The Farming Families of Lyon County-November 2019

of Lyon County NOVEMBER 2019

Meet the

TWEDT Family

Leah and Brian Twedt with their children Eve, Abe and Levi.

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712-551-4123 bob@agemedia.pub © The Farming Families, Age Media & Promotion The Farming Families is distributed free exclusively to the farmers, ranchers and producers in rural Sioux and Lyon Counties. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without the written permission of the publisher. The Farming Families assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Content in articles, editorial and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by The Farming Families and Age Media & Promotion.

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LYON COUNTY FEATURED FAMILY

STRIVING FOR SUSTAINABILITY ON A SMALL SCALE

By Bob Fitch The Twedt family of rural Larchwood includes: Levi, Brian, Leah holding Eve, Cheryl, and Greg holding Abe.

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“It is only in sorrow bad weather masters us; in joy we face the storm and defy it.”

“It’s amazing how the weather can quadruple your workload.

But you’re committed at that point, so you’ve got to do it,” said Brian Twedt, who farms with his dad Greg southwest of Larchwood in Lyon County.

– Amelia Barr, American novelist

“It was pretty bad when Dad and I were arguing over which one of the last two years was the worst one for calving,” Brian said. “You knew you had to watch the cows so close. A lot of nights I’d go out at 8 to check them. And at midnight

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

my wife would text me asking if I was ever coming in.”

Greg said, “For years, when my brother and I were farming together, we calved down here and the cows would calve on a hillside. You’d tag the calves and do whatever you had to do. If you knew it was going to be bad for a day, you’d bring them in. Well, this year, every single calf born calved in the yard except for the very last one. That’s never happened before.

“Weather is always the biggest struggle in farming. You learn to live with that,” he said. “The last couple years, the livestock end was kind of painful. Right now, the crop end is painful. It’s going to hit some people pretty hard doubling up on that.”

Even in a year such as this one where weather has presented a challenge of one sort or another almost every week, Greg figures he’s at the most rewarding point in his agricultural career – having the chance to farm in tandem with his son.

After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, Greg started teaching in Bayard, Iowa. He didn’t enjoy teaching that well, so he came home to farm with his father, Russell, and his brother, Gary.

“I grew up just a mile north of here. My brother lives on the home place now. That quarter is a centennial farm.

Cheryl, Robert, Chris and Eric have their business meetings “on the island.”

“I farmed with my brother for quite a few years, and then we split apart. I was selling Pioneer seed for a number of years.

When Brian moved back, then we kind of got into the cows and the farming end of it a little more actively,” he said.

Brian graduated from Iowa State University in 2006 with degrees in animal science and agronomy. “I remember calling Dad when I was going to graduate – when I figured out I was finally going to graduate. I had some job offers in Minneapolis and Colorado.

We just decided I was going to come back and we were going to try to get things lined up again.

“I like the livestock side of things quite of bit,” Brian said.

Greg and Brian Twedt in the pasture.

November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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They started with 40 bred heifers in 2006-07 and worked their way up to 70-80 head.

Then they started saving their own heifers and are now up to about 100 head. “We keep our calves and fatten them out.

We retain our own heifers. We breed specifically to get the best we can out of the heifers.

“With help from some guys around here, we started the A.I. process, being pretty selective on what bulls we used. About three years in, we started keeping back what we liked.

We fine-tuned the herd. We’re pretty happy with the direction we’re going with it,” Brian said.

“We’re both a big fan of crossbreeding and getting the best characteristics of both.”

Greg said, “We have Angus bulls and Simmental bulls.

It’s a real good cross for the feedlot end of it. Now we’re using Angus-Simmental cross bulls on some of them.”

For many years after college, Brian was the district manager for AgriGold Seed Co. “AgriGold was barely even up here when I started. It took a lot of time – people didn’t even know

Abe (2) and Levi (5).

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who we were. Dad handled most things here while I was building it up. At night I’d come home and do whatever he had lined up for me.” Building sales in an uncharted territory was challenging, but persistence paid off. “The more doors you knock on, the more people you talk to … there’s the good days when the guy talks your ear off and he’s willing to try some; and then there’s days when the guy will hardly acknowledge you. It’s a very competitive industry.”

