By Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

When Living History Farms (LHF) reached out to me last summer about donating a “dinner on the farm” event at my family’s Century Farm near Lake City for an upcoming LHF fundraiser, I didn’t think twice. Yes!

Yes, because I believe in the mission of Living History Farms in Urbandale, which welcomes between 100,000 and 110,000 each year. This interactive, 500-acre outdoor museum that tells the amazing 300+ year story of how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world.

I love how LHF encourages people of all ages to explore Iowa’s rural heritage, including the 1700 Ioway village, the 1850 pioneer farm, the 1875 town of Walnut Hill and the 1900 horse-powered farm.

I also said yes because I spent the summer between my junior and senior years at Iowa State working as an intern at LHF. I was a historical interpreter who helped guests learn about life on the 1900 farm, the 1870s Flynn mansion in the town of Walnut Hill and the veterinary clinic in Walnut Hill. I dressed in the period clothing (yes, long dresses, sunbonnets and all), and learned how to live off the grid. I can milk a cow by hand, make homemade butter, sew an apron on a treadle sewing machine and whip up a batch of cookies in a wood-fired cookstove.

So when Jim Dietz-Kilen, vice president of development reached out to me about donating to LHF’s annual Farmstasia, which it describes as a “casually elegant fundraising dinner and auction,” I was honored. I was especially intrigued when I learned that Farmstasia is also where LHF celebrate their Teacher of the Year — someone who brings history alive for his or her students.

Proceeds from Farmstasia support Living History Farms’ extensive education and outreach programs, which serve nearly 23,000 students annually. Jim asked if I’d be willing not only to donate a signed copy of my Culinary History of Iowa book, but host the auction winner and his or her guests at my family’s farm during harvest and treat them to a home-cooked meal and maybe even a combine ride or two.

I readily agreed, and here was my offering:

Savor a Taste of Iowa Farm Life

Want to see harvest in action and enjoy a home-cooked, home-grown Iowa meal on a working Century Farm? Join Darcy Dougherty Maulsby, Iowa’s Storyteller, on her family’s corn and soybean farm near Lake City for a day you’ll never forget. See what farm life is like at harvest, ride along in a combine, and explore small-town Iowa. If you work up an appetite, that’s good! Darcy, who is the author of the non-fiction Iowa history books “A Culinary History of Iowa,” “Calhoun County,” and “Dallas County,” will prepare a delicious, homemade, family-style meal for you and three guests, complete with an Iowa-inspired menu of homegrown ingredients. You’ll also receive an autographed copy of Darcy’s fascinating Culinary History of Iowa book, which includes stories from Living History Farms. Win this unique package, and you’ll be talking about this unforgettable experience for months to come.

Gary and Fran Huling of Hampton, Iowa, celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary June 22, 2018, with their family. Photos of their some of their favorite memories, from their home farm and prized Holstein cows to Fran’s reunion with her pen pal of 61 years, decorate their home.

Fran and Gary met at the 4-H Fair in Britt when they were high school seniors. Fran’s parents raised registered Brown Swiss, and Gary’s family raised registered Holsteins. Gary began farming with his parents after high school.

When Gary and Fran got married, they farmed in partnership with Gary’s parents. Ten years later Fran and Gary purchased the home farm and the milking herd. They began showing their cattle at the fair in Britt. In later years, they showed at the Iowa State Fair and the World Dairy Expo.

F&G Acres became known for quality genetics, and the couple focused on continual improvement. Their hard work was recognized when F&G Acres was recognized for the highest herd for milk volume and butter fat in Iowa for 1958, 1959 and 1960.

“Back then everyone used their own bulls. It took quite a few years to see performance data on the progeny. Then AI (artificial insemination) came along and more research was done, so we could decide which bull to use on each cow,” explains Gary. “Then we started selling some of our better bulls as studs. One of our bulls, Felix, went to a farm in Holland. Seven or eight years after we sent him there, we saw him featured on the cover of a breed magazine.”

Fran goes on to explain that it takes years to prove a sire’s worthiness. “You have to breed a cow to a particular bull and hope a heifer calf is born. Then you must wait for that heifer to grow up and calve. You hope she has a heifer calf that goes onto to become a good producer. If that cow is a good producer, it reflects well upon her sire.”

Each cow’s body type, as well as the milk volume and butter fat she produces are compared to the bull’s other progeny.

An article in a 1993 issue of “BWS”magazine explains the impact Felix had on improving the quality of Holsteins in the Netherlands.

