Happy “Souper Bowl” Sunday!

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People’s Choice Chili

Ingredients

Chili

• 1 large can Campbell's tomato juice
• 1 large family size Campbell's tomato soup
• 1 lb hamburger browned and drained
• 1 can Mrs. Grimes chili beans in chili sauce
• 1 pint homemade frozen salsa (See below)

Salsa

• 8 cups diced tomatoes (I tend to remove the seeds too)
• 2 medium green peppers
• 2 medium yellow peppers
• 2 medium red peppers
• 2 large onions (chopped)
• 3/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp salt
• 4.5 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in large saucepan
• Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered 45 minutes, stirring often
• Serve!

Notes

Storage:

Put unused chili into pint sized freezer containers.

Let sit on countertop until cooled to room temp, then freeze.

Chelsea grew up on an acreage outside Dougherty, Iowa, where her family raised cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. Farming was a way of life for her, and she was actively involved in agriculture from a young age. Her dad and brother continue to farm today alongside other family members, keeping their legacy going strong.

A graduate of Rockford Senior High School, Chelsea balanced academics, athletics and leadership, participating in cheerleading, softball, volleyball and track while serving as her senior class president. After high school, she attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, earning her associate degree. Chelsea then returned home to begin working at Five Star Co-op, where she expanded her knowledge in ag and built strong relationships with farmers.

Chelsea and her husband, Jake, live in Rockwell with their two boys, Holdyn and Gannon, who attend West Fork schools. Jake is self-employed and runs his own spraying business, helping farmers maintain healthy and productive fields. The family loves spending time together outdoors — whether camping, golfing or caring for their four dogs.

Between growing up on a farm and an ag career that spans more than 15 years, Chelsea was familiar with Latham Seeds before joining. “I’ve known about Latham for many years, and when I came across this job opportunity, I thought it was a great fit for me and my family,” she says. “I’m excited to work with a new group of people at this family-owned business.”

Chelsea’s extensive experience in agriculture, paired with her dedication to supporting farmers, makes her a perfect addition to the Latham team. “I’m looking forward to helping growers achieve success and navigating the ever-changing world of ag,” she says.

Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys attending her children’s events, gardening, reading, golfing and traveling. She also likes sharing family favorite recipes, like Taco Pasta Salad — a quick, easy, and delicious dish that’s a go-to for her family.

Please join us in welcoming Chelsea to the Latham Seeds family!

Taco Pasta Salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Equipment

• Saucepan

Ingredients

  

• 10 oz pasta
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 envelope 1.25 oz – taco seasoning packet
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes – halved
• 1 can 11 oz – corn
• 1 can 15 oz – black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

 

• Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinsed under cold water
• While pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing in a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, taco seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Add drained pasta, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese and cilantro. Stir well to combine. Add more salt, pepper, and/or cilantro if needed.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving so that flavors can deepen and pasta chills.

This January, we’re bringing together the Latham family of dealers, customers and team members for a unique celebration. Our “Souper Bowl” series will spotlight favorite soup recipes from across Latham Country — hearty creations that have become game-day staples and wintertime must-haves. From tried-and-true classics to bold new flavors, we’ll share recipes that are sure to warm your soul and inspire your next meal.

As we approach the Big Game on February 9, stay tuned to our social channels for recipe reveals, cooking tips and maybe even a few surprises along the way. Whether you’re rooting for your team to take home the trophy or just looking for a new soup recipe to try, we can’t wait to share this “souper” journey with you.

Here’s to a season full of great food, great company and great games. Our first recipe won Latham’s chili cookoff last year (thanks Renata!) so be sure to find out why.

Let the “Souper Bowl” festivities begin!

People’s Choice Chili

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

Chili

• 1 large can Campbell's tomato juice
• 1 large family size Campbell's tomato soup
• 1 lb hamburger browned and drained
• 1 can Mrs. Grimes chili beans in chili sauce
• 1 pint homemade frozen salsa (See below)

Salsa

• 8 cups diced tomatoes (I tend to remove the seeds too)
• 2 medium green peppers
• 2 medium yellow peppers
• 2 medium red peppers
• 2 large onions (chopped)
• 3/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp salt
• 4.5 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

 

• Combine all ingredients in large saucepan
• Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered 45 minutes, stirring often
• Serve!

Notes

Storage:

Put unused chili into pint sized freezer containers.

