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Healthy Choices are not only found in the grocery aisle
Road Trip
There is so much to do in small town Iowa and who better to trust than a local farmer to show you around!
CornCooking What do crackers, cheese, and meat all have in common? CORN!
Ag & Athletes?
We love Iowa’s greatest in-state rivalry -- the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series! Hear from two former athletes that attribute their farm roots to their on-field performance.
did you know
The ultimate
charcuterie board
Healthy Choices
Dairy
Let’s talk cheese. Soft, hard, crumbled… there are so many options! It’s important to pick cheeses with different textures. Your guests will appreciate the many options and so will their taste buds! Dairy cattle in the U.S. consume about 850 million bushels of corn—that’s nearly all of the corn produced in the state of Indiana! Eating low-fat dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt have been linked to health benefits such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in adults, as well as improved bone health, especially in children and adolescents.
Are Not Only found in the grocery store
From health benefits to saving you money, ETHANOL should be the preferred fuel For Iowans.
Compared to gasoline, American Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by almost 50%. That is like removing more than 9 million cars from the road for a whole year, resulting in cleaner air for your family! Not only does Mother Nature appreciate ethanol, but Iowans' health and the environment does, too. By fueling with ethanol, you are choosing to help you and your family live in a better environment as ethanol blends are proven to reduce harmful emissions creating better air quality.
Choosing ethanol at the pump can help you save on the family budget and is also easier on your vehicle. E15/Unleaded 88, typically costs between 5-10 cents less per gallon than the most commonly used fuel in the U.S., Super Unleaded. Ethanol will save consumers $306 per household this year alone. Because ethanol provides a higher-octane rating of 113, you will experience a cleaner engine, better winterization and overall increased vehicle performance. Ethanol provides the plant-based octane of choice to enable motorists to drive more miles with fewer emissions! To put it simply, ethanol allows you to keep your vehicle driving further with less emissions at a lower cost!
Like you support the local boutique on main street, or the family owned coffee shop in your community, you also have the opportunity to support Iowa corn farmers at the pump. Ethanol is made right here in Iowa from corn grown by local farmers. In fact, there are 42 ethanol producing plants operating in Iowa utilizing just over 40% of the state’s corn crop to lead the nation in producing about 4.5 billion gallons in ethanol each year. Your local farmer is also working to make continuous improvements towards greater sustainability as ethanol is produced.
E-85 A fuel blend of 85% ethanol and gasoline. E85 is designed for use in flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) and provides great clean air benefits to you and our environment. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for fuel recommendations.
A fuel blend of 15% ethanol and gasoline. E15 is designed for all passenger vehicles model year 2001 and newer. Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) may also fill up with E15. E15 should not be used in motorcycles, boats or small engines.
E-15
Ethanol plants don’t just make fuel. Roughly one-third of every bushel of grain processed at an ethanol plant is enhanced and returned to the animal feed market in the form of a protein rich feed ingredient called distiller’s grains. Besides supporting Iowa farmers, you could even be supporting your neighbors as the renewable fuels industry supports around 42,000 jobs in Iowa and accounting generating $2.4 billion in income for Iowa families.
Want to fuel up with Unleaded 88/e15? visit www.iowacorn.org/fueling-station-locator to find a gas station near you.
Iowa farmers,
Thank you, on behalf of all for supporting a corn driven industry!
Poultry
It’s hard to picture turkey anywhere but at a holiday feast, but it is actually a versatile meat to add to your platter. Iowa ranks #1 in the nation for egg production and egg processing. The nation’s large poultry industry truly adds value to both corn and soybeans, consuming roughly 10% of the nation’s corn crop. Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) collaborates with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) on specific programs to sustainably and responsibly grow the livestock industry in our state, as well as export markets for these corn-fed meat products around the world.