In that magazine article, dairyman Phillip Metcalfe is quoted as saying, “Felix daughters are certainly strong with great depth of body. One thing is for sure, Felix has certainly been very good value for money for us.” He also commented on the excellent temperament of these cows.

Jay Greenwood said, “[Felix daughters] are looking very well indeed, and the great milk already with high fat and protein percentages is what I’ve noticed the most. They’re going to be strong and upstanding… Their feet and legs are very good, all definite improvements from their dams.”

Keith Morgan, manager of Raveningham Estates, is quoted in that same “BWS” article as saying, “These are very useful cattle indeed. We have a high butter fat base here of 4.6%, but the Felix daughters are averaging over 5% with over 3.2% protein. The first 12, which were all calved down at two years, were classified yesterday. Three-quarters of them scored H70 or over, with the best being H80.”

About 2% of the breed will classify as excellent, says Gary, who served as president of the Iowa Holstein Association in from 1987-1988. Fran served as president of the ladies auxiliary.

The couple enjoyed farming together for more than 40 years. They then decided to sell their herd, rent out their farmland, and explore the country in new ways. They put more than 200,000 miles on their motor homes over 20 years, visiting friends and relatives near and far before they settled down in Hampton where they made their home in 2005.

Hampton, Iowa, is much closer than Britt to their daughter, Jeannette, who lives with her family in Cedar Rapids. Their son Steven teaches in Hampton, and their son Alan lives in Washington state. Fran and Gary are also proud of their five grandchildren and three great grandsons.

When the Huling family gathers together, Butterscotch Pie will likely be served. This recipe was a favorite of Fran’s grandmother, and today she’s sharing it with us on “The Field Position.”

Thank you to all of the Latham® dealers and their families, who traveled earlier this month to Bloomington, Minnesota, for our annual sales meeting and new product introduction. Turnout was tremendous! We hope you enjoyed your stay at the Radisson Blu Mall of America and left the Twin Cities feeling excited about your future with family-owned, independent Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

The theme of “Live Your Legacy with Latham Seeds” was carried through in everything from the 1940s truck centerpieces, which were a replica of the truck Willard Latham used to haul oats to market when the company first began, to our presentations.

One Kickoff presentation that was rated the highest was a keynote address  by Kent Stock. Kent left us with this question, “What do you want to be remembered for?” It’s a question for which he’s become famous. In fact, there was a movie based upon it.

As a former teacher, coach and principal, Kent coached the Norway, Iowa, baseball team to victory in their now-famous final season. As depicted in the 2007 film, “The Final Season,” the Norway baseball team defied the odds and won the small school’s 20th state title in what would become the team’s final season before it was forced to merge with a bigger, neighboring school district. (NOTE: Those of you interested in watching this movie can purchase it off Amazon.)

“Every person who’s ever worn a Norway uniform is out there with you today,” Coach Stock told his team during the state championship game. “Now think about this… No Iowa baseball dynasty has ever won a state championship in their final season. We’re playing for everyone who knows that Norway is a great place to come home to. And no matter what happens today, this time next year, the jerseys you’re wearing will be polishing chrome in Madison High School. So ask yourself one question, ‘How do you want to be remembered’?”

How do you want to be remembered? Whether or not we’re intentional, we all will be remembered for something. At Latham Seeds, we’re proud to live Willard Latham’s legacy. Seed traits and technologies, as well as the way we get seed to market, have changed since 1947. Our business philosophy, however, has not. We’re still committed to farmers helping farmers. We’re committed to helping you increase your yield and preserve your family’s legacy for generations to come!

One way we all can preserve our legacies is by taking care of the environment. In the spirit of sustainability, the Radisson Blu Mall of America houses honey bee colonies from the University of Minnesota Bee Squad. In fact, Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar inside the Radisson Blu features many menu items that put a unique twist on traditional Midwest fare. Some of the menu items enjoyed by those attending Latham Dealer Kickoff included Minnesota Wild Rice Pancakes with Chokecherry Syrup and Walleye Cakes, which are Minnesota’s version of New England’s Crab Cakes. Another menu item that features honey produced on the rooftop at the Radisson Blu is Honey-Lavender Cheesecake, so we’re sharing a similar recipe with you today. Enjoy!

As soon as you step inside Amy Symens’ first grade classroom at West Fork Elementary in Sheffield, Iowa, you can see what lessons are most important.

