use of eminent domain power,” writes David Kruse, author and producer of The CommStock Report.

Many issues are building around this transmission line:

• Is RICL a public utility?
• Is ground being priced as farm ground or as commercial? What’s the difference in price between the two?
• Is there a health risk?
• How will this affect future ways of farming (drones, GPS, spraying with planes)?
• Should there be a one-time payment or should payments be made every year?

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved the RICL plans, so now the focus shifts to whether Iowa will fall in line. Eminent domain is one of those issues that is easily ignored – until it affects you! Get involved. Do some research. Make your opinion heard by talking to your elected officials. Why now? Once a precedent is set, it’s hard to stop the “train!”

It’s customary this time of year to reflect upon the past year and set new goals. The New Year is a time for hopes and dreams. But not everyone looks forward to loud parties or even rooms filled with people…

That’s why Retrieving Freedom Inc. (RF) established itself as a nonprofit in 2011 to assist Veterans, children with autism and diabetics. “These dogs don’t just help the person. In the end, they help the whole community,” said Scott Dewey in an April 2013 interview with KWWL. Dogs in training reach thousands of individuals who will benefit on many levels.

The New Year is bringing about new services for RFI as it moves into its new “Thrive Again” facility in Waverly, Iowa. This facility was designed to provide animal-assisted activities with help from local Veterans, schools, troubled teenagers, college students, and community volunteers like Chad Johnson. Johnson served 13 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, through deployments in Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. He says helping at RFI gives him a sense of purpose and also allows him give back since he also received, Copper, a service dog from RFI.

“If I’m flashing back, processing different situations I’ve been in and anxiety’s building up, he’ll sense it automatically and just do ‘paws up’ right on me,” said Johnson in a Dec. 1, 2013, WCF Courier article. Copper will get in Johnson’s lap, lick his face, tug his sleeve and calm him by getting Johnson to play catch with a ball or go for a walk.

Another RFI volunteer is Jenna Kyhl, who is currently fostering two puppies for RFI. She says the puppies receive her care from the time they’re weaned until they’re about 8 months old. During this time, the Labradors learn to work and play. She potty trains the pups and teaches them basic commands like sit, stand and lay down. She also teaches them to lead from a person’s left side.

“I take the dogs everywhere I go from the time they arrive,” explains Khyl. “It’s important for them to get exposed to situations like shopping in Wal-Mart and eating in restaurants.” They learn they’re “working” when they’re wearing their vest. When they’re not wearing the vests, they get to explore the yard, walk trails and play. The pups also get lots of exposure to other animals and children as Jenna takes them to work with her as riding instructor and horse trainer at Hilltop Equestrian Center.

In a recent Facebook post, Kyhl gives a look into what it means to foster a RFI puppy:

December 19 at 9:13am ·

I wanted to share this with my family and friends. I know that sometimes it may not be convenient for me to have Ada, Topper or Latham with me. I do understand that having them in your homes or sitting under the table while we are out to dinner or laying on your feet in a movie may not be in your comfort zone. I understand that you are not used to the looks and questions from strangers. I understand that the extra 5 minutes it takes me to walk anywhere because of people asking questions might irritate you.

I want to say thank you for being supportive in my choice to continue fostering. Please understand that I truly believe in what I am doing, and I truly believe I am helping to make a child or veterans life a little easier. This link may allow you to put names, faces and stories with my reasons for wanting to be a foster. (http://retrievingfreedom.org/recipients-and-dogs/)

Thank you for being so understanding and supportive! Especially when the dogs may not be acting like perfect little citizens they will get there! They need to make their mistakes with me so that they are successful in making someone’s life better when it is time for them to move on to the next step.

Thank you again! Ada, Top and Latham thank you as well!

Ada is the name of the first female Lab that Khyl fostered for RFI. In a few weeks, Top (short for “Topper”) will move to his next level of training at the RFI facility. The latest puppy, named “Latham,” arrived on December 18.

