The Farming Families of Sioux County-July 2019 by AGE Media and Promotion

of Sioux County JULY 2019

Meet the

VER MULM Family

FAITH

FAMILY

FRIENDS

Photo by Paul Miller

FARMING

Stay connected out there.

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OUR PHILOSOPHY There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year, he won the award for the best grown corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

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“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, crosspollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” So is with our lives... Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all. ~ Author Unknown ~

Call it power of collectivity. Call it a principle of success. Call it a law of life. The fact is, none of us truly wins, until we all win!

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ~ Proverbs 11:24-25 ~

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

FROM THE PUBLISHER of Sioux County PUBLISHERS Garrett and Mindy Gross, AGE Media IOWA MANAGER Bob Fitch, AGE Media DIRECT ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, STORY SUBMISSIONS AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE TO:

712-551-4123 bob@agemedia.pub The Farming Families of Sioux County is distributed free exclusively to the farmers, ranchers, and producers in rural Sioux County, Iowa. ©2019 The Farming Families of Sioux County Magazine. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without written permission from the publisher. The Farming Families of Sioux County assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Content in articles, editorial material and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by The Farming Families of Sioux County.

COVER: Bart, Rebekah, Chase, Brynn, Colt, Lisa, Doug and Chelsie Ver Mulm of Orange Creek Farms in Rock Valley. Story begins on page 6. Photo by Paul Miller, PM Photography.

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MAKING IT THROUGH THE STORM What do you say about a spring like 2019? Nonstop rain, repeated flooding and ongoing delays in planting left a wide swath of frustration and anxiety this year. We can only wish and hope and pray that the rest of the growing season cooperates a lot better than April and May did. (As I write this in mid-June, it’s sunny and 73 degrees – but the forecast is for more rain.)

I also found a few absurd and absurdly funny quotes relating to the rain …

The world is filled with lovely songs and poetry about the refreshment delivered to earth by a beautiful rainfall. There are songs about kissing in the rain and singing in the rain; proverbs about the bountiful harvests as the result of the rain; and stories of the joy of the rainbow after the rain. But when it rains too darn much, does anyone have anything profound to say? It turns out that there are a few words of wisdom and snippets of humor to be found out there when the rain clouds have darkened our days for too long. First, a sampling of the wisdom …

A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.

In Italy, they say rain on your wedding day is symbolic of fresh beginnings, cleansing, a pure marriage, and also a wet knot that can't be untied.

Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?

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Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall.

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~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

The mother-in-law came round last week. It was absolutely pouring down. So I opened the door and I saw her there and I said, 'Mother, don't just stand there in the rain. Go home.' ~ Les Dawson, comedian and actor

~ Robert Frost, poet

The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually. ~ Eeyore, the donkey from Winnie The Pooh

You might be a redneck if . . . your high school basketball game got rained out. ~ Jeff Foxworthy, comedian

~ George Carlin, comedian

I used to get bummed out when it rained; then I realized that it's God's way of washing off hippies. ~ Demetri Martin, comedian

Finally, some inspiration from singer and songwriter Fantasia Barrino for all of us, whether it’s trying to recover from an awful planting season or trying to face some other storm in life …

~ Anonymous

Do not be angry with the rain, it simply does not know how to fall upwards. ~ Vladimir Nabokov, novelist and poet

God didn't give up on me. I am somebody in God's eyes... Let me be a prime example of how I've been through the storm and the rain, and I made it over.

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The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Van Voorst Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Van Zee Enterprises Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

God is good for everybody. The sun shines on good people and bad people, and it rains on both, too. God doesn't choose rain only for bad people. ~ Mariano Rivera, baseball great

Bob Fitch Area Manager, AGE Media (712) 551-4123 bob@agemedia.pub July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

FAMILY

Rebekah, Bart and Chelsie Ver Mulm with bottle calves.

Doug and Lisa Ver Mulm with a sample of their pork chops and ribeye steaks.

QUALITY, CONSISTENCY, CONNECTIONS GROW DIRECTTO-CONSUMER FARM SALES By Bob Fitch Photos by Paul Miller, PM Photography

Over the decades, the trend in American agriculture has been towards fewer farms, each made up of a greater number of acres. Northwest Iowa is a leader in this trend – known nationwide for highly productive farms which raise corn, soybeans, hogs, and beef and dairy cattle.

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

No one sees the trend towards larger farms changing; and the continued explosion in the world’s population means the increased production in northwest Iowa and elsewhere is necessary in order to feed all those people. But, big or small, one of the wonderful qualities of the American economic model is the freedom for the

entrepreneurial spirit of individuals to find their own row to hoe. That entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Orange Creek Farms, a small farm west of Rock Valley where they are part of the expanding local foods movement. The Ver Mulm family raises cattle, hogs

and sheep and sells the meat directly to consumers.

ery there about every other week,” Bart said.

“For many consumers today, it’s important to them to know where their meat comes from,” said co-owner Bart Ver Mulm. “Many customers want to know where their meat, produce, honey or other food products are coming from. It’s a whole lot easier if you’re buying it from the producers who are raising it.”

Expanding beyond Berkshire hogs, they added Angus cattle. “As we started to grow, we started looking into farmers’ markets. We started at the Sioux Falls Farmers Market. This is our third year there. And this is our second year selling at the Omaha Farmers Market.” Bart and Rebekah – and their children Chase, Colt and Brynn – staff the Sioux Falls market on Saturdays. Bart’s parents, Doug and Lisa, make the trek to Omaha each weekend.