Let sit on countertop until cooled to room temp, then freeze.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Systems Technology and Business from South Dakota State University (Go Jacks!), Brad initially envisioned a career in the equipment industry. However, the pull of working closely with farmers led him to his first role with a family-owned seed company, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I discovered Latham Seeds on Facebook, and I couldn’t be happier to join this incredible team,” Brad says. “I’m excited to build distribution in Southwest Minnesota and help our dealers grow and succeed. My favorite part of the job is finding the right person to join the Latham family, supporting their growth and watching them achieve success.”

Brad’s story is also one of family, tradition and connection. He still enjoys time on his family’s 750-acre farm, riding motorcycles, snowmobiling with his son Tate and gathering with loved ones. And speaking of family traditions, Brad’s grandmother was a WWII war bride from Japan — a unique chapter in the VerSteeg family history.

At the heart of Brad’s story is a shared value with Latham Seeds: the importance of family. It’s why he’s excited to join an independent company that understands the legacy-building work farmers do every day. “I look forward to bringing my past experience and blending it with Latham’s tools and processes to serve our dealers and customers.”

To wrap things up — and to celebrate the VerSteeg family’s love of food and togetherness — we’re thrilled to share one of Brad’s favorite family recipes: The VerSteeg Lettuce Salad. Handcrafted by the VerSteeg men at family gatherings, it’s a simple yet flavorful dish made with shredded lettuce, chopped onion, boiled eggs, bacon, a little bacon grease and a splash of vinegar. It’s a dish that’s as timeless as the traditions it represents.

So, here’s to new beginnings with Brad VerSteeg, stronger roots in Southwest Minnesota, and the family recipes that bring us together.

“We don’t miss scooping snow off the roof,” Dennis says with a smile. The Mulders spend their time on South Padre Island with Holly’s sister and her husband, as well as several couples from their hometown church who winter in the same area. Along with their sons, Dennis and Holly have two grown daughters, Becky and Kelly, and eight grandkids.

“We enjoy visits from our kids and grandchildren,” Holly says. “We play a lot of cards and go on bicycle rides.”

After spending a few months away during the winter, Dennis and Holly are happy to come home and watch their crops grow.

“We’ve always enjoyed working with Latham Seeds,” Dennis says. “We started planting Latham in the 1970s when 50-bushel soybeans were a big deal! I was doing some custom farming for a guy and his beans were the best. I found out they were Latham, so I started buying some. When the local elevator stopped carrying Latham®, I became a dealer.”

The Mulders have always planted 100% Latham brand soybeans for their strong performance, pointing to top-notch resistance against disease.

“One of my customers planted Latham beside a competitor in a field that had White Mold. The competitor’s variety went 27 bushels per acre and Latham went 60. That product sold a few beans for me! They were an early bean that yielded good.”

Jerry, adds: “We always hear about the quality of Latham beans when our customers open the bag.”

After they pull their trailer home from Texas, the Mulder family gets ready for the summer camping season. Sometimes they camp just four miles away, but it provides a family getaway while allowing their grandkids to participate in extracurricular activities.

This tried-and-true recipe has been in the Mulder family for generations and has become Holly’s go-to fruit recipe.

“We told him we would try that,” says Marianne, who farmed with her husband from 1962 until 2019. “Pretty soon every field was planted to Latham seed beans.”

Marianne says raising seed beans worked out well for them. They were able to combine the crop and deliver it directly to the Latham plant, with Marianne herself driving the tractor and wagons. Not having to worry about storage allowed the Paynes to save on seed costs — and their landlords also agreed to raise seed beans.

“We would plant different varieties, so our fields would mature at different times,” she says. “It went well for us.”

Now that they’ve retired and moved to town, Marianne says she misses running the tractors. Not only did she haul their grain, she ran their tillage equipment too. For many years, the Paynes raised cattle and hogs, and had a few sheep early on. Marianne was raised on a farm between Thornton and Alexander; Loran was on a farm three miles away. They went to different country schools and met through friends.

Loren and Marianne Payne, who have five grown children, were honored in 2019 for having served as Latham® seed growers for 51 years. It’s a milestone memory that they, and we, hold fondly.

“Latham Seeds has always been easy to work with,” Marianne says. “I really enjoyed working with each generation. We never worried because we knew we could trust them.”

This week at Latham Seeds, we all gave a cheer

For the food and the sweaters — yes, our potluck was here!

