Last Friday on The Field Position, we introduced you to beef producer Amber Kohlhaas and her husband, Jason, of Lu Verne, Iowa. Amber is a kindred spirit to those of us, who are passionate about the quality of crops and livestock we produce. Keep reading to learn why she believes it’s so important for all of us to share our stories with our urban friends.

“From my experience, opening your mind to new opportunities can help to identify and reaffirm your passions,” says Amber. “All my life, I was around agriculture. It was all I knew. There came a moment that I questioned if agriculture was truly my passion or whether it was my passion because it is all I had ever known. I originally set out to obtain a degree in Marketing from Iowa State’s College of Business. Then I experienced a lightbulb moment that reaffirmed where my heart and true passions truly lied. It didn’t take me long in business school to recognize that I am most engaged and passionate about agriculture, which led me to switch to the College of Agriculture.”

Amber knew she wanted to major in Agriculture but needed to find a focus, so she took an array of Agronomy, Animal Science, Ag Business classes to help identify the best fit.

“I never expected to enjoy Livestock Judging and Meat Lab classes. Eventually, I finished with an Agricultural Business degree in the College of Agriculture,” says Amber. “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and to try new things. Get engaged, network, job shadow, and be proactive to immerse yourself in new experiences and opportunities. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come from not following the herd. You might unlock new passions.”

To help others discover their passions, Amber and Jason enjoy providing on-farm opportunities.

“We employ a young neighbor, who grew up on a grain and swine farm but had no experience or knowledge of cattle. It’s been an amazing experience to work alongside him and to help him develop skills and knowledge of the show cattle industry. We also are privileged to host a young FFA student on our farm, whom also was raised on a grain and swine farm. She has an interest in cattle but was lacking the knowledge and opportunities to grow in that field. We welcome her help on our farm often and it’s been gratifying for us to watch as she builds her confidence in an area of agriculture that she otherwise may not have had the opportunity to get engaged with.”

Amber embraces opportunities to share her knowledge and passion with people both inside and outside of ag circles.

“As an advocate, I strongly believe in the importance and power of telling agriculture’s story,” she says. “Not only do we welcome guests to experience our farm first-hand, I have also found social media to be an effective tool allowing me to invite people into our lives for an opportunity to follow along and experience the day-to-day aspects of life on an Iowa farm. It’s pretty impactful to not only share positive best practices and experiences but also to be open and honest with your audience about the challenges and loss that producers also face on our operations. While there are days that are rewarding, unfortunately, there are also some days that are heart wrenching on a farm. “

As urban areas expand, the number of farms continues to diminish. Fewer people being raised on farms means the overall knowledge base shrinks. That’s why Amber says it’s more important than ever for people in agriculture to share their stories.

“From water quality, GMOs or antibiotic-free meat, we have all heard about controversial topics surrounding agriculture in the media that are contributing to public confusion and a general misconception,” says Amber. “As a grower and livestock producer, it is not only our responsibility but it is our privilege to share our stories in effort to bridge the gap and drive awareness for the agriculture industry as a whole.”

Amber says she shares snippets from farm life to help consumers understand:

• As producers, we opt to treat our livestock with compassionate care. We do what we believe is right and what is in the best interest of the well-being and quality of life for our animals. It’s no different than if we have a sick or injured family member or pet; we feel empathy and want to help ease their symptoms and speed up the healing process. We vaccinate our livestock in the most responsible manner possible. We work closely with our veterinarians for treatment recommendations, read the labels, understand the residuals, and are diligent in our responsibility to manage all product and ensure it is safe to go to market.
• We eat the same food consumers do. That’s why we take a great deal of pride in performing responsible best practices and producing a quality product that not only feeds consumers, but also feeds our own families.
• Gain a deeper understanding for what it truly takes to put food on your table. There are so many consumer choices on the market today; food labels don’t tell a complete story. Please take initiative to educate yourself, visit a farm, talk with producers, or do anything you can to make the best, most informed decisions about what is right for your needs and values as a consumer.
• There are so many options in the market for consumers. Rather than a one-size-fits-all option, there are choices for consumers to make. My wish as a producer is that consumers would take initiative and arm themselves with the knowledge to make educated, informed choices about what they are choosing to, or in many cases, choosing not to consume.
• Behind every meal, there are hard-working, passionate farmers who make it possible. Farm families gather around their dinner tables every day with plates containing the same food that consumers are feeding their own families. There is no one that has more money or time invested in the farm-to-fork progression than the people that are producing it. You will not find anyone more passionate about responsibly performing best practices and providing a quality product to consumers than the farmers themselves.