Bart and his wife Rebekah initially started raising hogs about six years ago on an acreage north of Orange City. When production began to exceed their family’s capacity to eat all the meat, they started learning about directto-consumer marketing. “First off, we got connected with the owner of Town Square Coffee House in Orange City. When they got started, they wanted to push locally-sourced food. We continue to make a deliv-

Bart’s sister Chelsie works in the animal health industry and is the lead person at

USDA Inspected | Organically Certified Animal Welfare Approved | Family Owned & Operated Doug & Kathy Klarenbeek Bradey Klarenbeek

605.984.2033 617 4th St., Hudson, SD 57034 | www.hudsonmeats.org

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

Orange Creek Farms for livestock care including tagging and treating newborn animals. Chelsie also handles chores on the weekend when everyone else is at the farmers markets. Bart said he got exposure to raising different types of livestock growing up on a small acreage south of Rock Valley. About 25 years ago, his parents purchased the current acreage west of Rock Valley on the banks of the Rock River. Brother Doug Jr. and his wife Helen and son Benedict live in New York, but are also involved in Orange Creek Farms on the business side. So far, Orange Creek Farms is a sideline. Both Bart and Rebekah work for Rock Valley Community Schools as custodians and bus drivers. After

Berkshire pigs at Orange Creek Farms.

leaving a career in trucking two years ago, Doug takes care of most of the chores and upkeep at the farm during the week. Each weekend, they bring 700-1,000 pounds of meat to both Sioux Falls and Omaha. They also sell product online

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

at www.orangecreekfarms. com. In addition to the meat sales in Sioux Falls, they also sell breakfast sandwiches and burgers at the Farmers Market. In the winter, Doug and Lisa make monthly trips to Omaha to deliver orders to their faithful customers. The livestock from Orange Creek Farms is processed at Hudson Meats & Sausage in Hudson, S.D. “We have always been impressed how well Orange Creek Farms carefully grew their business over the years,” said Doug Klarenbeek, co-owner of Hudson Meats, a USDA Certified and organically certified processor. “Starting small, they were able to grow into bigger ideas and take more on as they grew in experience. They have built themselves one step at a time. The entire family uses their unique skills and abilities to add to what has made Orange Creek so successful.” Knowing where their meat comes from is just the beginning of meeting the desires of their customers. “Quality is huge for us. It’s easy to deliver a quality product once, but consistency is vital,” Bart said. “The customer wants to know the type of product and type of quality they can expect from us every time they see us at the market. Every time we’re there, we want to be clearly representing what we’re trying to do.” Meeting customer expectations requires them to be consistent in what they feed their livestock and the care they provide; plus be consistent in the product they have available.

In addition to the Berkshire pork and the Angus beef, the farm recently began offering lamb from Katahdin sheep which produce a milder tasting lamb product. The development of this breed began in the late 1950s with the importation of a small number of haired sheep from the Caribbean by Michael Piel of Maine. Piel believed that “progress in selection for traits important to the production of meat would be greatly enhanced by the elimination of wool as a major factor for selection,” according to Katahdin Hair Sheep International. Colt, Brynn and Chase Ver Mulm with the sheep herd.

Ver Mulms currently have the sheep at their Rock Valley farm, but will soon move most of them to the Orange City acreage. In addition to potentially expanding to other farmers markets, Orange Creek Farms is promoting itself by being involved in the Sioux Falls “food scene.” They took part in the Sioux Falls Chef Battles in February and the Sandwich Battle at Remedy Bar in June; plus have presented grilling classes in collaboration with “Chef Willie” at Fireplace Professionals/BBQ Heaven. They also supply large quantities of meat to the award-winning Big Orange Food Truck. Bart has a background in customer service and sales; and is good at making connections – all of which is important to have success in the direct-toconsumer marketplace. “Folks at the markets appreciate that we’re down-to-earth people and that our hands are the ones in the dirt raising this livestock. There’s no ‘spin’ in our sales pitch. We enjoy making friends with those who visit.”

Doug and Lisa agreed about the value of the relationships and friendships developed at the markets. They also get great feedback. “We get a lot of good compliments on the meat. It’s nice to have a product that people like so much,” Doug said. Lisa said so many times she’s heard from customers that the beef and pork “tastes like it did when I was a kid.” They’ve appreciated the two-

way support offered and received from other vendors at the markets. In fact, a soap maker at the Sioux Falls market has started purchasing lard from the Ver Mulms. And Doug and Lisa have turned around and are selling the soap products at the Omaha Farmers Market.

“If we succeed in trying to all work together and talk together so we stay on the same page, we’ll be just fine.”

Maintaining good lines of communication among family members is perhaps the biggest challenge, Doug said.

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE The Granite Threshermen’s Association exists to preserve and promote the area’s agricultural heritage. Membership is open to anyone interested in assuring the continued growth of the Threshing Bee and the event grounds. The association has more than 500 members from 14 states. “Technology is changing the world so fast. It’s important to slow down and look back. This is our heritage here in the Midwest,” said Darrel Hansen, event founder and president of the Granite Thresherman’s Association. Thirty-five years ago, Hansen and his son Brett had planted a field of oats so they could try binding, stacking and threshing oats the old-fashioned way. Friends and family gathered to watch and help. A new summer tradition was formed that August day. “I had no vision of it becoming something like this. So many people are interested and have been supportive. Thirty-five years went by in a hurry,” Hansen said. He said they continue to teach the next generation how to do the threshing. Other old technologies like two-row corn pickers have been added over the years. “When you look at today’s combines, can you imagine sitting on a tractor with no cab picking corn two rows at a time?” Hansen said. As the show evolves, other old-fashioned farm equipment and processes will be showcased, he said. Hansen is retired from a 40-year career with Henry Carlson Construction in Sioux Falls. He rents out the family’s farmland. The 35th annual Granite Threshing Bee is July 19-21 in Granite, Iowa, on the western edge of Lyon County. Photo by Jon Klemme.

farming comes alive GRANITE Old-time every summer at the Granite Bee near Larchwood THRESHING BEE Threshing on the west edge of Lyon SHOWCASES County. OLD-TIME AGRICULTURE By Bob Fitch

The Granite Threshermen’s Association will hold its 35th annual event beginning with an antique tractor pull on the evening of Friday, July 19, at 6 p.m. That will be followed by two full days of antique agricultural demonstrations and fun on Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21. It is open to the public and is the largest free admission threshing show in the Midwest.

