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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Sweet Summer Time and Blue-Ribbon Memories
‘Twas two weeks before fair, and around the farm;

Every 4-H and FFA member was working so hard sweat dripped down their arms.

Baking experiments on the counter, painting projects on the table;

Goats in the pasture, horses in the stable.

Will it all come together? Will everything get done?

Sometimes all one can do is pray, but that beats twiddling your thumbs!

The great Franklin County Fair will be July 18-22, 2018, in Hampton, Iowa. There will be a Barnes PRCA Rodeo on Wednesday. Country Music Hall of Famer Chris Janson will take the stage on Thursday, July 19. Then on Friday, July 20, the “Roots & Boots” tour including Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw draw people from miles around. What a lineup!

But as good as the entertainment is, the main event for me is watching my daughter show. I admire my her hard work and determination, but what I enjoy most about Ellie’s 4-H Meat Goat and Horse Projects is that it allows us to spend quality time together. We work toward a common goal to find a feeding program to get our goats ready for market and preparing them for the fair. We spend lots of hours together throughout the year in the horse stables while she rides and practices for show. We log lots of windshield time traveling to shows. We’ve also made a lot of good friends along the way.

Any former 4-H or FFA member, and any parent of a 4-H and FFA member, knows the amount of stress that comes as as show day gets one day closer. There’s only so much that’s within the control of the person who’s showing livestock. You and your animal must work well together. You’re also at the mercy of the judge, whether you’re showing livestock or exhibiting a Home Improvement project.

Photo by Joseph L. Murphy – find him as @jmurphpix on Instagram and Twitter

So why do it… Why be a 4-H or FFA member who exhibits projects at the fair? These youth organizations teach so many valuable life sills from settings goals and working to achieve them to money management. Friends that I made as a 9-year-old 4-H member are still some of my best friends today. In addition to life-long friendships, we’re making life-long memories.

One of my best fair memories is food on a stick like corn dogs and hot beef sundaes at the Franklin County 4-H Food Stand. Thanks to the Iowa Food & Family Project’s Fair Fare cookbook, we can enjoy some of Iowa State Fairgoers’ favorite foods like Peppermint Ice Cream Bars. (Click here to download the Fair Fare cookbook.)

Today the Iowa Food & Family Project is sharing with us a recipe that allows us to savor one of the best summer flavors, and that’s homegrown sweet corn. I noticed sweet corn stands popping up for the first time this week across North Iowa, and I’m looking forward to trying some soon. July is National Grilling Month, and Grilled Sweet Corn Salsa sounds perfect for backyard barbecues and family gatherings.

GRILLED CORN SALSA

INGREDIENTS
- 5 ears fresh sweet corn, shucked
- 3 jalapeños, chopped (seeded if you don’t want a spicy salsa)
- 1 red onion, quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves
- 4 cups coarsely chopped tomatoes
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) black soybeans, drained and rinsed
- 1½ teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ to 1 lime, juiced
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS

Preheat a grill to medium-high (350°F). Arrange the ears of corn on the grill and cook until lightly charred, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. Remove the corn from the grill and let cool slightly. Slice the kernels from the cobs and measure 3 cups into a large bowl. Reserve any excess corn for another use.

Place the jalapeños (remove seeds if you don’t want the salsa to be as spicy), onion, red pepper and cilantro in a food processor and pulse to chop. Add the tomatoes and pulse to create a chunky texture. Do not overprocess. Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the corn and add the beans, garlic salt, oregano, lime juice and pepper. Toss gently to coat. Chill the salsa for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop.
Shannon Latham

July 6, 2018

General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Young Farmers are “SOLD” on Teaching Ag in their Classrooms

Did you know Wisconsin’s state dairy product is cheese? (You’re probably thinking, ‘Of course it is!’) What you may not know is this wasn’t the case until a class of determined fourth graders and their dairy-loving teacher, along with 4th grade teachers Lynn Ross and Paige Grimm, helped get a bill passed in the Wisconsin Legislature in 2017 declaring it so.

Livia Doyle, who teaches fourth grade at Mineral Point Elementary in southwestern Wisconsin, enjoys opportunities to combine her farming roots with teaching students. At the start of each school year, Livia’s fourth grade class spends the first few weeks studying Wisconsin’s state symbols.

Agriculture and Government in the Classroom

“After researching and discussing the symbols, my students couldn’t believe Wisconsin didn’t have cheese as a state symbol, let alone that dairy products weren’t even on the symbols list. Enter social studies lesson! We contacted our local House and Senate members, sharing a proposal with reasons why cheese should become the next Wisconsin state symbol,” explained Livia. “I couldn’t have been more appreciative of how our elected officials dug in and helped me make this lesson reality for the class. Later that week the students’ proposal was drafted into a bill and a group of students and teachers from the Mineral Point district made the trek to Madison. The students testified in front of a joint committee hearing. The bill unanimously passed the House and Senate, and Governor Walker visited the school to sign the bill into law in front of the students.”