Guest post by Easton Kuboushek, Communication Specialist, Iowa Soybean Association

(article originally published in the March edition of the Iowa Soybean Review magazine)

Every farmer can remember the excitement of Christmas morning. The rush of running to the living room and unwrapping a shiny new model tractor with a matching gravity box or the classic old-fashion wood barn complete with fences and plastic cows.

The truth is the excitement never really fades. Farmers’ toys just get bigger and the technology becomes a tad more tantalizing.

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly called “drones,” have literally taken off as one of these new toys. But within this high-flying tech lies an opportunity for farmers to improve profitability.

“It’s not going to fix a problem immediately, but drones can help you make adjustments next season,” says Phil Pitzenberger, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-member from Greene. “For me, it’s been identifying management changes for the future — that’s been the biggest value.”

Pitzenberger has always been fascinated by technology. When drones came on the agriculture scene, it was natural he’d find a way to incorporate them into his corn-soybean and custom spraying operation.

“When I first got started, I knew I was just going to be flying it over fields looking for problem areas,” says Pitzenberger. “I wasn’t sure what it was going to show me, but the results came  really quick.”

Pitzenberger noticed patterns perpendicular to his corn rows. The birds-eye view revealed an aerial fungicide application was poorly done, covering only 50 percent of the field.

“When it came to harvest I watched the yield monitor just to compare — it was like driving through waves,” Pitzenberger says. “I learned I need to improve how I apply fungicide.”

As a result, Pitzenberger and his family bought a Hagie, which also turned into a custom spraying business. He laughs saying, “It’s funny, but I trace it all back to that one look from  the drone.”

Pitzenberger also has used his drone to identify compaction, anhydrous and manure application issues.

“Once I was up in the air, it was easy to tell but from the road you couldn’t make rhyme or reason out of it,” he adds.

Abnormal patterns are also a key insight gleaned by Dennis Bogaards, ISA farmer-member from Pella.

“I always tell farmers Mother Nature rarely works in patterns,” Bogaards says. “One of the first times I flew a drone, I noticed patterns in my fields and from the drones I couldn’t tell what it was. So I started walking through my field and realized it was a nitrogen issue.”

Earlier that spring, Bogaards had applied anhydrous at a ten-degree angle to his intended corn rows. The drone revealed a pattern of varying plant sizes and stages of root development across the field. Seeds planted at the intersection of the row and the knifed-in nitrogen application were much healthier than those planted between the rows, which were as much as 15 inches away.

The next planting season, Bogaards offset his nitrogen application 5 inches and ran parallel with the rows using GPS — a small change that payed dividends  at harvest.

“It makes a big difference in evaluating and understanding the problems in your fields,” Bogaards says. You’re going to see a different view of your field and be able to ask questions on how to improve.

Getting Started with Drones

Both Bogaards and Pitzenberger insist getting started with drones is not as difficult as farmers think. In most cases, it just takes trying it out.

“It’s really about getting your hands on the equipment,” Bogaards says. “Drones three years ago were easy to fly — today, they’re even easier.”

Bogaards has been flying for four years. He now serves as a drone coach and consultant for farmers, and dealer for FlyingAg, a drone service and retailing company.

“Most guys starting out just want to have something that’s easy to get out and up in the air to take a few pictures,” Bogaards says. “That’s a great place to start. Then after you get really comfortable with the controls and maneuverability, start looking at the more advanced things you can do.”

Both Bogaards and Pitzenberger fly DJI brand drones. Pitzenberger has owned the Phantom II and Phantom III Advanced. Recently, he bought  an Inspire II.

“We’re just beginning to see what we’re going to be able to do with these things,” Pitzenberger says. “They’re already telling us a lot of information but I can’t even imagine what’s going to come over the next  10 or 20 years.