The grounds at the Granite Threshing Bee have seen a lot of development. Hansen pointed out the old country schoolhouse that was moved in from Hills, Minn.; the summer kitchens from Steen, Minn. and Renner, S.D.; the farm shop from Inwood; and the depot from Hudson, S.D. Especially unique is the complete gunsmith shop from Sibley which, until it was moved to Granite several years ago, had been sitting untouched since its owner died in 1968.

Darrel Hansen, event founder and president of the Granite Threshermen’s Association.

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Hansen said volunteers come to the show site every Thursday to mow and work on other projects in preparation for the threshing bee. Dozens of volunteers make the event a success on the third weekend of July each year. Funding comes mostly from donations, although they have been applying for grants in recent years. The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation provided a grant to help purchase and move the Hudson Depot.

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The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

market, garden tractor pull, and a worship service Sunday morning at 9:30. “Kids get a chance to ride or drive a real tractor,” Hansen said. “That helps plant the seed to keep them coming back and keep their interest in supporting us.”

A train depot from Hudson, S.D. was moved to Granite in late 2017 and is being restored.

Kids play with corn diggers during the Granite Threshing Bee. Photo by Jannell Scott.

To get to Granite from Larchwood, take 140th Street 7 1/2 miles west and Arizona Avenue 1 1/2 miles north. From Sioux Falls, take Highway 42 east to 481st Avenue and follow the signs south. Additional information can be found at www. granitethreshingbee.com and facebook.com/Granite-Threshing-Bee.

Antique tractors make up a veritable rainbow of colors at the Granite Threshing Bee. Photos by Jon Klemme.

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Visitors enjoy the equipment parade from a shady spot. Photo by Jannell Scott.

Granite was founded in 1887 and originally called Iuka. Inhabited for 450 years by Oneota Indians, the first European explorers didn’t visit the banks of Blood Run Creek until the 1600s. White pioneers began to settle here on the Iowa-South Dakota border in the 1870s. While never a large town, at one time Granite had a railroad depot, blacksmith shop, grocery store, bank, two grain elevators, stockyards, drug store and a baseball team. The bank was moved to Larchwood in 12

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

New in the implement building this year is an IHC demonstrator C from Al and Verlyn Enger. Photo courtesy of the Granite Threshermen’s Association.

1934 and it operates today as Security Savings Bank, the oldest chartered bank in Lyon County. Now home to just a few houses and the business Miller Loaders, Granite becomes a boom town again on the third weekend of July every year for the Granite Threshing Bee. At the free event, visitors can expect to see many different models of old-time tractors including: • “Orphans” – Tractors from companies that no longer exist.

• “Oddballs” – Rare or limited production tractors. • “Doodlebugs” – Tractors homemade by farmers during World War II when tractors and finances were in short supply. There is a parade of tractors and other antique vehicles at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Other events include a kids pedal pull, threshing demonstrations, tours of the Blood Run archaeological site, flea

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July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

RURAL ENTREPRENEURS Four Speckled Hens has taken the initiative to help coordinate a “shop hop” promotion in the spring and fall with other smalltown, locally-owned retailers, not just in Alton but including other surrounding communities. “It’s important for people to know what these small towns have to offer.” Follow Four Speckled Hens on Facebook to track the next shop hop or other upcoming events.

FOUR SPECKLED HENS OFFERS DOZENS OF GIFTS AND TREASURES

With Alton located at the intersection of Highways 10 and 60, the shop has been fortunate to benefit from traffic going to and from the Okoboji lakes region. “The people in town also like it, because if they get company it’s someplace to go for an hour.”

By Bob Fitch

While there won’t be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, you still might find a few of your favorite things at Four Speckled Hens, a gift shop in downtown Alton. The inventory at Four Speckled Hens features gifts, home décor, vintage items, clothing, and more. The “more” includes Door County coffee, old-fashioned candy, Amish salsa, Iowa maple syrup, candles, jewelry, Melissa and Doug toys, and inspirational books and cards. However, the heart of the shop is locally-made crafts. “We just had a dream that we were going to be in business together to have local products at a reasonable price and cater to the local people,” said Ruth Greving, a co-owner of the shop who lives in Alton. Greving is one of the original “hens” who started the shop, and

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Former farm girls Rachel Te Grootenhuis, Ruth Greving and Debbie Wanderscheid are owners of Four Speckled Hens and The Chicken Coop in Alton.

Debbie Wanderscheid who lives north of Newkirk is the other original “hen.” The two other original owners flew the coop, but Greving and Wanderscheid, have been joined by Rachel Te Grootenhuis of Orange City. All three of the women grew up on farms. Some of the locally-made craft items include hair bows, sewn kitchen crafts, handmade cards, goat milk soap and lotions, and tea towels and signs with inspirational sayings. There are 12 area women (or “chicks”) who regularly consign items. “I’m kind of the old lady of the group. We have young moms who are consignors, wanting to stay home and help with finances,” Greving said.