For Livia, agriculture in the classroom is a passion. Other classroom lessons have included making butter and ice cream, sampling real maple syrup, touring the Spudmobile to learn about Wisconsin’s potato industry and learning from classroom farmer guests how they raise cranberries and other Wisconsin staples. (Spoiler alert — Livia shared a fantastic recipe for Cranberry Cookies, which she makes for her students during their Cranberry unit. You’ll find it listed at the bottom of this post!) This past year she was recognized by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau for her outstanding work integrating agriculture and government into her curriculum.

“I enjoy opportunities to find purposeful ways to bring agriculture into my lesson plans and help my students understand how agriculture influences their life each and every day” said Livia.

“Big Brown Bug Bit A Big Brown Bear”

I first met Livia at a conference in Iowa. It always amazes me how small the agriculture community is as we quickly found common ground not only over a shared love of cheese and farming, but the Worldwide College of Auctioneering in (local to me) Mason City, Iowa.

Livia grew up on a 400-acre dairy farm where her passion for agriculture began. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UW-Platteville before landing at the Mineral Point school district. In 2011, she married Justin Doyle. As Black Hawk School District High School Ag Instructor and FFA Advisor, he’s also a passionate instructor of Ag in the Classroom. In 2012, the couple launched a family-owned auctioneering business called On Point Auction Service, LLC. They’re raising their two children, Quayde and Gentry, on a beef farm with a Red Angus cow/calf herd.

While growing up, Livia and Justin spent a fair amount of time in their local sale barns. Auctioneering was a dream of Justin’s, so in the summer of 2012 the couple attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering for training on bid calling and the business of auctioneering. Livia also received her certificate in bilingual auctioneering, learning techniques in both English and Spanish. One of those techniques is a warm-up tongue twister: “Big Brown Bug Bit a Big Brown Bear” “Big Brown Bug Bit a Big Brown Bear”. (I know I can’t say that 10times fast… yet. I may need some practice before I hit auction school!)

On Point Auction Service is a shared family business with a college friend, as well as Justin’s sister Melissa. They enjoy spending weekends together and helping customers get the best value for property sold at each and every event. While the business makes for some busy weekends, Livia regularly has this recipe for Cowboy Potatoes ready in the auction trailer to keep the crew operating On Point.

State Fair Cranberry Cookie

This is the recipe for the famous Wisconsin State Fair Cranberry Cookie sold at the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association booth during the Wisconsin State Fair.

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 6-ounce package sweetened dried cranberries

2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes approximately 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Gary Geske

February 2, 2018

Food & Family, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

National Popcorn Day

Today we pay tribute to the 1962 Master Homemaker
and Matriarch of the Latham family

In honor of National Popcorn Day we are featuring Evelyn Latham. Evelyn was very involved with the seed business when the company began and was very well-known for her hospitality, one of her most popular recipes was her popcorn balls.

To introduce Evelyn I’ve decided to begin with an excerpt from memories that she penned years ago for her family. “My story is one of love and hard work, interspersed with joys, tragedies, achievements, and a lot of family pride. I was born on December 17, 1916, to John A. and Nora Ladegaard Johansen at our farm home near Latimer, Iowa.”

“In 1947 Willard bought a large seed cleaner,” Evelyn writes in her memoir. “He built a trailer to transport it, and that was the beginning of our seed business. He made a home-made seed treated, and he and John Hill went from farm to farm to clean oats that were full of weeds and infected with smut fungus disease. They almost froze to death, so the next year Willard had farmers bring their oats to a shed on our farm where they could be cleaned and treated.

We soon outgrew that, so Willard remodeled our corn crib (granary). I’ll never forget how hard he worked putting in an elevator and machinery! He had a man helping him. When they started the equipment, they discovered the elevator wasn’t high enough. He was just sick about it. He came into the house and said, “Eve, come, we have to go for a ride”. So we went for a little ride. Then, of course, he had to rebuild it.”

Evelyn helped support Willard and their business in numerous ways. The family’s kitchen table served as the company’s office, so she made numerous trips daily from the house to the outbuildings whenever Willard was needed to a phone call. Known for her cooking skills and hospitality, it wasn’t unusual for Evelyn to feed a room full of hired men and customers.

In addition to serving as secretary and caterer in 1947, Evelyn was busy caring for four boys ranging in age from 6 to 1. (The Latham’s fifth son was born in July 1948.)

It’s no wonder Wallaces Farmer magazine recognized Evelyn as Iowa Master Farm Homemaker of the Year! An excerpt from the December 15, 1962, issue of Wallaces Farmer states, “Mrs. Willard Latham, Franklin County, shares her interest in music with her husband and sons… she loves music and likes to read when she has time.”