When you hear someone has 10 years’ worth of experience showing and training horses, you probably imagine a male millennial wearing Wranglers and tipping his Stetson. Caitlin Sanderman, however, defies stereotypes. This 16-year-old FarmHer from Waverly, Iowa, balances two FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, works at a dog kennel, spends at least 20 hours weekly training horses, as well as competes in horse shows.

Two strong female role models have sparked Caitlin’s love of horses. Her godmother, Noel Maier, taught her to ride at age 5. After Noel moved, Caitlin began taking lessons from Jenna Kyhl at Kyhlwood Training.

“Much of what I know about horse training came either from Noel or Jenna,” says Caitlin. “The first horse I trained was a gift from Noel. That horse, as well as a second horse named Chief, helped me experiment with training. I began to understand more about how a horse thinks. The third horse I bought was a running Quarter Horse named Indiana. Jenna helped me fine-tune my training skills with Indiana.”

The more Caitlin learned, the more she taught her permanent horse Colorado. Caitlin got Colorado from Noel when the gelding was 3, and she’s had him for 7 years. She taught him how to clear a three-foot jump and run a barrel pattern in 17 seconds. They’ve worked on everything from basic groundwork to advanced maneuvers such as half passes, flying lead changes, and sliding stops. Colorado also places well in Western Pleasure and English classes.

“After taking years of lessons on Colorado, training three horses, and gaining a lot of knowledge about riding and horse care from Jenna, I began getting serious about training,” says Caitlin, who started Sanderman Horsemanship at age 14 and aspires to become a full-time horse trainer after she graduates from high school and college.

Caitlin is extremely hard working and extremely passionate about working with horses, says her mom Mandie Sanderman. “She has an amazing ability to communicate with animals. We have seen this time and again through her training of horses and dogs. She has a compassionate nature and a love for all creatures. “ Having that connection with an animal is what Caitlin says she enjoys most about training animals. “They do not speak words, but they are easy to understand. If they are scared, they show it. If they are angry, they show it. If they are calm, they show it,” explains Caitlin. “Horse training also teaches patience. Sometimes progress is slower than I would like it to be, but speed doesn’t matter as long as the horse is moving forward. The only thing that matters is that you do not stop or give up.”

In addition to her horse training business, Caitlin has a second FFA SAE as a stable hand at Fox Ridge Stables. Her SAE project work requires her to record income and expenses as she buys and sells horses, training equipment and feed. She also records the hours she works as a stable hand the wages she receives.

“This type of record keeping will help me run my business more efficiently,” says Caitlin. “I track everything from vaccination schedules, to training rides, feed and supplements.”

In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys playing tennis and showing horses. She caught “show fever” when Noel took her to a fun show in Allison hosted by the Butler County Young Riders, which is the saddle club to which she still belongs. The second show Caitlin participated in was the Big Four Fair, where she and Colorado placed in every class they entered. That day the dynamic duo took home fourth, third, second, and first place ribbons.

Rewards in the show ring require hard work and dedication. Caitlin spends about four hours each day working with her horses. On a week there’s a horse show, she spends close to 30 hours with the extra grooming and fine tuning needed. She shows horses both at the local and state level through the Waverly Shell Rock FFA chapter where she serves as chair of the Relations Committee that works to increase the FFA’s influence throughout our school and community.

“Exerting influence in her community.” As I thought about Caitlin’s response to my interview question, I couldn’t help but recall words from the FFA Creed: “… I believe that rural America can and will hold true to the best traditions in our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that aspiring task.”

The Iowa FFA Convention will convene April 9, so it seems only fitting to recognize such an outstanding Iowa FFA member. The more I learned about Caitlin Sanderman’s passion and ambition, the more I am convinced the future of rural America is in good hands!”

Connecting with your audience on an emotional level can lead to an informative conversation that bridges the gap between producers and consumers. Photographing an everyday moment on your farm and sharing your personal experiences helps non-farmers find common ground with you.

Under the social media handle of “Rowe Kids and Cows,” Corinne Rowe of Dallas Center, Iowa shares her family’s farming story through the eyes of a mother. Follow her efforts on social media, and it will quickly become obvious that everyone in her family plays a specific role. Corinne’s husband, Justin, is the farmer that runs everything. Their 6-year-old little boy, Charlie, assumes the role of “Little Farmer.” Their 3-year-old daughter, Anna, transitions from the pretty princess to the little farm girl.

