- Rhubarb-Black Raspberry Pie by Jamie Reinke
- Cherry Topped Cheese Pie by Sandie Worner
- Pecan Cream Cheese Pie by Janie Meyers
- Red Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie by Janie Meyers
- Peach Pie by Bonnie & Karl Frederickson
- Peanut Butter Pie by Nancy Ruesink Schad
- Chicken Pot Pie by Meg Benson
- BBQ Chicken Pie by Sarah Mumm
- Creamy Strawberry Pie by Sarah Mumm
- Sour Cream Raisin Pie by Deb Lizer
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Pi Day Recipe Submissions
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Seed Dealership Offers Opportunity to Come Home
Marcia & Ed Arndorfer From the time he was a youngster growing up on his family’s farm, Ed Arndorfer dreamed of being a Minnesota farmer. He graduated from Willmar High School in 1972 and, at the urging of his parents, Ed studied Diesel Mechanics at Willmar Vo-Tech.
Ed worked full time as a mechanic for two decades, yet his heart still yearned for farming. When his father decided to retire in 1993, Ed moved onto the home place and rented his father’s machinery and equipment. His also took on a Nu-Tech® dealership to supplement his farming income, as well as help reduce his input expenses. When Nu-Tech sold to DuPont Pioneer, Ed desired to again work with a family-owned seed company and took on a Latham® seed dealership.
“I really like working with a family-owned seed company,” says Ed. “I feel like everyone at Latham is as concerned about the success of my business as I am. They know me by name and treat me like family.”
In addition to operating a seed dealership, Ed also still plants and harvest soybeans and corn every year. One of his sons, who serves as a physical therapist’s assistant full time, adjust his work schedule to help during the busy times. Others help part-time on the farm, as well.
Ed’s wife, Marcia, has worked as a medical assistant at the Affiliated Community Medical Center (ACMC) in Willmar since 1991. In their free time, the couple enjoys traveling, fishing and boating. Last summer they had a boatload of fun when they spent one week at Lake Koronius. Their seven children and 12 grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 22, were able to join the Arndorfers as their schedules allowed.
The family also enjoys getting together throughout the year. Marcia always bakes pies on the holidays, adapting recipes to fit special dietary needs. One of their grandsons is lactose intolerant, so she today she is sharing her adapted recipe for Pumpkin Pie. She’s also sharing one of her diabetic-friendly recipes for Garden Vegetable Brunch Cake.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Farmers Grow Communities Grant Benefits Sibley Co. FoodShare
From left to right: Farmers David and Rhonda Stenzel, Latham® seed dealer Tom Maiers of Stewart, FoodShare coordinator Jacki Kruggel and ShannonLatham David and Rhonda Stenzel, who farm in rural Winthrop, Minnesota, were selected as winners in Sibley County for America’s Farmers Grow Communities. Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program helps farmers support local organizations that are important to them.
The Stenzels chose to direct this $2,500 donation to Sibley County FoodShare because they know there are residents in their home county struggling to put food on their tables. A report issued last fall by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows one in 10 Minnesota households doesn’t have access to enough food for healthy living.
While Minnesota is doing better than the national average of 14.5 percent, the state’s numbers for food insecure families are at an all-time high. The statewide trend is evident in Sibley County where FoodShare coordinator Jacki Kruggel says there is high demand for emergency and supplemental food supplies.
“We serve about 200 families each month through FoodShare,” says Kruggel. “Demand is especially high from November through the winter months. Then we’ll see demand spike again from July through October.”
Sibley County FoodShare is a non-profit organization that has been helping people for more than 25 years. It’s made possible through generous support from communities, churches, businesses and civic organizations. Additional assistance for local families in need are provided by Minnesota Valley Action Council, Sibley County Public Health and Sibley County Human Services.
Shelves at the Sibley County FoodShare are stocked with staples like butter, milk, eggs, flour, sugar, and vegetables like onions and potatoes to cover a family’s basic needs for three or four days. So today on TheFieldPosition, the Stenzels are sharing one of their favorite recipes that uses ingredient that nearly every kitchen has on hand. Warm up this winter with a hearty bowl of Ham & Potato Chowder!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Celebrate March with Pi(e)
Math has never my favorite subject. Honestly, the only way I’ve ever really enjoyed working with fractions is by measuring ingredients in my kitchen. Yet there is a group of math-loving Americans who celebrate Pi Day in commemoration of the mathematical constant of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, known as π (pi), 3.14 or 3/14.