While still an AgriGold dealer, Brian stepped down as district manager last year to be fulltime on the farm. “Our herd has grown and, about five years ago, I was able to start farming my grandpa’s farm over in South Dakota. That’s probably been one of the biggest eyeopeners. It’s probably some of the flattest ground you can find – and the last few years it’s been so wet, wet, wet.

It’s provided some good life lessons.”

The South Dakota acres are between Canton and Harrisburg and were farmed by his grandfather, Orval Larson.

“My grandpa was the best man in my wedding. We were really close,” Brian said. “Growing up, everything he did I did. And everything he did was farming.

He had a collection of Oliver tractors which I remember learning how to drive on those.

He always helped me with 4-H and FFA my whole life. Farming was just what I wanted to do.”

Brian regularly took livestock to the fair as part of FFA. “My grandpa and dad always helped with my FFA livestock. We’d drive around the yard leading two or three steers with a 550 Oliver tractor in first gear.”

Eve was born August 4th.

Brian was also the president of the West Lyon FFA and was the state’s Star Farmer in agriscience his senior year thanks in part to a job he had with Grand Labs working with baby calves and testing vaccines.

A number of years later, while an assistant coach for varsity wrestling at West Lyon

Schools, connections there proved beneficial again. Mutual acquaintances introduced him to his future wife, Leah Olson, a school counselor for the elementary grades there.

Today, Brian and Leah have three children: Levi (5), Abe (2) and Eve (10 weeks). Like her mother-in-law, Cheryl, Leah is a native of Canton.

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Cheryl has had a long career in nursing. She especially enjoyed being the director of nurses at Fellowship Village in Inwood for 13 years. Even though she’s retired now, she still teaches CNA classes for Northwest Iowa Community College. Greg and Cheryl’s two daughters both live in the Minneapolis area. Denise works in the IT department at General Mills and has two sons and a daughter; while Lori is a teacher and has two daughters.

on the Ranger down to “the river,” a creek that runs through the farm. The boys also like to feed the bucket calves and ride in the tractor.

Greg and Cheryl like to travel when they can. “We try to get out of here for a couple of weeks each winter, somewhere where it’s warm and sunny. If it’s got an ocean, a beach and a resort, it’s good.” But more often than not, you will find Greg giving Levi and Abe a ride

“We want to keep improving the cow herd. You’ve got to do a better job with what you have if you want to make it.

I’m getting a little better with the technology that’s out there both in the field and also with the cow herd, from calving all the way to finish. Ever since

Even though the Twedt farm is relatively small, Brian believes the operation will be successful in the long-term. “We want to see if we can keep this sustainable. We’re a smaller farm so we’ve got to diversify a little bit. That’s why I’ve got to keep my seed dealership.

2006-07 when we bought our first cows, we’ve been improving yards, improving pastures. I want to make it so if this is something the boys would ever want to do, they’d have the option,” said Brian.

Greg said, “The whole farming lifestyle lets you be your own boss and gives you a little bit of control of what you do. It’s a rewarding job. Watching your crops grow and your cattle grow, and in the fall when you start harvesting, getting the results of your labors in, that’s always a good time – most years.”

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Leah, Abe, Brian and Levi Twedt with Brian’s late grandfather Orval Nelson of Canton, SD. For many years, Orval was one of the leaders of the Granite Threshing Bee.

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE

An early photo of Doon, Iowa.

THE EARLY DAYS OF DOON Excerpted from “History, Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa” published under the auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County, 1905 During the month of May, 1868, H. D. Rice, then a resident of Clay County, Iowa, being encouraged by tales of the wonderful beauty and vast resources of Lyon County, proceeded to explore the region of the Rock River. He was much impressed with all he saw, but while standing on the high land above the present town of Doon, he was charmed at the romantic scenes nature's own artistic brush had there painted in the waving grass, the forest and sparkling water falls. Who shall tell his true feeling? Suffice to say he resolved to build there a permanent home.

In July, the same year, Mr. Rice accompanied by L.F. Knight, reached the forks of the Rock River, the second time, where they built a cabin and began the first settlement on Rock River. In August Mr. Rice

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Photos of Main Street in Doon

returned to Clay County for his family, leaving Mr. Knight at the forks. This circumstance gave rise to the name of Doon, which the place now and doubtless ever will bear.