Four Speckled Hens recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and is located in what was previously Alton’s liquor store. “Once in a while, we will still have a guy who will walk in, look up, and turn around and go back out. We always tease that we’re going to have to put a still in the back room,” Greving said. Several blocks away on the town’s south side is a “wing” of Four Speckled Hens called The Chicken Coop, which opened last October. There are five consignors who pay to rent space and sell antiques and vintage pieces, which people like to re-purpose. Marge Metheny of Alton is the mother hen at The Chicken Coop.

Greving said the people coming in the door have been the biggest blessing of operating the business. “Such nice people and people you come to have a relationship with. When they come back, they say ‘we’re so glad to see you again.’” Greving lost her husband to cancer 13 years ago. “Some people know about that and they come in and say, ‘can we talk a little bit?’ I feel like I have something to offer them, although I’m usually more blessed by them. It’s just sharing and I just think that’s what God wants us to do.”

Some of the locally-made craft items include doll clothes and unique signs (pictured here) as well as hair bows, sewn kitchen crafts, handmade cards, goat milk soap and lotions, and tea towels.

Last year, the owners of Four Speckled Hens opened The Chicken Coop Antiques and Vintage Treasures in Alton. July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

FOCUS ON FAITH remain as loyal and faithful as their predecessors. If that happens, this church is sustainable for a good while,” Van Sloten said. “In fact, I’ve baptized more babies in the last two years than I did in my first five years here. There is a good sense of stability.”

Lebanon Christian Reformed Church is located in rural Sioux County, centered about 10 miles from three towns – Hawarden, Rock Valley and Sioux Center.

FAITH, FAMILY, FARMING STAND THE TEST OF TIME By Bob Fitch In the early 1900s, first- and second-generation Dutch farmers in Garfield Township found attending church to be an arduous journey with Hawarden, Rock Valley and Sioux Center all being about 10 miles away. It was no small task to travel that far via horse and buggy, especially in the winter. Consequently, the settlers took it upon themselves to organize and establish Lebanon Christian Reformed Church in 1903. Except in a blizzard or when 16

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

floods cover the roads, traveling those 10 miles to a church in town would be easy today. But area farm families have kept the faith in Lebanon Christian Reformed Church. There are about 80-90 members and about 75 in attendance on Sunday mornings.

and seventies – many of whom grew up in this church and still farm or live in this area. They really are the heartbeat of the church. They’ve remained here through really good times and some challenging times as well … just salt-of-the-earth, blue collar people.

“In most ways, it is thriving and flourishing as a rural church,” said Pastor Cory Van Sloten. “We’ve got a pretty good nucleus of loyal and faithful members in their fifties, sixties

“We also have a nice group of twenty-, thirty, fortysomethings – young couples, young families. Over the next 20 years, we need this next group to take ownership and

Previously a teacher and coach at Western Christian High School in Hull, Van Sloten went to seminary with the single goal of becoming a chaplain in the Army National Guard. “I had no intention whatsoever of becoming a pastor. I did a five-year distance learning seminary program through Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Halfway through those five years, I was learning and growing in my faith, and taking on more leadership roles and responsibilities in the church we belonged to at that time. I thought I owed it to the Lord and myself to at least explore it and check it out.” In the spring of 2012, knowing the Lebanon church was without a pastor, he approached them with the idea of serving a 3-month summer internship so he could explore the possibility of being a pastor. Three months turned into 6 months turned into a year. He ended up serving about 2 1/2 years as an un-ordained pastoral intern. The church called him in 2014 and he was ordained. He also serves as a chaplain in the Iowa Army National Guard, a duty fully supported by the congregation. A native of Ireton, Van Sloten said serving the Lebanon church has been a good fit. “I’ve come to the realization that bigger isn’t always better as far as churches go. The grass isn’t always

greener on the other side.” He and his wife Arla live in Maurice. They have recently become empty-nesters. Their three sons and one daughter are all in their 20s. Arla transitioned her career path about the same time Cory did. Previously a cosmetologist, she now works as a mentor at ATLAS in Orange City. ATLAS is a nonprofit Christ-centered ministry which serves people who are struggling with addictions, relationships or life in general. ATLAS services are free. Patrons are encouraged and mentored; and then sometimes referred to an outside source for counseling or substance abuse treatment. Like those who visit ATLAS, the Lebanon Christian Reformed Church has had its share of challenges over the years. The original church building burned to the ground in 1921 – only the pulpit Bible was saved. At one time, the church had perhaps the largest and most vibrant youth society in the Christian Reformed Church plus operated the Lebanon Christian School from 19511977. But fewer farms and less farm families led to their decline. Church members have weathered two world wars, the Great Depression, drought, and personal heartbreak. “In 1944, a tornado ripped this church right off its foundation,” said Van Sloten. “They worshipped in the church basement for two years; then they rebuilt. It shows the resolve here – at that point they could have hung it up and called it quits, but they remained loyal, faithful and committed, and sacrificed in order for this church to continue.

Pastor Cory Van Sloten, right, baptizes Kara Grace and Raelyn Grace Richardson, daughters of Alissa and Joe Richardson. All photos courtesy Lebanon Christian Reformed Church.

The Lebanon congregation on Easter morning in 2015.

“I’m always so impressed and amazed as I look at our local farmers – the faith element of their vocation is significant,” he said. “There are so many elements that they can’t control – the weather, the costs, the markets that go up and down, the health of livestock. There is a significant faith element to being a farmer. You certainly have many productive and fruitful seasons, but for many there have been many lean and difficult seasons as well. “ Faith , f a mily, f a rmin g intertwine together in such a way that it has made this and kept this a vibrant little church community. Those things stand the test of time even through challenges and hardship and loss,” Van Sloten said. Information about Lebanon Christian Reformed Church, plus links to its Facebook page and to YouTube videos of its services can be found at www. lebanoncrc.org. July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

IOWA CORNFIELD BY BRETT DAVELAAR, BD PHOTOGRAPHY.