No matter how busy and full her life might have been, Evelyn was known for making time to share coffee and fellowship with family and friends. She was one of those rare people who put you at ease from the first meeting. When John first introduced me to her, Evelyn pulled me into a hug. Her smile reached her eyes as she told me how glad she was to meet me. In the next breath, she said, “Let’s go into the kitchen for some coffee and cookies. You’ll have some, won’t you? Sure you will.”Anyone who ever met Evelyn knows there is no choice but to make time for coffee and cookies.

In honor of National Popcorn Day we are sharing her recipe for popcorn balls. These are a big hit around the Christmas Holiday. We hope you’ll enjoy this family recipe as much as we do!

Team Latham

January 20, 2018

Agriculture, Food & Family, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Recipe for a Healthy 2018: Eat Well. Move Well. Think Well.
Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson, DC, CCWP Director of Live Healthy Iowa

Most New Year’s Resolutions focus on improving health and happiness but “get healthy” is ambiguous. Depending on which articles you read or the reports you listen to, eating healthier can be downright confusing or overwhelming.

“What I tell people is: Eat well. Move well. Think well. Set small achievable goals for short periods of time,” encourages Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson, director of Live Healthy Iowa, which was created to strategically address Iowa’s growing obesity problem. Live Healthy Iowa brings together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges designed to promote positive lifestyle change.

Dr. Willcockson says it’s best to create a baseline by getting a physical. Find out if all your numbers are in order: cholesterol, sugars and body fat percentage / body mass index (BMI). Keep track of where you are and strive for better balance. Work at getting just 10 percent better in any one area.

“Focus on just one 10 percent increment at a time,” she says. “Don’t look at the insurmountable. Literally just take a step in the right direction. Then take the next step.”

To get 10 percent better in any one area, Dr. Willcockson offers this practical advice:
- Eat Well. Try to have one different colored fruit and vegetable on your plate at each meal. Pack snacks to enjoy as mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks in the office or on the road. Be sure to include a healthy fat with fruits and veggies. “Grab and go” foods might include: 1/3 cup hummus with 12 baby carrots; ¼ cup almonds or walnuts with 8 large strawberries; or 1 cup cherry tomatoes with 1 ounce of plain cheese curds.
- Move Well. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Park further away from the building you’re going to enter. As a society, we need to change the way we think about how we workout. Google “interval training” or “burst training,” and get ideas for workouts that are from 5 to 15 minutes long.
- Think Well. Does your self-talk need to be more positive? Maybe you struggle with depression or have an unresolved issue with a family member or friend. Get a stack of positive affirmation cards and begin the day by reading one or watch a motivational YouTube video every morning.
“Find solutions,” says Dr. Willcockson. “It’s so classic to think, ‘I just cheated on my diet, so I may as well have another cookie.’ Or, ‘I can’t make it to the gym, so what’s the point in exercising?’ Be stronger than your excuses! What can you do to incorporate more movement into your daily routine? Eat a healthy breakfast and then get your metabolism going for 5 or 10 minutes. Do squats while brushing your teeth, 30 seconds at a time. Do jumping jacks while waiting for your coffee. Do some lounges while you’re blow drying your hair.”

The benefits of regular exercise are innumerable, adds Dr. Willcockson. To encourage people to get moving, Live Healthy Iowa offers quarterly challenges. In 2017 alone, 14,899 people participated in the 10-Week Wellness Challenge and logged 32,287,019 minutes of physical activity and lost a total of 36,654 pounds. Results of the 10-Week Challenge since 2002 are:
- 339,605 participants
- 1,222,406 pounds lost
- 660,184,13 minutes logged
Step Up to the Challenge!
Become part of the network of support and education through the 2018 10-Week Challenge. Family members, friends, neighbors, church groups, or companies and businesses can sign up teams. Because activity is recorded online, teams can include members from different towns, states and countries.

The 16^th annual 10-week challenge begins Jan. 22, so click here to learn more or to sign up now! All you need to do is get online and get moving.

“The programs that Live Healthy Iowa hosts are designed to help people engage in a team environment that helps hold them accountable with camaraderie,” says Dr. Willcockson. “Our programs are flexible and affordable. Programs like the 10-Week Challenge provide a catalyst for lifestyle changes.”

“We do what we do because we want you to be there for the important moments in your life and for the important people in your life,” adds Dr. Willcockson. “You can’t be there – in so many ways – if you’re not healthy. Set goals to bike with young kids, get down on the floor and play or take the trips you want. Be there by eating well, moving well and thinking well.”

To help us eat well, Dr. Willcockson is sharing with us one of her favorite ways to incorporate more vegetables into her diet. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to trying fried cauliflower in place of fried rice in a stir fry recipe this weekend.
Team Latham

January 12, 2018

Food & Family, General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

“Learning by Doing” Translates into Teens Managing Their Own Acres

Some parents supervise their children as they do homework. Others even help their teenagers work through Math story problems. When your parents are lifelong farmers and your mother also is a school teacher, chances are you’ll learn how the classroom applies to agriculture.