Sitting in solitude on the bank of this beautiful stream, far removed from all humanity, with naught but the songs of the wild birds, or the soft murmur of the waterfall to break the silence in that “green, glad solitude,” Mr. Knight recalled those touching lines of Robert Burns’, beginning: “Ye banks and braes O' bonnie Doon How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair: How can ye chant ye little birds, And I sae weary, fn’ O' care!"

This suggested to him the name he should give to the place.

In August, that year, Emerick Erwin and H.N. Reves built a cabin near the forks, where they spent the winter. Mrs. Rice reached Doon in September, and moving into their little cabin, was the first white woman to settle on Rock River.

The Bonnie Doon Hotel.

first frame building at Doon, or on the Rock River. A large share of the lumber for its construction was hauled from Sioux City. But the protection which it later gave to settlers, as they reached the county, amply repaid for all it cost.

During 1869 large tracts of government lands were taken by speculators, which

J.B. Hartson, of Wisconsin, arrived at Doon the latter part of December, and selected land upon which he lived many years.

These persons and the little colony at Beloit comprised the population of Lyon County for the winter of 1868-9. This winter was extremely mild, with but little snow. Pioneer Rice turned his stock out on the river bottoms early in March, where they subsisted in good order with no other food.

The various bands of Indians — mostly Yanktons — hunted through these regions, and seem to have been peaceable. Although almost cut off from the world, these little settlements passed the winter in comparative comfort.

In June, 1869, George W. McQueen and John A. Wagner, of Lynn County, Iowa, reached this county as land and home seekers. McQueen entered several fine tracts of government land, and settled permanently at Doon. Wagner selected a homestead on Burr Oak Creek, beginning the settlement on that stream.

During the summer of 1869, H.D. Rice erected a large frame house on his place at Doon, which was the

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would soon have been taken by actual homestead settlers. In the fall of that year the Sioux City and Dubuque Railway, reached LeMars, and this brought Lyon County only 40 miles from markets. At the close of 1869, probably not to exceed one hundred people claimed Lyon County to be their home. It should be remembered that the country for a hundred miles to the south and east was still unsettled, and that section caught its share of emigration.

Drought struck Lyon, as well as all other counties in Iowa, in the summer of 1870, and farmers were greatly handicapped and not a little discouraged. The following winter was unusually open and mild and with the spring opening of 1871, northwestern Iowa, including

Lyon County, received the largest immigration in all its history. This was induced by better railway facilities. Settlers crowded in and took all vacant government land left.

to the community. Thus did a band of hardy brave-hearted pioneers, enduring the perils and privations of frontier life lay the foundations of one of Iowa's goodly counties.

A mail route was established from LeMars via Doon, to Luverne, Minnesota, and thus Lyon became connected with sister counties and the outside world.

In 1872, at Doon were: M.W. Jeffries, general dealer; the Lyon County Press, L.B. Raymond & Co., proprietors; James H. Wagner, real estate; G. R. Badgerow, real estate; Geo. McQueen, real estate ; S.C. Hyde, real estate and surveyor.

With the spring of 1872, commenced a new and brighter era for Lyon County and the great northwestern country. Railroads were here and more planned; schools were in operation; a large amount of land had been broken the year before and was ready to seed; the harvest had been bountiful and many noble men and women had been added

(In 1874) Doon township, which then included Garfield and the west half of Wheeler had four schools and four school buildings. The wages paid for teachers were about the same as is paid now (in 1905). The average being $35.00 for men and $34.00 for women.

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SPONSOR PROFILE

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Headquartered in Spirit Lake, the team at Tri-States Grain Conditioning (TSGC) makes service and high quality products their highest priorities, while providing lifetime free tech support. TSGC has an extensive network of contractors representing their products and services nationwide and in over 40 countries.

“Grain temperature monitoring is critical,” said Daniel Winkowitsch, CEO of TSGC. “When grain goes out of condition, regardless of the cause, there is always an unusual change in temperature. Excessive moisture, high temperature, and poor grain condition from insects or damaged kernels are generally considered the most important factors that lead to problems with stored grain. When any product goes bad, it gives off heat. So, a spike in temperature is the main indicator that there is a need for seeds or grain to be aerated or moved. A good grain manager will watch the trending temperature and check out changes.”

Winkowitsch said monitoring the temperature of grain (watching for changing trends) on a regular basis gives farmers the best chance to make a correction in order to preserve good quality in grain. Also, using TSGC’s grain monitoring systems helps farmers better know when to turn off the fans, thereby cutting utility expenses significantly.