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

COUNTRY NEIGHBOR

Left: The trend in miniature horse breeding is to bring in more Shetland blood.; Right: Taylor Heyer breeds her horses first with an eye towards a structurally sound animal and then if “the color comes, that’s an extra little bonus.”

'THE LITTLE HORSES HAVE GOT SO MUCH ATTITUDE AND HEART’ By Bob Fitch

Taylor Heyer has been a breeder of miniature horses since she was 11 years old. Photo courtesy Taylor Heyer.

At Lazy Creek Miniature Horses south of Rock Rapids, Taylor Heyer proves the truth of the old saying “bigger isn’t always better”

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Growing up, Taylor inherited a love of horses from her mom. They always had “normal size” horses and went trail riding. “When I was about 8, I got the itch to barrel race.” She built up her skills over the years and reached a milestone in 2015. “My horse Gyro and I were running in the Larchwood series for a couple years, but we could never quite win. But that year, we were just rocking it. We cinched both titles – the barrel racing open and the pole open. I had never won a saddle before and that year I won two.

in Sioux Center and I saw these ponies. I said ‘Mom, I need these.’ She said, ‘Well, if you’re going to do this, you’re going to do it right. You’re going to study this and learn about blood lines and get into it the correct way.’” After studying and researching for a year, she bought her first stallion and mare at a sale in Sherburne, Minn., when she was 11. “Pretty soon, I had a herd. People had the misconception that it was my parent’s business, but it was mine.” At the same time, Taylor gives her parents, Willie and Glo Van Roekel, lots of credit for the great support

they provided over the years. Willie is a trucker working for McCormick Transport and Glo works at Pella Windows in Sioux Center. “When I started showing, we met some really great people along the way who helped us get our feet wet. Longman Stables from Madison, Minn., helped us out immensely. They taught us so much, showing us how miniature horses are supposed to be clipped and everything. “I went to my first nationals in Tulsa, Okla., when I was 13. At most sanctioned shows,

I showed youth, but I also showed open. I wasn’t satisfied showing only against other kids. It was hard. There were some kicks to the gut. But I always had a great support system with Mom and Dad,” she said. The miniature horse business has changed in recent years with more Shetland blood being the new preference. Taylor decided to change and not be left behind. “My first Shetland miniature stallion is named McCarthy’s Aristocrat. I got him out of Ohio. He had done really well

It was gratifying because we raised that horse from a colt and broke him out.” When it was time to sell Gyro a year or two ago, Taylor shed some tears. “I cried, but he went to a great family out in Pierre, S.D., to a little girl who uses him for 4H rodeo. It’s a good feeling that he went to a good home.” Parallel to her quarter horse rodeo career, Taylor discovered miniature horses. “When I was about 10, I was at a horse auction at Tri-State Livestock

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July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

in the show string as a baby and as a yearling, but then the horse fell off the map so we got him relatively cheaply. We just saw something there.”

The beautiful miniature horses at Lazy Creek enjoy freedom on the 28 acres of pasture. Photos courtesy Taylor Heyer.

Her hunch proved right. Putting him back on the show circuit at 9 years old, McCarthy’s Aristocrat won reserve overall grand champion stallion at the American Shetland Pony Club Congress in Des Moines in 2017. That win has kept her on the map in miniature horse sales nationwide even as she’s downsized her business since graduating from college and getting married two years ago. “I used to have a lot more horses. I had as many as 50 of these suckers running around. Now we’re going with quality vs. quantity.” Currently she has six mares and one stallion compared to a high point of six stallions. “You’d pull your hair out with all the testosterone that used to be around this place.” Following graduation from South Dakota State University (with a degree in animal science business and production) and her June 2017 wedding to Kaleb Heyer, she and her husband moved in with her parents on the 28 acres between Rock Rapids and Doon. Her parents plan to move to Doon. Both Taylor and Kaleb grew up on acreages. “We enjoy it. I’m not ready for kids yet, but when we do, we want our kids to grow up the way we did.”

Taylor’s parents, Glo and Willie Van Roekel with their dog Otis. 22

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Taylor works full-time in the trust department at Frontier Bank in Sioux Falls. “It’s tough to make a career out of the horse industry since it is a hobby for most people. I never thought I’d see myself sitting in

In 2015, Taylor and her horse Gyro took home the top prize in both barrel racing open and the pole open at the Larchwood series. She had raised that horse from a colt. Photo courtesy Taylor Heyer.

an office, but I like it. They’re all about the small-town nature at Frontier.” Kaleb works for Rock River Feedyards. He’s a graduate of West Lyon High School while Taylor graduated from Central Lyon High School. They met seven years ago at the Lyon County Fair. Kaleb is now venturing into miniature cows, both for showing and selling breeding stock. “We like them small here,” Taylor joked. “He wants to get into miniature Herefords. The miniature cows have a better rate of gain, especially grass-fed. People often don’t have the big deep freezes anymore, but with these miniature cows, you get all

the same cuts of meat, just a smaller portion of it.” In the miniature horse breeding world, Taylor said some breed for color, some for conformation. “I want the best of both worlds. But conformation always comes first for me. If the color comes, that’s an extra little bonus. You need a structurally sound animal. I learned that with the big horses when I was barrel racing. You need to have a sound base for them to live that 25-30 years and, in the case of the big horses, to perform as the athletes that they were meant to be.” In addition to miniature horses, Taylor occasionally will break horses to ride for others, a skill

While Taylor raises miniature horses, Kaleb has started raising miniature cows.

her mom taught her years ago. She is also starting to breed “barrel racing babies” from mares inseminated after paying stud fees. “Obviously we like to make money, but when we get the horses to families and you can see them thrive and other people can do well with your stock, you’re creating your own legacy and I think that’s cool,” she said. “Horses are my heart. The little horses have got so much attitude and heart. They think they’re as big as my quarter horses. They think they’re king-stuff. It makes it fun. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t love it.”