When I think of a circle’s circumference, I think of a pie plate. Pie plates make me think of…
Shepherd’s Pie. Spaghetti Pie. Chicken Pot Pie. Sour Cream Raisin Pie. Quiche.
Strawberry Cream Pie. Apple Pie. Colorado Peach Pie.There are just so many ways to enjoy pie! That’s why, at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’ll be celebrating the 14th of March as “Pi(e) Day.” Join our celebration by sharing your favorite pie recipes with us!
Use our NEW recipe submission app on the right hand column of TheFieldPosition.com. Each person, who submits a recipe by March 13, will be entered into a drawing for an autographed copy of Beth Howard’s new cookbook, Ms. American Pie: Buttery Good Pie Recipes and Bold Tales from the American Gothic House. This cookbook is so new that it doesn’t become available until April 1. Get it while it’s hot!What’s better than muffins hot from the oven on a cold, winter’s day? I adore muffins, so today I’m sharing with you a recipe that I’ve been wanting to try since last fall. Perhaps I’ll get around to it this weekend!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Former FFA Officers “Exert an Influence” by Coming Home
Lisa Ahrens Peterson as National FFA President, 1988-89 Lisa Ahrens Peterson and her husband, J.R., didn’t merely recite The Creed as FFA members. They’ve been living each day, for more than a decade, according these very words.
As a member of the Osage FFA Chapter, Lisa served her local chapter as reporter and president. She also served as: District Vice President, 1995-96; North Central State Vice President, 1996-97; State President, 1997-98; and National FFA President from 1998-99.
“All of my job opportunities were as a result of my FFA experiences, and the network of individuals I met through the years. I also believe that I advanced in my career faster because of the skill set I gained through FFA including leadership, public speaking and teamwork.”
“FFA helped me in college, as well,” adds Lisa. “As a result of my FFA experiences, I was selected for Iowa State University’s President’s Leadership Class. Approximately 30 incoming freshman were chosen and met weekly with President Jischke at his house. I got to know President Jischke very well, and he eventually recommended me for the State Board of Regents. Governor Branstad knew me from my State FFA officer days and recommended me to the Iowa Senate for confirmation. I spent the next 5 years serving on the board. It all began with FFA!”
FFA is a tremendous vehicle to teach leadership, provide personal growth opportunities, and prepare young people for a career in one of over 300 ag-related careers. Lisa said she’s amazed at the number of people she’s met who credit FFA to their success. One such individual is ISU’s Dr. Neil Harl, a nationally recognized expert on taxation, estate planning, business planning and agricultural law. Dr. Harl credits FFA public speaking contests for helping him cure his stutter.
J.R. and Lisa Peterson are excited about the opportunity to return to their family farm near Osage, Iowa Another individual Lisa met through FFA became her husband. She and J.R. met when they were both candidates for national office. Lisa was elected national president, and the National FFA Organization hired J.R. to staff Made for Excellence and the Washington Leadership Conferences. A few years after they were married, J.R. went to work for the National FFA Foundation as Director of Corporate Contributions. Lisa worked for Dow AgroSciences for one year, and then joined the Agri Business Group (ABG) as a senior business analyst. ABG became part of Adayana, and Lisa worked there for nine years.
After her children were born, Lisa chose to work part-time for Adayana as special projects manager. Today Lisa is proud to have the title of “stay at home mom” for three: Ethan, 6; Anna, 4; and Elise, 18 months. She also feels blessed to return to the farm where she was raised.
“I am now the third generation to live on this farmstead and in this house!” says Lisa with excitement. “I love the freedom we have to let kids go outside and play. I also love the opportunity to teach them the value of hard working and working together as a family to get the job done. I also cherish the ability to foster their love of agriculture and provide them with an understanding of where their food comes from. “
In addition to agriculture, J.R. and Lisa share a passion for travel. Lisa’s hobbies also include reading, exercising and gardening. She enjoys the fruits of her labor all year-long through canning and freezing. Today Lisa is sharing with us one of her new favorite recipes because it’s quick, easy, and healthy!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Get into a Relationship with Your Farmer
Photo from Talbotspy.org Food is about relationships, says Jennie Schmidt, a registered dietitian who works full-time farming in Maryland with her family. “Food is nourishing to our bodies. Conversation is nourishment for our souls.”
Because many of the food dialogues have been driven by people who know little or nothing about farming, Jennie says it’s more important than ever for farmers to advocate for agriculture. We must correct misinformation and point out when statements have been taken out of context. We also must allow consumers to get to know farmers, so their confidence increases about the food they eat.