“For pennies per bushel, temperature monitoring systems can be installed to monitor 14

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

changes in grain that need to be attended to,” Winkowitsch said. As part of its innovative grain systems, TSGC offers farmers and grain managers the ability to remotely monitor grain on their phones. The more advanced systems can monitor grain temperature, moisture and volume, plus how long it’s been stored.

“We want to provide growers with the best tools to keep your grain and seed in great condition until it is time to sell,” he said. “Our reliable remote monitoring systems for grain bins, tanks or silos detect even the slightest changes in grain condition, so that you can take action in time to preserve your assets.” Running fans excessively can cause grain to lose too much moisture. If it becomes over dried, it becomes lighter and not as valuable.

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Age Media Qtr Page Color 7-12-19.pdf 1 7/12/2019 11:22:43 AM

Daniel and Luisa Winkowitsch

Daniel and Luisa have three children, Natasha, 26; Juan, 20; and Sophi, 8. Much of their life does focus on the business as Luisa, who has a background in banking, runs the financial side of the company, while Dan focuses on sales, service and future growth.

However, family and faith come first. Natasha and Juan are both currently university students. “Sophi is our special needs girl, being diagnosed with autism from age 3,” Winkowitsch said. “She is non-verbal and needs a lot of attention. We call her the most painful blessing that God has ever given us.”

Luisa said Daniel works because he likes it, but preaches because it is his first love. Dan said, “I say yes to filling the pulpit for any church that calls when I have an opening on my calendar. My goal is to encourage believers to know Christ better and follow Him, and if we can laugh a bit while we learn all the better! There are plenty of tears to be shed in this life.”

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November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

HARVEST IN NORTHWEST IOWA. PHOTO BY BRETT DAVELAAR BD PHOTOGRAPHY

November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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SIOUX COUNTY FEATURED FAMILY

FAITH, FAMILY AND FARM ARE THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

by Bob Fitch

Jordan, Evert, Kathy, Raelle, Brent holding Maddox, Aubrey and Brayden Van Maanen.

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Faith, family and farm are the circle of life at Evert and Kathy Van Maanen’s farm southeast of Doon in Sioux County.

Evert said his calling on earth is to farm and his family takes seriously their responsibility to care for God’s creation. “We try to be good stewards of the land while it’s in our hands. I hope to see the next generation and the next farm it someday,” said Evert.

All four of their sons graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull and Dordt University in Sioux Center. Youngest son Jordan has a degree in agribusiness, is a full-time agronomist for Cooperative Farmers Elevator in Rock Rapids, and works part-time on the farm. He said the Christ-centered agricultural program at Dordt was important to him. “Dordt emphasized that we’re stewards of creation and should be using what God has given us and not abusing it. Those lessons guide me in the decisions I help others growers make and affects what I bring to our farming operation too,” Jordan said.

In his role as an agronomist, he enjoys helping customers, plus likes to learn and bring ideas from other farms back to the Van Maanen farm.

“I’m still able to help here in the evenings and on the weekends and can take time off to help on the farm if I’m needed.”

Evert and Kathy’s son Brent graduated from Dordt with an education degree. After college, he moved to south Florida where he taught physical education for five years. Even while working in Florida, he returned home to farm in the summers and began farming in an ongoing fashion while teaching at Orange City Christian School for three years.

Brent switched to full-time farming in the summer of 2014. “I kept feeling the pull more and more. I would drive home from work and see the harvest going – and I wasn’t going – and that just didn’t feel right. We had talked about me coming back to the farm, so it was always an option. I just felt the call to move on it.” He put up a hog finishing barn in 2014 and was able to purchase some of his own cropland last year.

Brent’s wife Raelle is the pharmacy manager at the HyVee store in Sioux Center where they live. They were married in 2008 and have three children and another one due in December.

Kathy and Evert Van Maanen on their home southeast of Doon and northwest of Hull in Sioux County.

Aubrey is 7 (7-and-a-half, she emphasized), Brayden is 6 and Maddox is 2.

Brent said they weren’t sure if he could be kept busy when he began farming full-time. But they made adjustments. Evert said, “We haul our own manure now. We do some distillers’ trucking and we added another yard of cattle. There were some things I had custom-done that now we do ourselves.”