Donated by Craig Christians, Territory Sales Manager for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, our namesake puppy will become part of the RFI’s breeding program. Watch for updates on these dogs by following Retrieving Freedom’s Facebook page or on Twitter as @RFI_dogs.

“Latham” the pup was purchased from Kerrybrook Labrador Retrievers of Chardon in Northeast Ohio, which has developed a reputation for breeding dogs for soundness, temperament, working ability and confirmation – all important traits for service dogs.

My son and I had the opportunity to meet “Latham” on Tuesday, Dec. 23. What a sweetheart! Like any baby, he sleeps most of the day. He also needs to eat good quality foods to maintain a healthy diet during periods of rapid growth, so today we’re sharing a recipe for dog treats that won’t break your own dog’s diet.

You’ve probably heard of Chris Soules, the Northeast Iowa farmer who will star in the 19^th season of ABC’s hit reality show The Bachelor when it premieres Jan. 5. But have your heard of The Other Bachelors of Arlington?

The small town near where Soules grew up wants the world to know he’s not the only eligible bachelor. Twelve single men, who live within a 20-mile radius of Arlington, are on a mission. They posed for portraits that are being featured in a 2015 calendar that’s bringing the community together. A local photographer provided her services, and a local printer finished the job in time for last-minute Christmas gifts.

“The calendar is really helping boost fundraising efforts underway for the Arlington Community Center,” says John Fedeler, the Community Center Capital Campaign Committee member, who conceived the idea for the calendar. Approximately $750,000 has been raised and another $150,000 is needed.

Helping raise the remaining funds is something the Fedeler family is taking “personally.” One of John and Jackie Fedeler’s daughters helped develop the list of bachelors for the calendar. Their oldest son, 22-year-old Jake, is Mr. June. After attending Kirkwood Community College, he returned home to the family’s row crop and beef operation.

Agriculture is the backbone of Fayette County, so it’s no wonder that all 12 of the “other bachelors” either grew up on a farm, are engaged in farming or are employed in an ag-related field. Mr. July is currently a football player at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Mr. August was the second generation to be raised on the farm his grandfather purchased just Northeast of Arlington. He graduated from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, and teaches business at Starmont High School.

Each of the bachelors agreed to participate to help raise funds for the Arlington Community Center. Calendars sell for $14.99 and there are two options for ordering: (1) send an email to: arlingtonbachelorcalendar@gmail.com or (2) pay through PayPal using an order tab on “The Other Bachelors of Arlington” Facebook page.

In just one week, 500 calendars have been sold. The group has a goal of selling a total of 1,000. Get yours ordered today while supplies last!

Sometimes the truth hurts… but it doesn’t have to! Sometimes you find yourself laughing while listening to ridiculous situations being dramatized by a funny motivational speaker and think, “Yes, I do resemble that comment!” The latter is the situation I found myself in earlier this month while listening to Colette Carlson deliver her presentation, “3 Truths Female Business Leaders Need to Know,” during the 4^th Annual Executive Women in Agriculture conference hosted by Top Producer magazine and Farm Journal companies.

“Leadership is not a job title,” said Carlson. “Leadership is a state of mind. Be the kind of leaders others need.” Since the number one characteristic people want from a leader is trustworthiness, it’s time to “speak your truth.”

CAUTION: Speaking your truth is not the same as speaking your mind, says Carlson. Speaking the truth means you say what needs to be said with tact and diplomacy. Respect yourself enough to speak up; respect someone else enough to tell them what you need.

“We teach others how to treat us,” says Carlson. “Most likely, you’re teaching your company, your boss, your kids, and your family that you will keep taking on more and more responsibility to make their life easier. By saying ‘yes’ to everyone else you are saying ‘no’ to yourself.  It’s time to speak your truth.”