Corinne has a knack for giving us a glimpse of farm life while communicating the importance of family time. We see what her family values: spending quality time together and taking care of their livestock. At the same time, she’s capturing everyday moments that are sure to become treasured memories.

I’ve included some of my favorite posts from the Rowe’s Kids & Cows Instagram page to help inspire you to share your story!

To see more of their story, find them on Instagram at @Row_Kids_and_Cows and Twitter at @RoweKidsandCows.

You see her running kids to appointments. You see her cheering them on in the stands during football and basketball games, as well as at track meets. What you don’t see is that before breakfast she spent 90 minutes in the pig barns. Then she’s back in the house by 6:30 a.m. to feed her kids and to make sure they have what they need before boarding the bus at 7:30 a.m. Once her kids are on their way to school, she returns to the farrowing houses.  

Meet Janel Weaver, a mother of six and a FarmHer from Dougherty, Iowa. She wasn’t raised on a farm but she’s been farming ever since she married her husband, Cory, in 1997. Although it’s not the career path Janel had envisioned, she can’t imagine doing anything else.

“When Cory and I were dating, I’d spend hours riding in the tractor with him. In fact, our first date was in the tractor. He showed livestock, so I spent time at the fair with him,” says Janel. “We got married after I graduated from NIACC (North Iowa Community College). I had planned to get a four-year degree and teach, but I found plenty to do on the farm. Back then, we had all these farrowing units and no hired help but we had each other.”

Fast forward 20 years and Janel and Cory still work together in their farrow-to-wean operation. They leave the house together in the morning and they come home together. While Janel spends time in the farrowing barns, Cory focuses on breeding and artificial insemination. Sows are bred every day, and sows farrow every day – 365 days of the year. They wean pigs twice each week at 5 a.m.

“Cory and I make a good team. I know I’m good at farrowing because it’s something I do every day,” says Janel. “Because it’s such a male-dominated field, I believe women in agriculture must be good at what they do. They must be confident and they can’t be afraid to express their opinions. Women see things from a different perspective, so having both men and women involved in an operation is helpful.”

In addition to producing pork, Cory raises row crops and cattle with his parents and two brothers. Janel also takes care of payroll for the couple’s employees, as well as takes care of all the farm records.

“I love working with my family, and I love the flexibility of my job,” says Janel. “I get to be with my kids in the morning before they leave for school. I’m home when they get off the bus. I can attend their games, and I get to be with them in the summer. If I’m not in the house when they need me, I’m just a call away. They’ve learned to be self-sufficient. They have a great work ethic, and their animal projects have helped them develop confidence.”

All the Weaver children have daily chores and show stock to care for. Their oldest daughter, 19-year-old Cailey, is a member of the NIACC track team. She’s also still very much involved with helping on the family’s farm. Before she graduated high school last May,

Cailey was drawn to the show ring with her 4-H cattle project. A member of the Shifting Gears 4-H Club, of which her dad serves as leader along with retired FFA Advisor Dean Weber, Cailey showed at the North Iowa Fair, Iowa Beef Expo and the Denver Stock Show.

This year Cory returned to Denver for the stock show and to Des Moines for Beef Expo with their 13-year-old daughter Mycah. She  made the championship drive in showmanship at the 2017 Iowa Beef Expo and took fourth overall. 

“Each of our kids have had success in the show ring, but the biggest win is knowing how hard they all work with their animals. They can feel good about their accomplishments because they’re the ones doing the work. They work with their animals day and night, so those

animals know how to lead, walk and set up. Our kids wash their animals regularly, as well as do chores daily. It takes a lot of time,” says Janel. “When they win or place in a class, that recognition has been earned.”

McKenna, 16, felt more comfortable with lambs than cattle. She has had a 4-H sheep project for six years. She enjoys showing at both the county and state fairs. Like her older sister, 11-year-old Ellie wasn’t sold on showing cattle. Last year she began her 4-H Boer goat project, and her first doe gave birth Feb. 9 to a beautiful buckling.