“Be kind. Be patient. Say please. Say thank you.” Positive messages and images of the Peanuts Gang fill the walls and bulletin boards. Students earn beads daily for positive behavior, such as showing respect and being cooperative, by getting a bead which is then placed on a string.

“Students are very impressionable at this age,” says Mrs. Symens, who is in her 15^th year of teaching. “I’m teaching them important skills like math, reading and science. I also feel that it’s important to teach good character. If my kids can come walk into my classroom where they feel safe, comfortable and respected, then they will perform better. They will come in here and want to learn. I want my class to be a bright spot in each kid’s day.”

Character lessons are reinforced with classroom activities. At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Symens’ reads “Don’t Laugh at Me” by Steve Siskin and Allen Shamblin and Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, which is about a little girl who gets laughed at for having an unusual name. To help show how wounds run deep, Mrs. Symens passes around a construction paper heart. Every time the girl gets her feelings hurt, a student crumples the heart. At the end of the book, she attempts to flatten out the paper heart. Folds and crumbles signify that we still have hurt feelings even after someone says, ‘I’m sorry.’ That’s why it’s important to always be kind.”

“Always be kind” is a lesson that Amy learned from her dad, who farmed near Rockwell. “My dad (Les Deardueff) was the kindest, most patient person. When we were growing up on the farm, he never yelled at us even when we accidentally took out rows of corn while cultivating. Instead, he created teaching moments.”

Teaching moments were plentiful in the Deardeuff household as Amy’s mom, Jo, taught elementary school before she got married. Jo then helped her husband farm. Together they raised five children, yet Mrs. Deardeuff still found time to substitute teach often.

Despite these great teaching role models, Amy didn’t embark on a teaching career immediately upon graduating from Rockwell High School. She earned an associate’s degree as a medical assistant from North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) and worked at the North Iowa Eye Clinic before making the move to the Principal Financial Group where she worked her way to assistant manager. Principal is on the Forbe’s list of the world’s best list of employers, yet Amy felt a calling to become a teacher. She continued to work full time during the days for four years while taking evening classes to earn her teaching certificate.

Once Amy completed student teaching, she stayed home with her three sons for seven years and also was an in-home daycare provider. She also coached volleyball at John Adams Middle School and basketball at Roosevelt Middle School during this time.

“When my youngest son started kindergarten, I accepted a job in Sheffield where I was a para for a year to be closer to home. Then a teaching job opened in Sheffield Elementary, so I applied for it and got it. I coached high school volleyball in Rockwell until my boys got old enough to be involved in their own sports. I didn’t want to miss their events, so I gave up coaching.”

She may have given up coaching, but Amy continued to make a difference in youth sports. After trying to juggle a full-time teaching job with getting her three sons to their various activities like Youth Sports Foundation (YSF) football in Mason City, Amy researched what it would take to get YSF started in Rockwell. She spent one summer completing all the necessary paperwork and raising funds for the equipment.

Involvement in sports has certainly influenced Amy’s sons. Her oldest son, Spencer Halloran, was a four-year, four-sport letter winner. Spencer is a senior at Houston Baptist University where he plays baseball and is majoring in business. Reese also was four-year, four-sport letter winner and was named 1^st Team All District Football. Reese graduated from West Fork High in 2016 and attends NIACC. Mitchell, a junior at West Fork High School, is following in his brothers’ footsteps as a four-sport athlete. He was named 2^nd Team All District Outside Linebacker in 2017 and currently is averaging 12 points as a starting shooting guard on the Warhawks basketball team.

In between attending her sons’ activities, you’ll find Amy preparing lessons for the classrooms. I had the opportunity to catch up with her recently in the classroom and visited with her about how she incorporates ag in the classroom. Amy often shares stories from her experiences growing up on the farm. She’s looking for a way to share incorporate experiences that she and her husband, Mark Symens, have on their farm.

“We have 15 heifers and cows that will calf between February and April. It would be cool to use technology to show my class these calves,” says Amy.

In the past, Amy made a time-lapse video that showed chicks hatching her in second grade classroom as part of North Iowa Ag in the Classroom. First grade Ag in the Classroom activities teach lessons about how farmers take care of their crops and livestock. Because everything comes from a seed, students sort different types of seeds with the objective of teaching them to identify field corn and soybeans.

“First grade students also learn about dairy and make butter, which they enjoy sampling on crackers,” says Amy. “Basically, students learn how farmers take care of plants and animals.”