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Evert’s grandparents purchased the farm in 1943. His dad, Bert, was a World War II veteran who farmed full-time after his military service and purchased the farm from his father in 1951. Evert and Kathy were married in 1981 at which time his parents moved to town. Bert continued to help on the farm as long as his health allowed. Bert died in 2010 and Evert’s mom, Bernice, died in 2017.

Evert said a lot has changed on the farm over the years. “We use so much more technology. In my lifetime in farming, we went from having no computers to using satellite reception and other technologies when you’re hauling manure to planting to spraying to harvesting. We are using technology to record every pass we are making across the field.

When I was in high school, I didn’t figure I even needed to learn to type because I wasn’t going to use that farming.”

Evert has always lived in the house where he and Kathy reside now. He never considered another career. “It seemed like a natural fit.

I was the only boy. I started raising hogs and farming ground when I was in high school. We always fed cattle.” Today, in addition to finishing both cattle and hogs, they raise corn and soybeans plus are co-owners of a sow co-op where their pigs originate.

Kathy grew up in Orange City.

She attended Dordt for a year and worked there for a year. She and Evert met at a wedding where he was the best man and she was the maid of honor. She was a stay-athome mom for many years before returning to Dordt to work in the bookstore for 17 years.

Raelle and Brent Van Maanen with their children Aubrey, Maddox and Brayden.

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In 2016, she decided to pursue beekeeping as a new enterprise.

She said beekeeping takes a sizeable investment to get started

with the equipment and bees that have to be purchased. “It’s been an adventure. You have to feed them in the spring; then let them do their thing all summer; and then harvest honey in late August.” They had a small crop the first year, a good one in 2017, a poor one in 2018, and a good one in 2019 when they harvested close to 20 gallons of honey. Evert said beekeeping is “not a sure thing. It’s very unpredictable.”

Kathy markets and sells the honey at a vendor fair in Hull, but says most sales are the result of word of mouth.

“We belong to the Siouxland Beekeepers. They meet once a month and it’s just helpful to talk to other people. Everybody has a different idea on how you should do it, but it’s nice

to get together and bounce ideas off each other,” she said.

Evert builds connections and serves the community through membership on the council of the Calvary Protestant Reformed Church of Hull and the board of directors at Hull Coop. Previously he served on the school board and the Sioux County Pork Producers board.

The Van Maanen’s also made their own personal agricultural outreach effort while their sons were in college. Kathy said, “We always had their roommates’ parents out to the farm. A lot of those people have never been on a farm before. It kind of opened their eyes a little bit that we’re not the bad guys that society says we are, and it’s just good to show them what a farm is about.”

Kathy said their grandchildren have become farm ambassadors as well. “One of the joys for me is seeing our grandchildren taking ownership of the farm. When my extended family visits for a Sunday dinner, Brayden and Aubrey will show them where the chickens are or where the potatoes are growing. They love to show off everything about the farm. Last time when the grandkids from the Minneapolis area were here, they said ‘this is really our farm too because our dad grew up here.’

“Every summer, everyone comes here for a farm vacation.

They all stay here. For the grandkids, it’s wide open spaces where they can just run, they can get the eggs, they can pick raspberries, and they can eat apples,” Kathy said.

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November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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Their son Eric and his wife Liz live in Waconia, Minn., where he works for C.H. Robinson, a third party logistics and supply chain management provider.

Their children are Ryer, Renley and Bodie. Son Kalen and his wife Amber live in Engelwood, Colo., where he works for Chatham Financial. Their children are Parker, Sydney and Beckett. When they have free time, Evert and Kathy enjoy visiting their son’s families in Minnesota and Colorado and riding motorcycle.

Maddox, Aubrey and Brayden Van Maanen at their grandparent’s farm.

Jordan, Evert and Brent Van Maanen of E&K Farms near Doon, Iowa.

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Evert defined a successful life as “doing something that doesn’t really feel like work … doing what you love. If you can provide for your family doing what you love, you’re succeeding. We’re fortunate here on the farm that you don’t have to punch in, but you also never really punch out. You’re always on. We’re used to being busy. If I wasn’t busy, I’d be bored.”