Meet the Bell family of Washington, Iowa. Kerri moved to Washington County nearly 30 years ago and shortly thereafter she accepted a teaching job nearby. She and her husband, Lance, are raising their twin teenage daughters on the farm.

“I teach. Lance farms. We each have our passions, but our operation is a family effort where we enjoy making memories together,” says Kerri, who grew up raising and showing Suffolk sheep on the Krafka family farm near Dysart, Iowa. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you love what you do, it doesn’t seem like work but instead it’s a way of life.”

And what a full life it is! A former 4-H member, Kerri became an active volunteer in Washington County 4-H after she and Lance were married. She served on the Washington County Fair Sheep Department Committee for more than a decade. She was elected to the Washington County Extension Council and served on that council until their twin girls were born. Then Kerri stepped back from volunteering until her girls were in kindergarten and joined Clover Kids. Kerri once again became active in Washington County 4-H and Washington County Extension Service where she eventually was elected to the Washington County 4-H Youth Committee.

The 4-H slogan is “learning by doing,” and that’s also Kerri’s mantra. She and Lance put that slogan into practice by providing every day, real-life experiences for their daughters. Ellie and Sophie have raised and shown Polish and Champagne D’Argent rabbits through Bell Sisters Rabbitry since 2011.

In fact, rabbits were the girls’ first livestock project. Ellie and Sophie wanted to learn and grow independently of what their parents had done when they were in 4-H. The girls researched breeds and met with other rabbit breeders across the state to get started. They like these two breed because Polish show in four class divisions and Champagne D’Argents show in six divisions. Now the girls are researching cattle breeds to further diversify their farming operation and to make use of pasture the family has available.

Transitioning from breeding show rabbits to producing beef cattle is one example of how Ellie and Sophie have accepted more responsibility with age.

“From the time our twin daughters were born, they were riding on a tractor or in the combine,” says Kerri. “They’ve helped as much as they could at the age and stage they were.”

Earning their Way
To compensate them for their work, Lance and Kerri started giving an acre of corn and soybeans to each of their daughters when they were in third grade. Ellie and Sophie have had to market their grain in at least a half-acre increment and then deposit that amount into their savings accounts each crop season.

“The girls each got a smartphone in third grade. Their first app was Kat’s Grain, so they could watch the markets daily. Lance receives text messages to ‘sell now’ as the girls watch closely to get the best market price. Giving them these real-life experiences helps them for the next steps.”

You name it, and Kerri says her daughters have probably experienced it on the farm. Ellie and Sophie have learned to do field work ahead of the planter, run tillage equipment after planting, fill the planter, run water tanks here and there, fill fertilizer tanks, gather seed, repair equipment, trouble shoot, mow, help burn CRP, clean bins, haul and unload grain, and more.

These farming experiences are shared by three generations of family. Lance began farming full time with his parents, Pete and Carol Bell, after he completed the Iowa State University Farm Operations Program. Their roles have changed with time. Today Lance manages the farming operation and Pete assists where needed.

Pete and Carol also are providing farming and learning experiences for their granddaughters by them the opportunity to crop share. (Click here to watch a video of the Bell twins harvesting their first crop share.) Ellie and Sophie have met with their family’s crop insurance agent to complete their crop insurance for their crops. They talk with seed dealers and order their own seed. They choose their own fertilizer, chemicals and insecticides. They already had a working relationship with our grain marketing firm, so they can call and make decisions based on their prior knowledge and gain expert advice as needed.

The Bell sisters’ on-farm experience is enhanced by their FFA experiences. Or should we say their FFA experiences are enhanced by their on-farm experiences?

“Competing in statewide competitions, completing programs, filling out applications and attending functions across the state gave me many opportunities that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise,” says Kerri. “My twin daughters have stepped into this same role and are loving it, too. Their FFA Advisor, Mr. Trent Steinhart, sees their passion for FFA and agriculture. His wisdom and inspiration has allowed them to expand their vision of where they hope to be after high school and college.”

Ellie and Sophie were the first girls to take an interest in the FFA Land Lab where they each had to invest $1,000 along with eight fellow FFA members. They do exactly what they do in their crop share experience with their grandparents to better understand the process of farming.

Last spring Ellie and Sophie received greenhand awards. Together they were their chapter’s top fruit saleswomen as freshmen. Sophie was elected Washington FFA reporter and Ellie was elected FFA historian. Both teens are serving as South East District FFA Ambassadors. They manage the Washington FFA Twitter(@washffa) page and write articles for area media promoting their chapter. They have numerous SAE projects including their rabbitry and crop share.