Beef Beef! It’s what’s for dinner… and a snack. A dainty sliver of Bresaola air dried beef adds protein and a heaviness to your board. Beef producers rely on corn farmers to provide them a nutritious feed element for their cattle. Actually 28% of Iowa corn goes into all livestock feed with animal agriculture also supporting 122,764 jobs in Iowa. In fact, in 35 Iowa counties, 1/3 of the local jobs come from agriculture.
“There isn’t anything bad or unsafe about genetically modified foods.” Dr. Ruth MacDonald | Iowa State University
local grocery store Products contain corn grown right here in Iowa
Crackers, bread, chips
It wouldn’t be a complete charcuterie board without crackers, bread or chips. Did you know, some of these treats include high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)? Let’s shoot it straight, HFCS has gotten a bad rap in recent years, but it’s simply a sweetener made from corn that is found in numerous foods and beverages. High fructose corn syrup is nearly identical to table sugar (sucrose), and while all sugars should be consumed in moderation. HFCS is a safe sweetener that enhances flavors, preserves and protects food, reduces freezer burn, and allows you to support Iowa corn farmers.
Pork
Pork products are the most popular meat used on charcuterie boards, and for good reason! There are so many sliced, cured meats that come from pork. Quality pepperoni, varieties of salami, and sliced sausages,the options are truly endless! Pork is the top livestock consumer of Iowa corn, consuming more than 400 million bushels of corn feed products annually. A bushel of corn is comparable to a laundry basket filled with corn, that’s a lot of laundry baskets dedicated to the pork industry!
Other Iowa grown products
Fresh vegetables grown right from your backyard are a fan favorite to add to your board! Besides their yummy taste they also add a crunchy texture and lots of color to the display. Tomatoes are the number one vegetable grown in Iowa gardens. Other vegetables that grow well during the Iowa summer include sweet corn, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, and lettuce.
Iowa road trip! we’ve hit the road near you 1
BIOFUELS PLANTS
Most all of the corn grown in District 1, stays in District 1, as there are 6 ethanol plants and lots of feedlots in the district.
The small amount of corn that does leave D1 is shipped on the railroad. (Also, a lot of ethanol, DDGS and meats are shipped by rail too!) Hinton, Iowa
Ice cream capital of the world. LeMars, Iowa
DARRELL’S PLACE Try their famous breaded pork tenderloin! Audubon County
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One of the largest egg farms in the nation. Clarion, Iowa
OSAGE CO-OP ELEVATOR
Our farm operation began in 1982, when I started farming with my father. He retired in 1996 and brother Tom then joined the operation. Our family has always been involved in the swine industry plus Tom and I grow corn and soybeans. We plant corn using a strip till method, and beans are notilled into corn stalks, as something we feel is very important on our farm is soil conservation. Strip-tilling and no-tilling minimizes soil erosion and conserves water. Because we farm this way, we believe we’re benefiting the environment. Iowa is perfect because we have great soils to work in, to help provide abundant crops that help feed the great people of Iowa, the US, and the world.
One of the last privately owned co-ops in Iowa. Mason City, Iowa
PRESTAGE FOODS OF IOWA
Some of your favorite pork products are made here! Eagle Grove, Iowa
Jack Krull – 13 years OLD
4H Feature LONELY OAK DISTILLERY Locally known as “an oasis amidst the cornfields”. Earling, Iowa
FARMERS BEST POPCORN
Smothered in butter… need we say more? Rockwell City, Iowa
Central Iowa
Farm Feature
Farm Feature Jared and Sarah Preston
We are so proud to be Iowa farmers! When you get to see your child’s eyes light up when their favorite cow walks up to the gate or when you get to show them an ear of corn developing from week to week leaving them in awe, it makes you proud that you get to share this way of life with them. As many have seen, this year has been a challenge to put it lightly for the Iowa farmers with Covid-19 and then the Derecho but it makes us so proud how we stand as a community and are in this together. For example, when the storm came through, less than 24 hours later, there were numerous fundraisers created for the
Corn grows
4H Feature
Western Iowa
Bond over bowling and great lunch specials. Coon Rapids, Iowa
CENTRUM VALLEY FARMS
I would like to be a diesel mechanic when I grow up---I enjoy trying to fix things and I know this could really help out my dad on the farm.