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November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

Front row, left to right: Karri Faber, Matthew Kelderman, Brady Kroeze Back row, left to right: Randy Kroese, Jeff Barthole, Rex Knapp, Rich Rikkers, Heath Baker

DEDICATED EMPLOYEES, PROFESSIONALISM AND LONG-TERM CLIENT BASE ARE KEYS TO SUCCESS AT KROESE & KROESE Since 1986 the primary objective of Kroese & Kroese, P.C. has been to help clients attain their financial goals by providing them with the best professional services available.

Kroese & Kroese, P.C. believes for a company to be successful, it takes everyone. The partners make it their goal to treat their fellow co-workers as “one of the family”, realizing that every single person is integral in making the complete process work. Kroese & Kroese, P.C. 24

has experienced a very low turnover through the years.

Many employees have been with the firm for over 10 years and have experienced many life events together, from births, weddings, graduations and death.

Kroese & Kroese employees will also go the distance for their clients. They truly are the firm’s greatest asset.

Today, Kroese & Kroese, P.C. is owned by a total of eight

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

partners with locations in Sioux Center and Le Mars. The partners in Sioux Center are Heath Baker, Richard Rikkers, Karri Faber, Brady Kroeze, and Matthew Kelderman.

The partners in Le Mars are Randy Kroese, Rex Knapp, and Jeff Barthole. From a few employees in 1986 to 36 employees today, the company continues to grow every year.

Kroese and Kroese, P.C. also firmly believes that support from the community has

blessed them richly and feel it is so important to give back to their community. They support all the surrounding schools and their activities and community events. Several employees also volunteer as board members for local committees and are involved in nonprofit organizations.

A couple of years ago, they also started participating in a service day where all the employees volunteer for a day in the community wherever the need may be. They have thoroughly enjoyed these service projects and have been blessed individually by giving back to the community.

Their focus over the years has been to stay on the cutting edge of accounting and tax practices. They are committed to and encourage the continuation and formalized

professional education of their employees as well as promote professional growth. With multiple tax preparers and accountants with a vast amount of specialties and niches, the firm utilizes each other and benefits from collaboration among their offices.

Living in Iowa where many careers revolve around agriculture, they have several members of their team staying current with all the agricultural changes and laws. Rich Rikkers, a partner at the Sioux Center office says, “his greatest satisfaction is giving his clients the necessary information to have the ability to make wise financial decisions.” The firm benefits from his experience and longevity with the company, along with many others.

OUR COMMITMENT

The firm focuses on being proactive versus reactive while communicating with their clients. They work with a variety of clients with a large volume being agriculturallyrelated. They have had the pleasure of serving some of their clients for decades. This truly speaks volumes to their ability to serve consistency and value over time. Today Kroese & Kroese, P.C. stands firm on the values that their company is based on and will continue to strive to help their clients attain their financial goals.

• Tax Services: Corporate, Partnership, Individual,

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Helping You

• Business Consulting, Estate & Retirement Planning • Audit & Review Services • Accounting & Financial Statement Preparation • Payroll & Sales Tax Accounting & Checkwriting • Computer Consulting • Business Valuation Services

REACH YOUR

Financial Goals.

540 North Main • Sioux Center, IA • 712.722.3375 31 2nd Ave NW • Le Mars, IA • 712.546.5131 www.kk-cpa.com

November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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Adley Hulstein, age 1, looks ready to head out to milk the cows at the dairy farm of her grandparents Jerry and Sherri Wolfswinkel near Carmel. Adley is the daughter of Chris and Ashley Hulstein who also are dairy farmers near Hull. Photo submitted by Ashley Hulstein.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

600 EAST TAN TARA CIRCLE SIOUX FALLS, SD 57108 605.335.5740

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

SENIOR LIVING AND CARE CENTERPIECE OF NEW CAMPAIGN

By Bob Fitch

Just five years after completion of a new hospital and clinic, Sioux Center Health is continuing to meet the needs of the region by launching the “Growing Community” capital campaign. Senior living and care is the centerpiece of the effort.

“We have known for quite some time that as our community and region has grown that our available options for seniors have not kept pace,” said Cory Nelson, chief executive officer of Sioux Center Health.

“It’s a good problem to have for our community. We’re Cory Nelson growing so fast we need to expand the options so people can receive high-quality care close to home.”

Included in the $32 million project will be the addition of 32 new skilled nursing home beds; 40 new assisted living residences, of which 16 will be for memory care; and replacement of the senior living campus kitchen. “We want to provide the best opportunities for those individuals to remain in our community, in our faith-based service delivery system.”