They also remain active members of the Green Acres 4-H Club. Ellie is serving as 4-H club president and Sophie is treasurer. They graduated from the Washington County 4-H Leadership Development Team and were recently inducted into the Washington County 4-H County Council, working closely with Washington County 4-H youth coordinator, Amy Green, who is another mentor to them.

They Bells also plant a large garden and exhibit their produce at the Washington County Fair. Ellie and Sophie each enter an abundance of 4-H projects at the county fair, and many of these projects have been selected for the Iowa State Fair 4-H Exhibits Building. The Bell sisters’ project areas include: Home Improvement, Food and Nutrition, Crop Production, Sewing, Communications, Personal Development, Woodworking, Photography, Health, Consumer Management, Citizenship, Leadership, Gardening, Horticulture, Child Development, Mechanics, Pride of Iowa, as well as educational presentations and working exhibits. They also serve as Clover Kids mentors. In addition, both Ellie and Sophie have earned variety of county project awards, including outstanding record book, outstanding junior and intermediate awards, and intermediate citizenship awards.

Apples Don’t Fall Far from the Trees
While the iGeneration often make headlines for using “individualized technology,” the Bell family uses technology to make decisions together on their family farm. Ellie and Sophie are proof positive that the “texting and multi-tasking generation” still engages with others and remains involved with the community. They’re following their parents’ examples.

As lifelong farmers, Lance and Kerri became active in the Washington County Corn Growers Association when they were first married. They put a lot of effort into promoting this organization and have served in every capacity in the county organization. Lance is president of the Washington County Corn Growers and serves as president of the District 9 Iowa Corn Growers Association. He serves on a state committee, as well.

“Our family is passionate about sharing our farm story,” says Kerri. On November 29, 2017, they created a booth and helped host the BioFuels Educational Trailer at Kirkwood Community College for Washington Center Family STEM Night. Last spring they participated in an ICGA video and produced a flyer/video for the Washington County Corn Growers banquet. They also have represented their county, district and state at the Commodity Classic in once Nashville, twice in San Antonio and are making arrangements for a trip next spring to Anaheim.

“Through these experiences we’ve all grown. Making connections with fellow corn farmers across the county, district, state and nation to make us stronger in our own family operation,” adds Kerri. “These opportunities have given Ellie and Sophie a stronger base of communication skills, knowledge to grow and learn to make your operation better, a better work ethic and pride in sharing your story with those who share the same passions as you.”

“We are optimistic of what our future in farming holds as both daughters intend to major in agriculture and return home to carry on our farming operation,” adds Kerri. “No matter where they end up, as long as they take pride in their work and enjoy it, we’ll be proud of them.”

The Bell family works hard but also finds time to relax on their farm. Fishing, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding on their farm pond are a few of their favorite pastimes. They also enjoy cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, DIY projects, gardening and cooking or baking together.

At the 2017 Washington County Fair, Ellie and Sophie were selected as the Grand Champion Team for the Pride of Iowa cooking contest with their Gluten Free Fruit Pizza entry. Their father, Lance, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease nearly 14 years ago. Their family has learned a lot about gluten-free cooking, so it’s only natural these outstanding 4-H’ers would share what they learned with others.

The Pride of Iowa competition is a favorite of Ellie and Sophie’s because they prepare recipes, featuring Iowa foods, in front of an audience. Participating 4-H members then serve their food and share the recipe with audience members. Today their sharing their award-winning recipe with us on The Field Position!

Team Latham

December 1, 2017

Agriculture, General, Industry News, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Give a Recipe, Get a Gift: Share How You Define “Turkey with all the Trimmings
Writing blogs for The Field Position allows me to meet the most hospitable farm families and to also learn about popular regional fare like runza in Nebraska and Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup.

Yesterday one of my blogger friends, who’s a native Minnesotan, posted a picture on Twitter with this copy: “It’s always cheesy potato hot dish time.” As a native Iowan, her tweet brought a smile to my face as I thought about how a North Central Iowa potluck or family holiday wouldn’t be complete without “cheesy potato casserole.”

Thoughts of cheesy potato casserole quickly shifted to traditional Thanksgiving holiday recipes. Quite honestly, I assumed every American family must feast on turkey, potatoes, corn, cranberries and pumpkin pie like the Pilgrims and Indians. Then my inquiring mind started to wonder what the pilgrims even ate at the first Thanksgiving…

Wildfowl venison, as well as grain in the form of bread or porridge absolutely were part of the harvest celebration shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag at Plymouth Colony in 1621, according to the Smithsonian. Governor William Bradford described the autumn of 1621 as follows: “And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys.” He also mentions that they’d begun eating Indian corn after the harvest.

Correspondence written by the colonists prove they planted gardens in the spring of 1621. In later documents, the colonists mention growing turnips, carrots, onions, garlic and pumpkins. Historians interested in researching the first Thanksgiving meal also studied foods served at traditional English celebrations during this same period.