Women often don’t get what they want and deserve because they don’t ask for it. Too many of us don’t say what needs to be said with clarity and tact because it makes us feel uncomfortable. Too many of us complain over what little power we have in a situation, rather than using the power we have to go after what we need to live the life we desire. It’s time to dig deep, be brave and stand in your truth.

Literally speaking of “standing in the truth,” remember that body language shapes who you are. Body language affects how others see us, and it also affects how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy has shown that power posing — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain. A “power pose” might even have an impact on our chances for success!

“The Wonder Woman power pose – legs wide, fists on hips – has been proven scientifically to boost self-confidence by increasing testosterone and decreasing cortisol,” writes Carlson in a blog post entitled, Do You Know the Wonder Woman Truths? “…Try this effective hormone manipulation next time you’re faced with speaking up for yourself. Take two minutes in a private place (bathroom stalls work great), strike the Wonder Woman pose, and notice how much easier it is to face your fears.”

Keep in mind that not even Wonder Woman depended on herself alone. The ruby in her tiara allowed her to connect with colleagues and loved ones back home. Who’s there to support you when you have tough decisions to make? If you haven’t already done so, Carlson recommends cultivating a mentor, sponsor, friend, or coach to help you meet your goals. Also be accountable to yourself.

Hold up the mirror and be honest, challenges Carlson. Are you doing what YOU want to do? Stop the “lies”! Limiting Ideas Eliminate Success. Be honest about yourself or your choices.

“Avoiding the truth limits your potential,” says Carlson. “What is not speaking your truth costing you? Risk being real!”

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Sometimes a woman is her own worst enemy! We find ourselves saying “yes” to one more thing, especially during the holidays.

“Do less. Be More. That’s my goal this Christmas season,” Lysa TerKeurst, author of The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands,” posted last Saturday on Facebook. Limiting items on the to-do list is one sure fire tactic to reduce stress during this season and always.

We end up stressing because we try to put too much into our day, said certified professional speaker and human behaviorist Colette Carlson December 5 to a group of about 300 women in attendance at the Executive Women in Ag (#EWA14) in Chicago. “The truth is you’re never going to get it all done,” she said. “What you really need to do is create a Not-To-Do List.”

Items that bog you down should be moved from the “To-Do” to the “Not-To-Do” list. Some tasks currently identified as Not-To-Do’s may someday make your To-Do List, says Carlson, but right now other values and goals take priority.

It’s time to speak your truth, says Carlson. Women – in general – must learn to express themselves. When you say “yes” to everyone else, you’re saying “no” to yourself!

So why do women agree to take on more when we really want to say “no”?  Most of us are afraid of disappointing or angering someone we love or respect. We don’t want to be criticized, talked-about or judged. (Hmmm… Isn’t it ironic that women tend to be more critical and judgmental of other women?)

To help determine whether accepting a request to help is worth your time and effort, Carlson recommends asking yourself these questions:

• Will this task give you access to, or recognition or respect from, a connection you’re cultivating?
• Will it simply take energy, focus and time away from other vital deliverables?
• Or will it develop a skill set you’re looking to grow?

Recent research by Lise Vesterlund, economics professor at the University of Pittsburgh, reveals that women in the workforce are more likely than men to: (1) Volunteer to do non-promotable tasks; (2) Be asked to do non-promotable tasks; and (3) Agree to do these tasks.

“No” just may be your password to the next level. The second “truth” that Carlson shared during her presentation to Executive Women in Ag is “To go to the next level, you must grow to the next level.”

No matter your position or career goals, you can benefit from adapt these truths to fit your situation. “Leadership is a state of mind, not a job title,” says Carlson. Whether we’re managing our own household or leading a Fortune 500 company, all women know what it’s like to feel overcommitted. That’s why it’s so important to know when to take control and when to let go. “Let it go, let it go!”

“Get your ask in gear,” advises Carlson. By multi-asking rather than multi-tasking, you just may find yourself singing a new tune this holiday season.