Cail, 14, also tried showing cattle but was more passionate about pigs. He’s had a 4-H swine project for five years. He also enjoys showing at the county and state fairs. Ten-year-old Leah looks up to her big brother. As a first year 4-H member, she’s going to try her hand at showing pigs this summer at the county fair.

“Their animals are their responsibility. Because each of our kids is involved in sports and extracurricular activities, they help each other to cover their chores,” says Janel. “Cory grew up showing livestock, so he’s especially proud that our kids have taken an interest in showing. Attending shows together has become our family’s vacation. Not only do we really enjoy the family time, but we’ve met a lot of great people along the way.”

“I clearly remember watching our cows being milked that last morning. Instead of turning out to the barn, they were loaded onto a semi-trailer and taken to a sale barn,” Corinne said. “My siblings and I watched while we waited for the school bus.”

Although only 11 years old at the time, Corinne Rowe (pronounced R-owe, rhymes with cow) learned a lesson about the 1980s Farm Crisis that students in most classrooms will never fully comprehend. She and her family learned about the highs of the peaks and the lows of valleys in a cyclical business. She admits her early farm life of growing up on a dairy and row crop operation during that time in history shaped a lot of her views today.

“We kept farming and raising cattle after that morning by making the necessary changes. That experience taught me to keep working hard in life; make adjustments when needed; and keep moving toward your goals,” she said.

Corinne was motivated to give the ag industry a shot for herself. When she and her younger brother were in junior high, they partnered with an area cow/calf producer to raise Black Angus. They showed some of their animals as market steers and heifers, cow/calf pairs and breeding heifers. Daily chores and making themselves available 24/7 during calving season became a priority for both of them.

Corinne continued to follow her interest in the cattle industry, showing every year between 1986 and 1995, including a few national Brown Swiss shows. She was active in the Junior Brown Swiss Association and served as the state princess from 1994 to 1996.

After getting a taste of the ag industry, Corinne knew she wanted to attend Iowa State University in Dairy Science.

“I envisioned a career in agriculture, especially tied to the dairy industry,” said Corinne, who was offered two jobs upon graduating from college. One job was at bank in Central Iowa, and the other was with a large artificial insemination (AI) company covering southwest Wisconsin. She felt torn as she yearned to stay in the dairy industry but also wanted to remain close to a young farm boy she met while attending ISU. Corinne took the bank job in 2000, so she could remain close to her roots. She also helped her soon-to-be husband, Justin, with the cow/calf herd and got involved in their county cattlemen’s group.

Four short years later, her and Justin found time between planting baling and harvest to get married in November 2004. Shortly after, Corinne stated working for John Deere Financial in 2006.

“I am proud to work for a company that supports all forms of agriculture and strives to understand their customers as well as John Deere does,” said Corinne. “I wanted to have a job off the farm that was tied to agriculture and John Deere is a great fit for that.” 

Corinne works in John Deere Financial as a Dealer Relationship Manager. She serves as the “go-to” person for all financing-related questions stemmed from ag loan applications from dealer staff. One of her favorite aspects of the job is working with dealers, building relationships and learning about agriculture all throughout the United States.

“I’ve had opportunities to ride in a cotton picker during harvest, tour an orange grove, and see sugar cane fields,” she said. “The dealers I work with the northeastern U.S. have orchards, large produce farms, as well as crops I am used to seeing the Midwest along with dairy and beef cattle operations. I love how diverse all the states I work with are and learning about the farming operations in each area.”

Corinne has done what many people strive to do: develop skills professionally while building a lifestyle with her family at home. She sees the importance of being a life-long learner while continuously working to elevate their farming operation.

Corinne joined the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association after her and Justin married. In 2016, Corinne was appointed as a Director on the Iowa Beef Industry Council board, which oversees Beef Check-Off dollars. Justin has served on the Iowa Cattlemen’s Board since 2010 as an alternate and now is a District Director.

Today, Corinne and her family live on a cow calf operation of Red Angus cross bred cows in Dallas Center. She helps on weekends, evenings and some mornings before work. She and Justin work together to pick the replacement heifers each fall, select the cows and bulls to use for artificial insemination and attend bull sales to purchase cleanup bulls.