WELLS BLUE BUNNY
COON BOWL
Celebrating 100 years in business this year. Mason City, Iowa
Jim and Mimi Wagner
BIRDIES, BURGERS, & BREWS AT THE HILLCREST
2020 Iowa’s Best Burger Top 10 Winner. Graettinger, Iowa
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NORTHWESTERN STEAKHOUSE
Farm Feature
Northwest Iowa
CENTRAL VALLY AG
2 North Central Iowa
I am currently double majoring in Agriculture and Society and Spanish at Iowa State University. Someday I would like to start my own business that works with rural communities both domestic and abroad to help them improve their economies and bring life back to their communities in a sustainable way.
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Stop in for a fancy snack or a whole meal. Madrid, Iowa
GOLDIE’S
Blue-ribbon pork tenderloin sandwiches. Prairie City, Iowa
Hawkeye football season ticket holders. We have been working the past few years with different projects within Caleb Hamer the Cedar River watershed We are a row crop operation raising to improve our conservation corn, seed corn, and soybeans for seed and limit our nutrient production in addition to a custom runoff to maintain our soil farming operation. My business partner and do our part on water and I through succession planning are in quality. This fall we will the process of buying my family Century be installing a saturated Farm from my parents. Our farm’s day buffer in an effort to capture to day operations are done by myself, nutrient loss through tile lines before they reach the local my business partner, Scott Beenken, creek. I’m proud that I get to farm the same farms as my and my Dad, Ted. When not working grandparents and have the opportunity to preserve them on the farm my family are proud Iowa for the next generation.
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4H Features
ALLYCATZ GRUBHOUSE
CGB CONSOLIDATED GRAIN & BARGE
Located on the Mississippi River you can see Iowa grown corn safely float to its next destination. Clayton, Iowa
FLINT HILLS RESOURCES
I do a routine two times a day to promote healthy hair growth in preparation for my upcoming shows. I also make sure they are getting the proper nutrients as well as mineral, hay and fresh water daily! - Shea
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Priding themselves on 60 years as an industry leader at reducing air emissions. Fairbank & Shell Rock, Iowa
Iowa is #1 in corn and ethanol production!
Eastern Iowa MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Corn travels down to NOLA to be exported.
IOWA CHOP HOUSE
Cooks with only meat bought from local farmers!
Iowa City, Iowa
CEDAR RIDGE DISTILLERY
Their award winning bourbon is made with 74% Iowa corn.
4H Features
Swisher, Iowa
When I grow up I want to be a farmer and a firemen.
- Jakob Becker – Benton Co.
BABES
Known for their delicious prime rib! Radcliffe, Iowa
4H Features
When I grow up, I want to be a farmer. I live in an area that is very close to Des Moines and other large cities that just keep growing. I am a 4th generation farmer whose family has farmed this land for over 100 years. I want to continue this tradition and keep agriculture alive in areas like Dallas County.
- Cody Felt – 17 years old
It’s neat for the public to see all the different animals at the fair. The bunny agility was awesome too!
- Grady and Beau Dodds
This is my first year in 4-H and I have two breeding Heifers.
- Audrey Gordon – Clinton Co.
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Farm Feature Logan & Emily Lyon
My wife, Emily, and I operate around 200 acres of corn and soybeans in Muscatine and Scott Counties, along with a small cow-calf herd. We are committed to producing the highest quality food, and fuel. This commitment continues with our sustainability and long-term profitability and opportunities for agriculture. Our families consume and live alongside the products we produce making us motivated by our personal health, and the longterm success of our individual operation.
Southeast Iowa
FROSTY UDDER
Southwest Iowa
SOUTHWEST IOWA RENEWABLE ENERGY
Did you know ethanol can be used to make hand sanitizer?