Crockpots and cookies all waited in line

And the tacos arrived, just precisely on time.

Who brought that cheese dip? Who made those bars?

Mexican sushi? Oh, we’re eating like stars.

“Feliz Navidad” was our theme for this year,

There were jalapeños galore, for those with no fear.

We had cheesy corn and tortillas, beans and rice

And all the Christmas staples – so much sugar, so much spice!

Our ugly sweater contest brought Quentin some fame.

But who knew Spanish Bingo is the best reindeer game?

Personalized ornaments were hung on the tree

As a thank you to Team Latham for everyone to see.

With hearts and bellies full, no one left without

Because a tradition like this is what family’s all about.

Enjoy a recipe that was brought to the potluck below!

We’re helping fans everywhere prepare with 10 themed recipes from our blog. Whether your favorite teams win or loses, you’ll always be a winner when you bring your “A Game” to the table! Good food makes the agony of defeat more bearable or the thrill of victory sweeter.

Iowans were thrilled on Selection Sunday, March 13, when both the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State University Cyclones were invited to The Big Dance. Fresh off a Big 10 Championship title, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes were given a 5-seed. The Hawks will play 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders, which also won its conference tournament, at 2:10 p.m. on March 17.

Iowa State University will play on Friday, March 17, at 6:20 p.m. After going 0-18 last season in the Big 12 and 2-22 overall, new head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s has led the Cyclones to their first NCAA tournament since 2019. The Cyclones will be an 11th-seed this year, matching up against the sixth-seeded Louisiana State University Tigers.

Throughout the basketball season, every free throw made by Iowa State University and University of Iowa, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds donated to the American Cancer Society through Coaches vs Cancer!

Whether you want to cheer on your favorite teams while enjoying a St. Patrick’s Day feast, simple pub grub or southern comfort food, you’ll find it in our Game Day Recipe Roundup. Below are favorite recipes that were featured by Latham Seeds on “The Field Position:

1. Beer Braised Irish Stew
2. Crawfish Dip
3. Buffalo Chicken Dip
4. Pickle Wrap Dip
5. Cheeseburger Soup
6. Chicken Bacon Corn Chowder
7. Hammy Sammys
8. Tri Tip Steak with Horseradish Sauce
9. Cardinal & Gold Cream Cheese Burgers
10. Bananas Foster, New Orleans Regional Cuisine

Remember to tune into after the game to the Latham Locker Room Report on Cyclone Radio. The Latham Locker Room show is a post-game radio broadcast in which analysts, coaches and players share their thoughts on the game.

“It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized I was the lucky one,” says Kathy. “If you have roots in farming, hang on for dear life! There’s nothing better than breathing in the fresh morning air, experiencing the birth of a new calf, smelling newly baled hay, or watching beautiful crops grow in the field. It’s priceless being able to farm the same fields as your parents or grandparents did.”

Kathy grew up on a farm about three miles from where she and her husband, Mike, have farmed together for more than 30 years. They raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa. She ran the field cultivator until they started practicing no-till. Kathy also used to haul corn and soybeans from the field to the grain bins until Mike convinced her to run the combine. Now Kathy operates the combine while Mike hauls the grain.

Kathy steps down from the combine to check on cows that are calving as most of their cows calve in the fall. They also have calves born between February and March. Kathy also does the bookwork and keeps the cattle records; she and Mike both do chores.

Unlike Kathy, Mike always knew he wanted to farm. He was active in both 4-H and FFA grew up raising cattle and hogs. He really enjoys watching crops and livestock grow. In addition, he and Kathy have operated a Latham® Seeds dealership since 2014.

“I really enjoy talking with other farmers and helping them find the right seed products,” says Mike. “We made the switch to Latham Seeds because we appreciate that Latham is family-owned. I’m a third-generation farmer, and Latham Seeds is a third-generation seed company. We share many of the same values.”

Farming and selling seed give Mike and Kathy the flexibility to attend family activities. Together, they have seven children and 18 grandkids, ranging in age from 29 to three years old.

It’s Show Time!
Summer is a busy time for the Wagners. And that’s just the way they like it! Kathy and her daughter, Audrey, show Belted Calloway cattle around the Midwest. Kathy gets to live out her dream of showing animals with her children and grandchildren.

When Kathy was five years old, her parents divorced. In the settlement, Kathy’s mother received part of the land and continued to raise sheep, beef cows, hogs and chickens. She rented out her farm ground.