“You see lots of pies in the first course and in the second course, meat and fish pies. To cook a turkey in a pie was not terribly uncommon. But it is like, no, the pastry isn’t there.” The colonists did not have butter and wheat flour to make crusts for pies and tarts, according to the Smithsonian. (While the Pilgrims didn’t have pumpkin pie, there’s a chance they enjoyed pumpkin pudding.)

Knowing that people tend to make the most of what they have available – like Lobster Mac & Cheese in Maine and Clam Dressing in Massachusetts – I’m curious about what recipes your family enjoys for Thanksgiving. It will be fun to hear about “iconic Thanksgiving recipes” by region.

The team at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds will send a complimentary wooden spoon, spatula, cutting board or hand towel to anyone who shares his/her favorite Thanksgiving recipe by Nov. 22! Simply e-mail us your hometown, state and recipe to Marketing@LathamSeeds.com.

Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. Because I enjoy meal planning so much, I’ve linked to enough recipes to make a complete meal:
- Herbed Slow Cooker Turkey Breast (This recipe is simple and delicious, which frees me up to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or thumb through Black Friday ads!)
- The best dang mashed potatoes (Trust me, we don’t save this recipe just for holidays! It’s one of our family’s favorite side dishes.)
- German green beans or green bean casserole
- Traditional Dressing or Scalloped Oysters
- 60-Minute Rolls or homemade beer bread topped with herb butter or Cajun butter
- Cran-Apple Jell-O mold
- Butternut Squash Casserole (see recipe below)
Team Latham

November 10, 2017

Food & Family, General, Recipes, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Love of the Outdoors Called Knewtson Home

After growing up together on a farm near Good Thunder, Minnesota, twins Aaron and Adam Knewtson went their separate ways upon graduating from high school. Aaron enrolled in Ag Business at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Adam headed west to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, where he pursued his dream of becoming a pilot.

Fast forward 23 years and the brothers are engaged in ag business near their hometown. Aaron works for Compeer Financial, and Adam works with their father in the family’s seed business.

“When I left home, I never thought I’d return and work for our family’s seed business. I dreamed of being a pilot and flying amazing aircrafts, but instead I found myself working 12-hour shifts. When I wasn’t at work, I was dealing with big city traffic. I really longed for open spaces where I could fish and hunt,” explains Adam.

Moving home to South Central Minnesota held more appeal as time went on. He worked at the airport in Minneapolis. After college, he also worked at an agricultural cooperative. He earned less at the co-op but realized he enjoyed working in agriculture. He decided that if he was going to work in agriculture, he might as well go home to the family business.

Today Adam serves as vice president and his father, Wayne, serves as president of Knewtson Soy Products, a soybean production and export company owned by Wayne. They produce and export food-grade soybeans primarily to Japan, Viet Nam, Israel, Taiwan and China.

Many hats are worn by this father-son team. Wayne farms, as well as oversees the production of soybeans. Adam handles the operations side of the business by working with contract growers to produce food-grade soybeans and managing the export logistics. Adam also owns Advantage Seed, Inc., a retail soybean seed production company.

Knewtson Soy Products and Advantage Seed are both located on the farm where Adam’s grandparents made their home for 63 years. His grandfather, Ellsworth Knewtson, didn’t start the family seed business, but he greatly influenced his son’s and grandson’s business aspirations.

Ellsworth grew soybeans marketed under Minnesota Public Seed and has the distinct honor of being the first farmer in Blue Earth County to grow soybeans. In 1966, he won the Blue Earth County Fair Grand Prize for producing a soybean plant with 405 pods!

To put this feat into perspective, soybean plants averaged about 160 pods per plant when Missouri farmer Kip Cullers raised 139-bushel soybeans in 2006 and 156 bushels in 2007. Culler’s soybeans produce quadruple the number of pods on an “average” soybean plant.

Like an avid golfer shooting for the illustrious hole in one or the fisherman going after a trophy walleye, those involved in the seed industry keep working toward record-setting goals.

“The seed industry can be competitive, yet we’re all still friends,” says Adam. “I really like the comradery that exists among seed company owners and managers, but what I enjoy most about my job is working with farmers. I really like the farmers who produce for us and work with us.”

When Adam can get away from the seed business, he prefers to get away from it all. He’s part of an outdoor club that has gone turkey hunting in Missouri, fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing in Georgia, and duck hunting in Arkansas. He also purchased a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) farm where he’s made many memories hunting with friends and sharing his love of “gaming” with the younger generation.

Adam enjoys gardening, as well. He likes to experiment in the kitchen or on the grill to turn fresh produce and meat into delicious homecooked meals. Today he’s sharing one of his favorite recipes with us on TheFieldPosition.com.

Team Latham

September 22, 2017

Food & Family, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tractors are more than Machinery at the Toppen Farm

Every tractor has a story! That is why Todd Toppen collects model toy tractors that tell the story of his family’s farm over the years.