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

MAKING A DIFFERENCE because he cared. Simply because he saw someone who was hurting. Simply because he understood the basic human need for community,” Dukes Lee said.

AGRICULTURE OUTREACH TOUR:

“We all need to know that we belong to each other – whether we are city folk, farm folk, whatever folk. No matter where people live, work ... no matter what we believe ... we all belong to each other. And in a hurting world, that can make all the difference.”

DELIVERING ENCOURAGEMENT TO AREA FARMERS

The note from the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce read:

Quote Source: KSFY.com

Agriculture is the backbone of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. It is the region’s #1 industry, and, for the farmers who work the land, agriculture is more than a job – it is a career, a passion, and a way of life. However, it is not easy—this year especially – as farmers across the region are facing flooded, muddy fields forcing them to delay planting. When Holly Rader, agri-business manager for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, suggested delivering cookies as a kind and encouraging gesture for worried farmers, members shared her vision to show farmers sincere appreciation for all they do and that we are thinking of them during this challenging time in the farming industry. 24

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

“The members of the business community know that farmers are the backbone of America. Thank you for your dedication to feeding the world. Scott Lee, a Lyon County farmer, received a bag of cookies and note as part of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Outreach Tour. (Photo by Jennifer Dukes Lee, wife and author of “It’s All Under Control”)

On Tuesday, June 4, twenty volunteers from the Sioux Falls Area Chamber stopped at 75 farms from Volga to Lennox and across state lines into Beaver Creek, Minn. and Inwood, Iowa, and around the Sioux Falls area. The AgriBusiness Division seeks to advance and promote the Sioux Empire as an agricultural center. It is comprised of volunteers from local businesses who understand and appreciate the strong connection between our city’s business and agriculture sectors. Rader’s initial thought was that one act of kindness might lead to more. She baked 34 dozen cookies in her home, and Grand Falls Casino donated 30 dozen. “We just wanted to give a smile and a bag of cookies and a

“We know the ag sector – our region’s No. 1 industry – is struggling. We recognize your hard work and perseverance

through one of the most difficult times the ag industry has ever seen. “Although words and cookies can’t make this tough time any easier, our hope is that this ‘thank you’ will be a small ray of sunshine in a dreary year.” The Agriculture Outreach Tour group included volunteers Scott Wick, president and CEO of the Sioux Empire Fair; Jo Beal, member of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Division; and Julie Hammer, executive administrative assistant of the Sioux Empire Fair. Hammer and her husband are farmers/ livestock producers, and although they were lucky that calving season went pretty well, she recognizes that is not the case for other area farmers. “This was a day to spread encouragement and thank our farmers and ranchers for all they do to feed the world,” she says.

note, and the reaction was overwhelming,” she says. Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of “It’s All Under Control” and a farmer near Inwood, Iowa, said she was surprised when a stranger from the city stopped by their farm to deliver a paper bag filled with cookies for her husband, Scott, along with a note. She wrote on her Facebook page: “The guy was from the city ... from the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. And he had left the city for the day to drive around the countryside with cookies and notes. He had zero motive. He came only to deliver hope to farmers like my husband, who are really struggling right now. “In an instant, this stranger became our friend. Simply

Ag Outreach Tour volunteers (Photo provided by Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce)

Hammer said, “A couple of things that have stuck in my head was when we stopped by a farm and met the hired hand. When we thanked him and gave him the cookies and note, he said, ‘I’m just the hired man—not the farmer.’ We expressed how important he is in making the operation run and that we thank him too. The fuel service businessman was outside filling a truck to make deliveries. I let him know how much we appreciated him too for delivering fuel to our farmers. He thanked me for thinking of him. What an awesome feeling that was!” "It is a complete surprise to our farmers. We're hoping that it’s just a small piece of positivity," Rader said. “A lot of people are seeing this from all over,” she said. “My hope from the beginning, and what I told the group when I pitched it, was that this is the opportunity to start a trend. We’re not done.” Volunteers for the tour included Rene Stolsmark, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; Phil DeGroot, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; Thomas Newman, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; Kaley Nolz, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; Emily Henes, South Dakota Soybean; Janelle Atyeo, Tri-State Neighbor; Jim Woster, Agri-Business Citizen of the Year; Angel Kasper, Ag United for South Dakota; Sydney Becker, Plains Commerce Bank; Rodney Krantz, Plains Commerce Bank; Scott Wick, Sioux Empire Fair; Jo Beal, Sioux Empire Fair; Courtney Drenth, Sioux Empire Fair

Boadwine Farms in Minnehaha County July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS

By Bob Fitch

The 2018-19 Rocket Manufacturing Team. Front row: Averey DenHartog, Nathan Bartels, Lexi Hilbrands. Middle row: John Sierra, Mycah VantHul, Blake Boersma, Jaxon Rus, Ely Goettsch, Keaton Heronemous, Berto Villalobos, Jose Arellano, Caleb Westra, Noah DeYager (Instructor). Back row: Todd VanderVelde (Instructor), Tyler VanVoorst, Chris VanDerBrink, Lance Steins, Lucas DenHollander, Drake Bakker, Wade Veltkamp, Zach Vogelzang, Matt VanderTuin, Alex Enciso, Brandon Peet, Eric Vanveldhuizen, Micah Weber (Instructor). All photos courtesy Rock Valley Community Schools/Rocket Manufacturing.