Looking forward, Corinne wants to grow their cattle herd numbers, use more AI to introduce different genetics to the herd and improve their pastures through management intensive grazing, inter-seeding more varieties of plants and adding more water points. Keeping their children involved on the farm and joining 4-H when they are old enough is also something that she strives to do, while continuing to work for John Deere Financial to combine her farm background with the work John Deere does for agriculture.

Corinne shares some advice for anyone looking to get involved, or stay involved in the ag industry.

“Go for it. Seek out mentors both in your field of interest and outside of it, and be a mentor to someone when you have the opportunity. Find mentors who believe in you and also challenge you to keep growing. Welcome opportunities to keep learning; commit to being a life-long learner.”

One of her mentors taught her to always stay focused on the task at hand. When at the office, focus on your job. When you’re home, focus on family. Really be present wherever you are. She admits some days she is more successful than others, but she realizes the importance of being in the moment and in finding balance.

Corinne believes that life is truly better on the farm is and acknowledges the high’s and low’s through it all.  “I am carrying on the legacy of generations before me and now I get to pass it on to my children.”

No matter how you define the perfect vacation – soaking up the sun on a white sand beach, reading the latest thriller poolside while sipping complimentary fruit smoothies or embarking on an adventurous daytrip – the Hard Rock Vallarta delivers!

This hotel lives up to its marketing slogan, “Live like a Rock Star.” Our group of Latham® dealers and employees were recently greeted with welcome signs and cold drinks before spending the next six days living large on Mexico’s west coast.

Vallarta is a beautiful town situated within Banderas Bay. Beautiful beaches are nestled beneath a backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains, so visitors can enjoy everything from watching whales to ziplining through the jungle. Plus, they’ll find a city teeming with history and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences.

Beautiful handmade pottery and leather purses grace upscale shops in old town. If you walk south from old town, you’ll come to the Isla Rio Cuale. This small island is filled with small crafts, fruit markets and souvenir t-shirts.

Another landmark in “old town” is the red brick Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The church tower is topped with a wrought-iron crown carried by angels.

Whether you’re interested in a traveling into the city or out into the countryside, Puerto Vallarta (PV) is a convenient headquarters. We worked through a destination management company (DMC) to arrange excursions ranging from the beautiful Rhythm of the Nights cultural stage show and candlelight dinner to a day trip in San Sebastian del Oeste, a quaint old mining community that was founded in 1605.

Two more of my favorite excursions were whale watching photo safari and ziplining. Three, 40-ton male Humpback Whales were fighting right before our eyes! Whales circled our boat for over an hour. (NOTE: This photo was taken off with my iPhone, so no telephoto lens was used. We had front row “seats” to the action.)

The key to this spectacular experience is that helicopters spot the most active pods, and then the tourists are taken there. It may cost more, but the Whale Photo Safari is worth it! (I’ve been on two other whale watches and both paled in comparison to this one.) Our guide told us whale tail fins, called a fluke, are as unique as human finger prints; 2,000 different whales have been identified in Banderas Bay, which is a breeding ground for this magnificent species.

I’d be remiss if I blogged about a trip to Mexico – especially a stay in the Hard Rock – without mentioning food. What’s not to love about 24/7 complimentary food, drinks and room service? You get all the benefits of a cruise without having to leave port! Our housekeepers often fashioned towels into works of art, and the chefs were skilled at making cuisine from around the world.

I especially enjoyed the light and tasty crepes, which were made sweet or savory to each guest’s liking. The chef pictured here was making a Nutella crepe; I just may have to try this at home! Guacamole and chips IMO always taste better in Mexico, but I can’t wait another year to indulge. That’s why you can be sure I’ll be whipping up Food and Swine’s “Guacamole for One.”

Keeping with this “fiesta theme,” our friends at the Iowa Food & Family Project have graciously granted us permission to share a recipe today on The Field Position for Mexican Quiche. I especially enjoy spending Saturday mornings in my kitchen and savoring a big breakfast on the rare weekend that we don’t have to race out the door to a basketball game or another activity. “¡Buen provecho!”

Related blog posts:

• Vacation Like a Rock Star in Cancun
• Hang Loose in Hawaii
• San Diego is Cure for Winter Blues

Twenty-eight years ago when Angela Rieck-Hinz went door-to-door introducing herself to farmers, the men didn’t think she was calling on them.