Todd enjoys restoring model toy tractors. His goal was to find all the tractors he had when he was growing up and he is close to achieving this goal. He has the first tractor that he ever drove, the first tractor his dad purchased, and many more to represent monumental moments on their farm. It was great to hear the stories behind each one and how he customized them to tell a story about their family history.

The Toppen family has been farming for more than 100 years in Horace, North Dakota. Todd and his family farm the same ground that his parents purchased in 1958. They raise wheat and soybeans on their farm.

“There was never any question I wanted to farm when I got older,” said Todd.

Todd farms with his wife, LeAnn, and their son, Kyle. LeAnn and Todd met in high school. They went to their high school homecoming dance and have been together ever since. LeAnn also grew up in North Dakota in a family involved in agriculture. Her grandparents and her dad was Case tractor dealer and diesel mechanic. In addition to working on the farm, Leanne works at a local church.

Kyle, who graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in accounting, is active in the day-to-day farming operation. Once the crop is harvested, Kyle spends the winter months working as a farm tax accountant. Kyle says he has three busy seasons throughout the year planting, harvest, and tax season!

While Todd, LeAnn, and Kyle are the primary operators on the farm, their two daughters, husbands and children live in the area and often visit the farm to pitch in. “Farming is what brings our family together,” says LeAnn.

By talking with the family, you can hear the passion in their voices they have for farming but it hasn’t always been easy.

“Not everyone can be a farmer, it takes a very special person.” says LeAnn.

In North Dakota a wide variety of crops including wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and sunflowers are grown. The Toppens have raised all of these crops over the years which makes seed sales a challenging part of their operation.

When they aren’t working on the farm, the Toppens enjoy spending time at the lake with their children and their five grandchildren. The entire family goes to Pelican Lake almost every weekend during the summer.

Todd and LeAnn really enjoy having their family close to spend time with their grandkids.

Todd stated, “There isn’t much you don’t like about being a grandparent!”

They also enjoy attending their grandkids’ school and sporting activities.

Todd became a Latham® dealer three years ago and grows soybeans for our company. He became familiar with Latham through a local seed company and then decided to become a dealer. Todd says he chose Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds because the company is known for producing quality products, respects their employees, and provides valuable customer service. He also really enjoys how accessible the staff and owners are too!

Family is very important to the Toppens and keeps them moving forward on their operation. We are lucky to have them as a part of our Latham family!

Webspec Admin

September 8, 2017

Food & Family, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Disney Brings Spring Flavors to Life at Garden Festival

Disney is known for creating magical experiences for people of all ages from around the world by bringing characters to life. Its annual 24^th Annual Flower & Garden Festival, underway through May 31 at Epcot, brings to life fresh flowers and spring flavors.

As you step inside the Epcot Theme Park, get set for a full sensory experience! There is so much to see, smell, hear, touch and taste from gardening exhibits, topiaries and Musical Gardens to Outdoor Kitchens and the Garden Rocks concert series.

An industry colleague and I spent nine hours at Epcot on April 26 and couldn’t have had a more magical day! We were told to start at The Land Pavilion, which turned out to be great advice. No Fast Passes were needed as there was no wait.

We sailed on a boat through the greenhouses of The Land Pavilion where 9-pound lemons, Mickey-shaped pumpkins and much more is grown. (Click here to learn more about the hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaculture featured on Disney’s “Behind the Scenes” tour. My family and I enjoyed it so much that I wrote two blogs about it! In fact, our teenage son told me it was the best “field trip” he’s ever taken. Yes, I’m one of THOSE moms who tends to incorporate learning with fun.)

Also inside The Land, we went Soarin’ across the world in a virtual hand glider. We breezed our way across the Arctic tundra and arid deserts as there was no line for this major attraction at 9:30 AM. (The park opens at 9 AM. Because The Showcase of the World doesn’t open until 11 AM, not many guests venture out early.)

Just outside The Land we found the Seed Sanctuary, where Disney and the American Seed Trade Association have partnered to bring the magic of seeds to life. This display features kale from 100 years ago plus varieties available today. It also will show how plant breeding has led to the evolution of Dianthus flowers.

Our “epicurean adventure” began on a nearby walkway where we saw the first of 15 Outdoor Kitchens, which is a record number for this festival. The Outdoor Kitchens serve up small plates of fresh-from-the-garden dishes, so guests can literally eat their way around The World Showcase. Each Outdoor Kitchen also features a garden that showcases where or how foods listed on its menu are raised or sourced.

New this year in Canada was Northern Bloom where we couldn’t resist trying the Beef Tenderloin Tips topped with Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, served on a bed of whipped potatoes and a side of garden vegetables. At Urban Farm Eats, we savored Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragout, Spring Vegetables and Fingerling Potatoes. The Pulled Pork Slider with coleslaw provided the most delicious “American adventure” at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews.