Many Americans take their food for granted, says Jennie. Because they’ve never seen empty grocery shelves, they assume the food is industrial and easy to produce. Some Americans can afford to be arrogant about their food, so they try to dictate to the rest of the population. They want to regulate some foods and ban others. Mostly, they criticize others’ food choices when they don’t align with their own.
The need for farmers to connect and help educate consumers became more apparent to Jennie when she was selected as the 2011 Northeast Region Farm Mom of the Year. She then joined Common Ground, a grassroots movement that encourages conversations between the women who grow food and the women who buy it. Today, Jennie blogs at The Foodie Farmer and many of her posts are also shared on Stone Soup, a guest blog written by members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In addition to blogging and farming, Jennie also manages vineyards. Farming is all about nutrition for animals, soil and plants after all. Because Jennie was a registered dietician when she married Hans, who was raising hogs and cattle with his brother and their father, she decided to put her nutrition degree to use on the farm.
The Schmidt family has always tried new ventures, and Jennie became interested in growing grapes to further diversify the farm plus make a “niche” for herself. From there, she launched a vineyard management company that is expanding to new areas including Delaware.
Farmers can diversify into grape production if they have a good understanding of crop load and pest management, says Jennie. Unlike commodities, grapes are grown for quality and crop reduction is often necessary. It’s not necessarily a good thing to have high tonnage when the result is poor quality.
Growing grapes is as labor intensive as tobacco, says Jennie whose first job was working tobacco in the fields of western Massachusetts. Her best friend’s dad was a dairy farmer, and Jennie loved helping him haul hay. Although she wasn’t raised on a farm, time spent on her friends’ farms prompted her to minor in International Agriculture.
After college, Jennie spent two years working in Botswana, Africa helping the Ministry of Agriculture develop a 4-H program. Her master’s thesis was about food and agricultural biotechnology, so it’s no wonder that agriculture and food production are so near and dear to Jennie’s heart.
As a tribute to Maryland where she farms, today we’re featuring a recipe for Crab Cakes with Lemon Dill Sauce. We’re also linking to the Taste of Home website where you can download a recipe to make a side of Chesapeake Slaw.
Be sure to also check out the Stone Soup website for a modern twist on American classics like Blueberry Chipotle Ketchup and Coffee-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Guests RD’s also offer tips for pairing oils with foods including this recipe for Warm Asparagus Salad with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Do Your Heart Some Good & Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Since today is National Wear Red Day® and Valentine’s Day is literally one week away, today on TheFieldPosition we’re providing ideas and activities that will “do your heart some good.”If you forgot to wear your red power tie or lipstick today, no problem! You still have 21 more days to “Go Red.” The entire month of February is National Heart Month to draw nationwide attention to the fact that heart disease, which was long thought to be a “man’s disease,” is the # 1 killer of women. Did you know that heart disease claiming more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer combined?
Don’t be scared, be proactive! Know the signs of a heart attack. Exercise regularly, and eat heart-healthy foods. Remember, a healthy mind and spirit is as important as a healthy body.
“Giving to others makes them happy and in turn it makes you happy,” says American Gothic Pie Lady Beth Howard. Find peace by serving up a few slices for your loved ones. Even if baking isn’t part of your plans this weekend, you can others’ spirits and your own during Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 10-16. Iowa farmer and author of the Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids blog, Val Plagge, offers 10 ideas to Beat the Winter Blues such as sending a handwritten “just because” note to friends or family members.
Another idea is to make your own Valentine’s Day notes or cards. Who says you have to have preschool or grade school children to enjoy this DIY project? I don’t know of a grandparent who wouldn’t love the Peek-a-Boo card. I think it would be fun to make one of these cards and stick it on a bag of Homemade Valentine’s Day Chex Mix as shared by Iowa agvocate and blogger Crystal Blin (aka @Crystal Cattle).
The Iowa Girl Eats offers up 15 recipes for Valentine’s Day. Honestly, I had thought about making reservations before I read her blog yesterday! Now I’m thinking I should really celebrate at home because so many recipes caught my attention from the Surf & Turf Combo of Asian-Grilled Shrimp and Dijon-Brown Sugar Marinated Steak to Individual Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes and Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars. I’m also intrigued with a recipe for White Chocolate Dipped Krispy Treats. If I don’t get these krispy treats made for Valentine’s Day, I’m putting it on my “to do” list for meeting treats in March! (Can’t you just picture them with green sprinkles and shamrocks?)
Next Saturday morning I’ll likely be whipping up a batch of Heart-Shaped Pancakes for my family because that’s been a valentine tradition for the past 10 years at our house. Apparently nothing says “I love you” like hot cakes with a side of bacon!