Other Ag in the Classroom teach students important lessons about soil health. Students also learn that earthworms can indicate good soil health. You also can teach these lessons at home with Dirt Cake, which is a recipe that Mrs. Symens says is a hit with kids.

It’s common for seed representatives to farm, but Kevin Hildring of Larchwood in Northwest Iowa is involved with the agriculture industry in another way. He works for a small firm that does environmental and nutrient management consulting.

“I farmed for a number of years,” explains Kevin. “It feels like I’m still farming most days because I help farmers with fertilizer, soil sampling, and various aspects on their farm. I really enjoy that aspect of my job.”

Kevin has worn many different hats throughout his career. He worked in the animal pharmaceutical industry for more than 30 years with Elanco where he was a part of the vaccination development team. He helped engineer new vaccines for more efficient protein production. He still relies on this expertise and does some private consulting for smaller pharmaceutical companies, especially when they are working to develop a new product for the marketplace. He also has managed approximately 900 acres of farm ground for the last 30 years.

“I enjoy farm management because I’m able to see how the industry has evolved over the years,” he says. “It is really amazing to see how things have changed and improved in the time I managed the land.”

Managing all of these projects could be challenging, but it really fits Kevin’s education and interests. He earned a degree in Strategic Management and then an MBA, focusing on Operations and Project Management, from Colorado Tech University.

When Kevin is off the clock, he enjoys spending time with his family. His wife is a retired school teacher. They have two sons, Nick and Ben, and one daughter, Anna. Nick works in the insurance industry. Ben is enlisted in the military service, and Anna is a school teacher. They also have two grandsons. Kevin also enjoys gardening, reading, traveling and scuba diving.

“I got into scuba diving simply because it was always something I wanted to do. They have a scuba shop, as well as classes, in Sioux Falls so I enrolled. My wife and I take a trip to the Caribbean each year because I really enjoy diving there.”

Kevin has followed a unique career path in agriculture that allows him to offer a unique perspective to his farmer customers. We feel fortunate that he chose to partner with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and are excited to see what the new year brings for his Latham dealership!

“I believe Latham is a really good fit for me. I really enjoy the family aspect of the company and I have enjoyed getting to the entire staff,” he says. “I’m excited to get started!”

When she was a child, Amy (Corey) Eberling thought it was fun to shadow her dad at work. He was a Navy recruiter, and she liked the way people respected this man in uniform. For these reasons, she says the decision to enlist upon turning 17 was a relatively easy one.

Her 25 years of military service took Amy to faraway places including Panama, Peru, Jamaica, Philippines and Greece.

“I had a chance to experience things I never would have done otherwise. I hope, that from my military experience, my children learn they are also capable of doing great things as long as they have the determination,” says Amy. “One thing I know they have learned is they can lean on each other.”

And lean on each other they did… Hospital Corpsman Chef Petty Officer Amy Eberling was deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps on a NATO Training Mission to Afghanistan the summer of 2011. She said goodbye to her husband, Corey, and their four children for almost a year. Her oldest daughter, Alyssa, was 12 at the time. She honed her cooking skills, which made her also appreciate meals delivered by the West Fork Community.

Amy’s oldest son, Ty, was 10 years old at the time of Amy’s deployment. His Boy Scout troop collected donations that were shipped as part of a Christmas care package, which Amy was then able to share with fellow servicemen and women. Eight-year-old daughter Lindsey’s class wrote letters, thanking Amy and others on active duty for their service. Amy still treasures these adorable notes and says she plans to return many of them when those kids graduate. Youngest son, Cayde, was 6 at the time. His class sent colored pictures and made a Christmas tree from all of their hands. Plus Holly Hurley, who coordinates the After School Program in Sheffield, also helped the kids write notes and make crafts that were sent to Amy.

“Military support can come in many forms, but the most simple is just a sincere thank you,” says Amy. “Just let them know what we as a military family have sacrificed has not been forgotten.”

“Say thank you” tops the list of seven ways to honor a vet as posted by U.S. News & World Report. Another idea is to invite a veteran to share your Thanksgiving dinner. Remember, the annual Toys for Tots campaign is underway. This campaign gives you an opportunity to help the U.S. Marines help children who wouldn’t otherwise receive toys for Christmas.

For related posts about veterans, click on a link below.

• Serve Those Who Serve Us
• Ten Things for Which I’m Thankful
• Go Hog Wild This Holiday