There are just so many good eats and drinks that a body really needs to plan ahead! A Best of the Fest video highlighted seven food and drink items new to the 2017 festival. One of the foods listed that piqued my interest is the Potato Pancake with caramelized onions, ham and herbed sour cream from Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market in the German Pavilion. (My German grandma often enjoyed potato pancakes served with homemade applesauce for supper. I love this “fresh twist” on traditional German fare.) Another new food item on my “eat list” is the Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepper Berry Sorbet from the new Berry Basket.

To give you a taste of the Disney Flower & Garden Festival, today we’re sharing with you a recipe for one of the most unique menu items that I tried while visiting Epcot. I had read the Watermelon Salad at Urban Farm Eats was divine. And if wasn’t for that online food review, I would have missed out on this extremely light and refreshing salad. It really hit the spot on an 85-degree day. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Team Latham

April 28, 2017

Food & Family, Sides
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Bountiful Memories Abound in a Backyard Garden
Guest Blog Post by Nicole Jonas, Red Granite Farm

Backyard gardening has really taken off in recent years. More and more people are recognizing the health benefits of gardening. Some take satisfaction in growing their own fruits and vegetables.

Raising your own food can be the most fulfilling – and the most stressful activity – all at the same time. Often times we’re quick to dwell on our gardening fails rather than our successes. We read all about the latest garden trends. Gardening magazines and Pinterest fill our minds with images of beautiful containers of flowers or rows upon (clean, weed-free) rows of garden vegetables.

No matter how tall the weeds get or how little produce you get to eat from the plot of land you toiled over, think of small successes as great victories. Oftentimes these victories are not measured in pounds of food, but rather in the memories that were made throughout the journey.

Some of my family’s best memories, including some “laugh out loud moments,” have resulted when everything didn’t go according to plan. As the proud mom of three active kids, I’ve learned that perfection is not necessary. Teaching them the importance of implementing good agricultural practices and caring for the land while we grow some really great produce for ourselves and for our customers is some of the most gratifying work they will ever do.

Here are some helpful hints that I’m sharing, so you can have fun gardening as a family:
1. Let everyone be involved in the planning process. Everyone who eats in your house will want to try and grow something different, and finding a way to meet everyone’s needs will give everyone a vested interest in the success of the garden. Start with the vegetable everyone enjoys, say a row of green beans, and plan additional garden spaces around that. Also keep in mind that some plants, like tomatoes, bear much fruit. You may only need two tomato plants unless you plan to can spaghetti sauce.
2. Plan to plant only what can be consumed or donated. Making a garden larger than you can maintain will have you frustrated before you take that first bite of a ripe tomato. No matter how much prep work you do, weeding and watering are keys to success. When selecting what to grow, keep it simple and think about how different plants produce. Are they a “one harvest and done” crop such as radishes, sweet corn or melons? Or, will the plants continually produce over a longer period of time like zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes? If you end up having so much success that you can’t consume all you have produced, donate to local shelters or food pantries that accept garden produce.
3. Plan your garden around busy sports seasons and family vacations. Don’t plant things that will need extra attention for times of the summer when you don’t have the time to devote to the garden. At our house, that means no cherry trees because June is just too busy to deal with harvesting cherries. Sweet corn is another crop with a narrow window for peak freshness. Don’t plant it to be ready to harvest when you have a family vacation planned.
4. Avoid crops that are highly susceptible to pests and diseases. And if you are limited on garden space, avoid those that take up a lot of room. Vine crops, like squash and cucumbers, need lots of room to grow.
5. Vegetable gardening doesn’t have to be limited to a rectangle in your back yard. Incorporate veggies into your home landscape. Patio planters with smaller vegetables and herbs can be a great way to grow your own food, too!
6. Consider how much time you want to spend gardening and who can help you as you determine how large to make your garden. Kids are more likely to help if they enjoy eating what’s been planted, so plan accordingly. Also take into consideration how the product is consumed. Can it just be quickly washed, cut and enjoyed? Or, does it have to be made into something much more complex to be enjoyed? When planting something that can produce a lot, such as zucchini, make sure you are prepared with lots of different recipes so you can enjoy it many different ways.
7. When all else fails, shop your local farmers market for produce that’s seasonally available from a local source. Click here for an online Iowa farmer’s market directory. If you’re up for a day trip, click here for the top farmer’s markets across the state.
Steve and Nicole Jonas own Red Granite Farm in rural Boone County. Along with their three children, they raise a flock of laying hens and grow three acres of vegetables for sale at the Ames Main Street Farmer’s Market. Their garden center, which is open from May through October, includes hardy perennials, annuals, succulents, shrubs and vines. You can connect with them via Facebook, Instagram or visit their website redgranitefarm.com for more information.
Team Latham

April 21, 2017

Food & Family, Recipes, Sides