STUDENT-RUN BUSINESS EMULATES REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE By Bob Fitch

Students at Rock Valley High School are engaging in the area’s manufacturing and agricultural economy through the ongoing development and expansion of Rocket Manufacturing, a student-run business.

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Rocket Manufacturing is the first of its kind in Iowa. Students work a variety of positions that are required in a manufacturing business. These jobs range from accounting and business development to product design and manufacturing. The business occupies a niche locally where students are able to fill small orders that major manufacturers are not able to produce.

Three teachers lead the program: Todd Vander Velde (industrial technology), Micah Weber (vocational agriculture), and Noah De Yager (business). In the past school year, students completed 111 jobs for 44 customers. Projects fall into four categories: 1. Agriculture 2. Custom metal fabrication 3. Metal signs 4. Machining

The 100x100-foot shop area was created with investments from Rock Valley Community Schools, grants, and significant donations from local businesses.

A wide variety of orders have been completed for local farmers, businesses and others including gates, fences, bale feeders, metal feedbunks, goat pens, fire fighter gear racks and metal signage. Whenever possible, the program aims to emulate a realworld job experience. According to agriculture instructor Micah Weber, “Students must demonstrate why they should be part of the program. It’s a whole process. You have to interview and you have to have a portfolio which shows your skill sets.” The interviews are done by local business persons and Rock Valley principal Nicole Roder. Only juniors and seniors are in the program. Last year, there were about 18 applicants and only 12 were accepted. Between the junior and senior class, there were 23 students involved in the 2018-19 school year.

The Rocket Manufacturing portion of the school day runs for two periods. Students are in the shop for about 80 minutes each day. Weber said the intensity of the program does force students to make choices on where they’re going to spend their academic time. Like life in the professional world, being a leader requires students to make difficult choices “because you can’t do it all.” The 100 x 100-foot shop devotes about a quarter of its space to woods, a quarter to metals and the rest is welding and fabrication. Students are able to learn a variety of skill sets including CNC mill work and lathe work; plasma cutting; welding; woodworking, vinyl cutting, metal fabrication and metal repair. The skills students learn can be applied to careers in manufacturing as well as on-farm

situations – a reflection of the strong manufacturing and agricultural job base in the Rock Valley area. At the same time, the process and thinking skills can also apply to any number of business, science or technology-based careers. Tony Rau, engineer and sales manager for Valley Machining Co. in Rock Valley, said that for many years young people have been encouraged to seek careers in anything but manufacturing – and now there is a severe shortage of skilled workers. “And when I say ‘severe,’ I mean severe enough that it impacts our strategic planning and the rate at which we are capable of growing. “Industrial-type companies have suffered from a stigma that manufacturing jobs are low tech, low pay, hot and dirty. Nothing could be further from the truth. Manufacturing has July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

turned into a very high tech field,” Rau said. “The work environment is clean, safe and, in our case, climate controlled. Pay is exceptional with opportunity for growth within the organization.” Instead of just accepting and/or complaining about the stigma, local manufacturers partnered with Rock Valley Community School and Rocket Manufacturing. “We want to make students aware of what a shop environment is like and what running a manufacturing business is like,” Rau said. David Miller, director of Rock Valley Economic Development, said the city views the program as a building block in their overall economic development efforts. “Rocket Manufacturing is a cog in the area’s workforce development. We’re pleased that it’s helping to match the needs of local employers and teaching students work-life skills such as collaboration, teamwork and showing up on time.” Just like a real job, students clock in and have name tags and identification numbers. Students do quotes for jobs which might be requested by local manufacturers, farmers or the school district. Weber said students have to figure out how much material is needed and how much material is on hand. Information from a written process tracking system is entered into shop management software and there’s a quality control process. “Through the software, we can track where they’re at on any given project,” Weber said. The commitment to good process tracking is part of helping students build crucial communication skills. De Yager said, “We frequently hear from our advisory committee about the need for better communication skills. One of the things I’m most excited about is our ability to put together teams and projects. With project-based learning, a team of students is responsible from start to finish. It forces that communication and collaboration and the ability to juggle multiple irons in the fire. It doesn’t always go well, it’s often a messy and frustrating educational process. But we think our students and their future employers will ultimately be better served.” Rau agreed that businesses desire “soft skills” as much as technical know-how. Manufacturers are looking for employees who demonstrate skill in leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, work ethic and adaptability. Students have manufactured a number of different products including feed bunks, custom waterer gates and metal signs.

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

Weber said the Rocket Manufacturing program does mid-year reviews of the students which are the equivalent of performance reviews. “We dis-

cuss what have they learned, what else do they have to learn and what their goals are for the rest of the year. Coming out of that we’ve seen a lot of advancement on communication skills. Of course, for some there’s still a long ways to go.” De Yager said the depth of involvement by local businesses is a definite plus. “One of the things I was excited about when coming here is incorporating partners from the local community. Not only are area businesses our customers, but they also play an advisory role. They’ve helped us with strategic planning, plus they come in and help the students learn how to best work with certain machines. It’s good for the kids to actually talk and meet with real business people.” Nearly three dozen local businesses plus Northwest Iowa Community College have contributed finances, equipment and/or expertise to the program. Rau said local manufacturers view it as their job to support the Rocket Manufacturing program. “We make our skilled people available to Rocket to offer tutoring and assist the instructors. The students are also welcome to come in to our facilities and job shadow. We want them to see the positives of working in manufacturing and how broad the jobs can be. In our shop there are 29 different job descriptions. Not every job in manufacturing means running a machine.” The concept of Rocket Manufacturing was first presented to the Rock Valley Community School Board in 2008. In 2013, instructors, the principal and superintendent visited Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin, home of the stu-

dent-run Cardinal Manufacturing. In 2014, Rock Valley received a $25,000 cost-match award from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to help launch Rocket Manufacturing. Classes began in the spring of 2015. In the summer of 2015, industrial technology teacher Todd Vander Velde job-shadowed the industrial process at Valley Machining for a six-week period. He spent three days a week in each of the six departments. In August of 2015, machines started to be moved into the new facility at the high school. During the 2015-2016 school year, teachers and students became familiarized with equipment and business processes. Manufacturing parts on a small scale began in the 2016-2017 school year. The 2017-2018 school year was the first with an approved group of student-applicants. Weber and De Yager said the future holds many ideas for improving and expanding the program and its marketing – ideas limited only by the time available from students and teachers. Rau said local businesses are committed to Rocket Manufacturing for the long haul and he believes Rocket students “are gaining skills and leadership skills that will propel them past their peers.”