“On the first field call I made as a soil conservationist, the farmer answered the door. Before saying anything to me, he turned to his wife and said, ‘The Avon lady is here’,” she recalls. “I just laughed and turned what could have been an awkward situation into an opportunity. I completed his conservation plan, and we became friends.”

Nearly three decades later, Angie still encounters situations where people are surprised to learn their Extension field agronomist is a woman. She says women can’t take it personally nor let it bother them. She takes the time to listen, ask questions and learn about each farmer’s situation. Then she asks about his or her goals and challenges before offering suggestions or solutions.

Setting goals and striving to achieve them is something Angie learned through 4-H. Originally from Benton County in eastern Iowan, the Rieck family moved to southwestern Wisconsin when Angie was 11. Her mother took a job in town, which provided a steady income and health insurance. Her father bought a farm where he raised about 100 acres of crops plus ran a cow-calf herd and raised hogs farrow-to-finish. He also sold seed.  Angie remembers her dad returning from “seed corn school” sometime around 1980 with a book entitled “Modern Corn Production.” Fourteen-year-old Angie was so fascinated with the content that she read the book cover to cover.

“At that time, I didn’t know it was possible for a girl to become an agronomist,” says Angie, who is in her fourth year as an ISU Extension Field Agronomist serving 9 counties in north central Iowa. She served as a manure management specialist for nearly 20 years on campus at ISU before changing positions. “All my friends were interested in becoming teachers or accountants. During my first semester of college at UW-Platteville, I met two girls who begged me to be on the soil judging team with them.  I started taking agronomy classes and enjoyed them so much that I became an agronomist.” 

Throughout her career, Angie says she’s had the pleasure of working with many people who wanted to see her succeed. They provided her opportunities to grow professionally and encouraged her to take on some challenging aspects of programming that wasn’t popular at the time. 

“What I enjoy most about my job is the people I meet,” says Angie. “Every day I meet new people and talk with those whom I have developed long-standing relationships. I’m glad to see so many women engaged in agriculture as retailers, seed sales professionals, agronomists, veterinarians, commodity analysts, livestock specialists and more. I’m also willing to help them in any way I can. The Avon lady may no longer call, but don’t be surprised when your female ag professional comes knocking.”  

Three years ago Angie started a women’s cohort with the goal of reaching more women landowners, farm women, female retailers and others who wanted to learn more about agronomic principles, crop production, water quality and conservation practices. 

“There are many female landowners who want more knowledge to be able to better communicate with tenants.  There are women who farm and women who are married to farmers, who want access to more information so they can increase their skills and improve communications,” says Angie. “We look at planting practices, crop growth and development; we talk about making replant decisions; we identify weeds, insects and disease; we discuss pest management principles and how to scout to make treatment decisions; and we talk about different conservation practices and impacts on water quality.  We learn about soil fertility, soil sampling, how to make your own fertilizer recommendations, GMO crops and what that means for our food supply. It’s really a lot of fun! 

Angie will start a  new cohort in April 2017. The group will meet at the ISU Field Extension Education Laboratory (FEEL) between Ames and Boone every other week throughout the growing season for about an hour.  Her colleagues, Meaghan Anderson and Rebecca Vittetoe, will also host new cohorts in Iowa County and the McNay Research Farm. For more information about any of these cohorts, contact Angie at 515-231-2830 or amrieck@iastate.edu. 

Guest post by Easton Kuboushek, Communication Specialist, Iowa Soybean Association
(article originally published in the January edition of the Iowa Soybean Review magazine)

Inventors and entrepreneurs are some of the most fascinating and creative people on earth. They have an uncanny way of looking at problems as opportunities and derive solutions through innovation.

Successful entrepreneurs say the key to success doesn’t come from a massive leap or stroke of luck. It comes from planning, hard work and most importantly — taking small practical steps.

Farmers are arguably some of the best entrepreneurs and creative problem solvers in the world. And they are certainly hard workers. Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) believes it’s time to put that tenacity to work and take small practical steps to improving Iowa’s water quality.

“Whether we like to admit it or not, everything we do affects somebody downstream,” says Rob Stout, farmer from Washington, Iowa. “We as farmers are part of the problem and I feel very strongly that we all have a role to play — we all need to step up to the plate.”