Sioux Center Health’s senior living campus is about a mile south of the hospital and clinic and includes independent living, assisted living and nursing home care. The project will create a unified main entrance for the existing Crowne Pointe Independent & Assisted Living and the Royale Meadows Long-Term Care facility.

Nelson said, “We will be attaching to our existing service lines. Plus we’ll also create a central connecting point that we’re calling ‘main street’

because the growing community is really the entire focus our campaign and our project. We want to create a community within our senior living campus that helps those individuals thrive and that is welcoming to individuals coming into our community to visit.” Indoor and outdoor gathering places, a chapel, and a salon will all be added.

“We want to provide an opportunity for individuals as they age to move from different levels of care while retaining community.

Right now, unfortunately, we have people in independent living or assisted living where they’re at the point where they need to move into nursing home care and we don’t have the available space for them. So they’re having to leave our community which disconnects them from their families, from their faith community, and all their support,” he said.

“Sometimes you have a husband and wife where one needs assisted living and one needs nursing care and, in this expanded campus, at least now they will be under the same roof even if not in the same room. They’ll be able to have connectivity and continue to spend time together doing the things they’ve loved for 50 or 60 years,” Nelson said.

The project will also include the expansion of the medical clinic and specialty clinic at the hospital. “With the growth of our community, we’ve added three new physicians in the last 18 months and those physicians are already reaching capacity,” he said. The clinic addition will provide space for seven additional healthcare November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

27

A “main street” concept will provide a central connecting point in the remodeled and expanded senior living campus in Sioux Center

Sioux Center Health’s “Growing Community” project will also include the expansion of the medical clinic and specialty clinic at the hospital. A rendering of the new registration area is shown here.

The expansion of Sioux Center Health’s senior living campus will include 16 new rooms for memory care residents.

providers and related support staff. Also funded will be a free-standing medical office building on the hospital campus.

Nelson joined Sioux Center Health about a year ago, moving to northwest Iowa from Nebraska.

“One of the greatest reasons this opportunity was so appealing to me was the community and region itself. I grew up in a small town, in a farm family. Agriculture and rural life have been part of my blood. My grandfather and dad were farmers. Seeing a region like northwest Iowa that is thriving in a rural economy is almost unheard-of. Being able to do the work I love in a region that is innovative and supportive and growing was an incredible opportunity for me.

“The support of businesses and the church families is something you don’t find in other 28

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | November 2019

parts of the country. Having the anchors of manufacturing, financial, and retail all wrapped around by agricultural support really makes it a more economically vibrant area than a lot of others have. Everybody works together from all walks of life to make our entire region successful,” he said.

The project will be funded by a combination of financing. It is anticipated that USDA will provide the largest portion of funding and parity bonds from local banks will be utilized. Approximately $6 million needs to be raised from local donors.

“There are unique opportunities for donor engagement and support, especially in the main street area. What we really want to do is have something that our region and community are proud of. It really has the opportunity to become

a legacy project for our region,” Nelson said.

He anticipates design work will be done this fall followed by going to bid in January or February with construction starting in the spring.

Construction should last about two years.

Those interested in learning more or becoming a donor can contact:

• Cory Nelson, CEO of Sioux Center Health.

Cory.nelson@siouxcenterhealth.org.

712-722-8414.

• Monica Sedelmeier, Chief Quality Officer of Sioux Center Health and head of hospital’s foundation.

Monica.seldemeier@siouxcenterhealth.org.

712-722-8415.

SIOUX CENTER HEALTH

is here to serve our local farmers At Sioux Center Health, we are here to serve you and your family throughout the continuum of care — from birth to end of life, and every stage in between. As a health ministry guided by Christian values, we are committed to consistently delivering an excellent experience to every person at every encounter to fulfil our mission of bringing hope, health, and healing to life.

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For more information about our services, visit siouxcenterhealth.org.

November 2019 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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FROM THE KITCHEN CHOCOLATE SCOTCHEROOS From the kitchen of Kathy Van Maanen of Doon

INGREDIENTS: • 1 cup white sugar • 1 cup honey • 1 cup peanut butter • 6 cups Rice Krispies • 1 cup chocolate chips • 1 cup butterscotch chips DIRECTIONS: Combine sugar and honey. Cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter. Add Rice Krispies. Press into a 9x13” buttered pan. Melt chips together and spread on top.

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