Students frequently receive detailed guided tours of the manufacturing facilities in Rock Valley.

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July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1922

712-476-5343

Van Zee Enterprises, Inc. | FAMILY OWNED and OPERATED SINCE 1922 2015 N Main Street, Rock Valley, IA 51247 | vanzeeent.com Left to right: Mike Van Zee, Chad Van Zee, Christy Van Zee

VAN ZEE ENTERPRISES:

A STRONG FOUNDATION OF FAMILY VALUES

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

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LOCAL, DEPENDABLE & EFFICIENT hog confinement maintenance

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The Tri-State Ready Mix business has six locations serving customers out of Iowa in Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Larchwood, Hospers and locations in South Dakota: Canton and Beresford. Numerous hog barns, dairies, and other farm buildings in the region have foundations made from Van Zee’s products. The multiple locations around the region enable quicker and easier access to products for the construction needs of those areas.

hog confinement cleaning & disinfection

Today, Van Zee Enterprises is owned and operated by cousins Chad and Mike Van Zee. The two know the reason for the company’s success is its strong foundation on family values and treating employees as part of the family. Strong family values remain the cornerstone of this successful company.

Van Zee Enterprises is comprised of four subsidiaries: Valley Sand & Gravel, Tri-State Redi Mix, Rock Valley Precast and Top Construction.

Legacy and century farms are honored with recognition of longtime family ownership. However, often in other industries, accomplishing 100 years of keeping a business in the family may not be as common. When Conrad H. Van Zee purchased a local block and tile business in 1922, he likely did not imagine that four generations later, the business would still be thriving and in operation. In a

time where other companies in the sector have either sold to larger corporations or have simply faded away, the Van Zee family and employees are proud to be the only familyowned American company in the precast and sand and gravel industry in northwest Iowa.

The year 2022 will mark an important milestone for a Rock Valley based business; Van Zee Enterprises, a family owned and operated company, will celebrate their 100th Anniversary.

Photos by Brett Davelaar, BD Photography.

(605) 251-6374 PAUL MILLER

712-551-7757

Bcrs2017@gmail.com

hutchcohogwash.com facebook.com/hutchcohogwash July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

Hank Van Zee, 2nd generation owner of Van Zee businesses (early 1950s)

Valley Sand & Gravel has a fleet of dispatched trucks that provides quick delivery for various types of sand, dirt and rock for the needs of area customers and their various projects. They also have loaders, dozers, and excavators available to service customers’ demolition or excavation projects.

Our publications are based on families and their stories. Our goal is to build community and connections within the Ag circles of Sioux County and surrounding areas. If you have a fun story or would like to suggest a family to feature, reach out to us at Bob@agemedia.pub.

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

CELEBRATE AGRICULTURE AT THE COUNTY FAIR

Rock Valley Precast produces a wide variety of products used in agriculture such as hog and cattle slats, three styles of fence line bunks and two styles of H-bunks for cattle feeding. They also produce 5’ and 10’ T-walls for grain and silage storage along with well curbs, meter pits, and custom pit lids. If there is a need to produce a precast product in the ag sector, they likely can produce it. Top Construction is a team of full-service contractors who work with customers from start to finish on new construction or remodels in both the residential and commercial sector. They do virtually any exterior and interior project, taping texturing, cabinet work, trim work, hardwood or ceramic flooring and even electrical work. They are licensed contractors in both Iowa and South Dakota and are a Pella Windows dealer. This fullservice approach enables projects to run smoothly, ensures less downtime with efficient workflow from start to finish.

Show your community pride and support your county fair. We hope to see you there. Trust in Tomorrow.®

Previous generations of Van Zee business ownership

With the 100-year anniversary milestone on the horizon, the Van Zee family will continue to uphold the principles the business was founded on. In managing a business, the owners realize they must be flexible and have a willingness to change, but they remain grounded on the philosophy to treat everyone as family and provide the highest quality products and services.

712-722-2243 www.vansinsurance.com

“Trust in Tomorrow.” and “Grinnell Mutual” are registered trademarks of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2019.

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

FROM THE KITCHEN ITALIAN BEEF From the kitchen of Lisa Ver Mulm, Rock Valley, orangecreekfarms.com

INGREDIENTS:

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• 1 (12 oz.) beer • 1 (8 oz.) jar of Pepperoncini (salad peppers) including juice • 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning • 1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder • 1 Tbsp. instant Beef Bouillon (4 cubes) • Approximately 4 lbs. arm, blade or chuck roast

DIRECTIONS: Cook overnight in crockpot on low. When done, cut beef up fine and serve on sliced french bread. Be sure to include some juice.

Farming Families wants to feature your recipes! Email your recipe, your name and hometown, and a high-resolution photo of the finished dish to bob@agemedia.pub.

507-283-9171 | 712-472-2595

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019

July 2019 | The Farming Families of Sioux County

of Sioux County JULY 2019

The Farming Families of Sioux County | July 2019