Stout and his stepson are conservation farmers operating 1,100 acres of corn and soybeans and raising 10,000 head of hogs in southeast Iowa. He implements a number of conservation practices — no-till, cover crops, terraces, buffer strips and a bioreactor — but it didn’t happen overnight.

Stouts journey to conservation success began in the early 1980s with some heavy rain and a little heartache.

“We saw some heavy spring rains and had some soil washout,” Stout recalls. “You know, it hurts to see that. I knew that even though we were doing conservation tillage at the time that it wasn’t enough.”

Stout took the first small step to solving his problem: learning about potential solutions. At the time, the practice of no-till was just coming into the farming scene.

“Washington County was really on board with no-till,” Stout says. “I went to a couple field days and liked what I saw.”

Stout switched his farm to no-till in 1983 and a few years later, was hosting no-till field days of his own. He continues to implement the practice today.

After starting with one practice, Stout built on his success with additional ones. He built terraces, waterways and buffer strips in the late 1980’s and nearly a decade ago began dabbling with cover crops.

“I think we started with 10 acres the first year,” Stout recalls. “Now we cover all but 20 acres with cereal rye, peas and radishes.”

Stout is in the eighth year of a 10-year cover crop study with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and Iowa Learning Farms. The remaining 20 acres are reserved as check strips to establish a baseline for the study.

Cover crops required more than just education for Stout. He recommends finding a trusted expert and other farmers to increase the chances of success.

Stout utilized his local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office as a “one stop shop” for information on practices, projects and cost-share opportunities.

“Some counties are different but it’s important to find a partner you trust,” Stout says. “There are people who have successfully done it so don’t be afraid to ask questions — you don’t have to make every mistake other farmers have made.”

Iowa State University Extension and experts at the ISA also make excellent resources. Heath Ellison, operations manager of agriculture and natural resources on the ISA Environmental Programs and Services (EPS) team, emphasizes another set of eyes can be very beneficial. 

“Try to find someone who can come in and help you see where you’re at,” Ellison says. “Start with that baseline assessment and get a third party looking at the operation— it’s always a beneficial conversation.”

Ellison and the EPS team work on water quality projects, many in collaboration with the NRCS, across the state.

“Often times, I’ll talk with farmers and we’ll find something we’re not ready to act upon — but at least we know where we stand,” Ellison says. “From there, we can build a plan and start organizing resources.”

Stout added working with neighbors can be a good solution to organizing the necessary resources, especially equipment. He rents out his drill to a few local farmers so they can plant cover crops.

“You don’t have to invest $50,000 dollars to get started. Hire somebody to do a field for you or do what you can,” Stout says. “There’s somebody who will be willing to do that — it just might take a little effort to find them.”

Stout’s work in conservation earned him the ISA Environmental Leader Award for 2017. And while his success and scope of sustainable practices is notable, he believes it’s nothing other farmers can’t replicate. In fact, he encourages it.

“These are things any farmer can do to save our soil and make the water cleaner,” Stout says. “Start small and work your way into it — we’ve got to do our part.”

7 Steps to Incorporating Conservation

STEP 1: Education

• Attend field days or the ISA Research Conference

• Read and research through trusted resources

• Visit county Extension, NRCS or Soil and Water Conservation District offices

STEP 2: Find an Expert

• Who can help me be successful? Are there farmers near me?

• Identify and connect with a third-party expert

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions

STEP 3: Get an Assessment

• What practices will work on my farm?

• Have your expert look at your operation and identify which practices will work best

• Set a baseline to build upon

STEP 4: Build a strategy

• What’s the first small, practical step? How can I get there?

• What barriers do I have to adoption? How can I overcome them?

• Establish short term and long term goals

STEP 5: Organize Resources

• What resources do I need for implementation?

• Identify equipment, financial, seed and other resources

• Identify cost-share opportunities

STEP 6: Implementation

• Time to take action and implement your strategy

• Take small practical steps

• How will you measure progress? (i.e. water monitoring or stalk sampling)

• Track what works and what doesn’t work

STEP 7: Evaluate & Repeat

• What worked well? What didn’t?

• What adjustments do I need to make next year?

• Repeat and grow one small step at a time

 

Originally published in the January edition of the Iowa Soybean Review magazine