“Much later in life I realized what an undertaking that was!” says Kathy. “My mom had chores and bookkeeping to do plus she raised five kids, so there wasn’t time for me to be involved in 4-H or FFA. I would have liked to have shown animals. Now I show cattle each year in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.”

Their show cattle enterprise began as a 4-H project for Kathy’s daughter, Audrey.

“Audrey begged for a Beltie (Belted Galloway), so we finally got one. By the time she graduated high school, Audrey had six cows,” says Kathy. “I was left with the cattle chores after Audrey graduated. I decided that if I was going to do chores that I might as well have a cow of my own. I got one. Six years later, we had about 35 purebred registered Belted Galloways between our two herds. Today we calve out between 50 and 60 cows.”

Audrey and Kathy attend two or three shows each year in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Audrey does most of the showing although Mike and Audrey’s boyfriend, Josh, step in when needed. Kathy is on the sidelines holding halters and reminding everyone of birthdates and other stats. The Wagners also sell breeding stock. There’s a sense of pride that comes along with building a herd and raising quality stock. Their bulls have gone to Texas, Oklahoma and Minnesota.

“I love the cows. I like taming the calves and breaking them to lead on a halter,” says Kathy. “Most of our cows have been in the show ring, so they are very tame. I love that they each have different personalities. Belties tend to be smaller and more docile than other breeds, and I like that, too.”

Showing Belties is becoming a family tradition. Kathy’s granddaughter, Tiffany, shows Belties at the Cedar County Fair in 4-H.

“Children learn responsibility from working with and caring for animals by being in charge of their food, water, shelter, as well as some of the costs. It’s life lessons that aren’t as easily learned on the couch,” says Kathy.

“Farming is a great occupation but it’s not easy,” adds Kathy. “There are days when you spend long hours in a cab and there are days when all the animals need clean pens. You must do chores in 20-below wind chill, on days when the mud is up to your knees, and on days when it’s 95 degrees in the shade. There are days you will envy those 9-to-5’ers! But when you look around at your land, animals and crops, you feel a sense of pride and it’s all worth it.”

Despite her farming responsibilities, Kathy also makes time to be involved in her community. She has served as church organist since she was in fifth grade. She also accompanies the concert choir at the Tipton High School.

With so much time spent outside, Kathy looks for recipes that are simple but delicious. Today she is sharing with us a favorite recipe for Cabbage Salad.

“All of our children began showing bucket calves at the Franklin County Fair when they turned five, and someone from our family showed bucket calves for 17 consecutive years,” says Tami. “This helped our kids develop a passion for showing and judging livestock.”

The 2021 Franklin County Fair will mark the first time in 27 years that the Suntken family will not be showing cattle at the fair. However, their years showing cattle provided them with life-long memories and taught them important life lessons.

“4-H has taught our children lessons and provided them with many experiences that are important in life: work ethic, responsibility, how to start and finish projects, character development, meeting new people, public speaking, helping others and developing new friendships.”

The Suntken’s oldest daughter, Katelyn, served as both Franklin County beef princess in 2007 and beef queen in 2008. She and her husband, Ryan Borcherding, live in Reading, Pennsylvania, with their four-year-old daughter. Katelyn is a stay-at-home mom, and Ryan works for Deere & Company as a regional manager. The Suntken’s oldest son, Kellen, interned with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in the early years of our precision ag program. Kellen graduated from Iowa State University. He serves as Plant Operations Lead for Syngenta Seeds in Lone Tree, Iowa. He also remains active in the family’s farming operation. Their son Kendrick played linebacker for the University of Northern Iowa and now farms with his dad. Kenrick also is a chemical rep for Innvictis Crop Care and Biodyne USA. Kirsten just finished her freshman year at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Ankeny where she is majoring in Ag Business. This summer is serving as a precision ag intern with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

The Sunkten’s diversified farming operation includes corn and soybeans plus a cow-calf herd and a custom hog finishing operation. Jon started farming full-time in 1979 and also worked 12 winters at Latham Seeds. He has been a contract Latham® soybean grower for 42 years. Tami works full time as a program technician at the Wright County Farm Service Agency.

Today Tami is sharing a recipe for grape salad with an Irish twist. Kirsten is promoting Iowa beef during Beef Month by sharing with us one of her favorite recipes for pot roast in a crock pot.