Council Bluffs, Iowa
CLASSIC CAFE
Famous for their Tri-tip steak!
Malvern, Iowa
THE PUB AT THE PINICON
2020 Iowa’s Best Burger Top 10 Winner. Denver, Iowa
Someone should visit our county fair because it’s a great environment for kids and adults to learn about what other members of their community are passionate about. There are also lots of fun activities to do!
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NorthEast Iowa 2019 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin. Sandwich in Iowa New Hampton, Iowa
- Kelsie and kendra kinne
- Megan Rotert – Carroll Area FFA
SISTERS IN CHEESE
FINDING AWARD WINNING FOOD, FARMS AND 4H-ERS ALONG THE WAY!
farm families impacted at a state and local level. No matter where we are located across the state, farmers are in this together and always there to help each other up again. It makes us so proud to be part of Iowa agriculture!
RUSTIC CUTS
This family farm supplies meat coming directly from their own herd.
Council Bluffs, Iowa
ELITE OCTANE
Their bins can hold 2,000,000 bushels of corn EACH!
Atlantic, Iowa
Home to some of Iowa’s best ice cream.
Oskaloosa, Iowa
MT. HAMILL TAP
Grab some of the best fried chicken in the state!
Donnellson, Iowa
MORGAN’S CORNER BAR & GRILL
If you are in the mood for a good cheeseburger, start here.
Ottumwa, Iowa
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Northwest Iowa
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why
North Central Iowa
IOwa corn
4H Feature
Farm Feature
Wright County Fair Virtual Herdsmanship ContesT
Jones Family
We grow corn, soybeans, and have cow calf operation. I’ve been renting land myself since 2007, but farming goes back in my family as far as I can trace it. We are proud to drive John Deere tractors, Hagie Sprayer, and a Volvo end loader. Despite the stereotype of farmers being backwards, we are absolutely on the cutting edge of technology. In 1996 we first started using GPS, internet at home in 98, and a self-guided tractor in 2008. Today we even use drones and satellite imagery to keep us up to date on what is happening in our fields. Technology and innovation are huge in agriculture! The saying, “if it were easy everyone would do it”, definitely applies to farming. Long hours, narrow profit margins, endless bills to pay, employees, disgruntled cows, it is all part of it. But every day I get to wake up and do exactly what I want to be doing!
want more warm welcomes? visit www.iowacorn.org/warm-welcomes and sign-up to receive future editions!
#CornGrowsIowa
cy-hawk?
The herdsmanship program at the county fair each year is a great way to help youth better understand animal care and showcase this to the community. With the changes put into place this year fair organizers still wanted to give exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their projects. This year the contest went virtual asking exhibitors to submit a photo of themselves taking care of their livestock at home and explain how the do so in a short description. The contest went off without a hitch and 33 exhibitors participated!
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Here in Iowa our livestock, our economy and our athletes
are corn fed! That’s why the Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board® (ICPB) are honored to partner with Learfield Sports on behalf of both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa Athletic Departments for the title sponsorship of the Iowa Corn CyHawk Series™.
Eastern Iowa
Farm Feature Jayson Willimack
My family farm is an all handson deck operation. One of my father’s favorite things is the opportunity to farm with four of his boys every day. I believe all of us boys want to see our operation passed to our children and they can keep the tradition of farming as a family alive! We raise corn, soybeans, hay and have a small cow/calf herd. When we can sneak away from the farm, we are proud Cyclone fans who like to go to a few football and basketball games. Our farm and others care about the food consumers put on their tables maybe more than anyone else does. We work to raise quality and safe commodities to feed the world and also do it profitably.
The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series™ is a great way to promote corn and the farmers that grow it since over 65% of Iowans tune-in and are engaged in the football game, making it a great platform to educate about corn and farming. Something Iowa excels at! Iowans safety is our number one concern and we respect the scheduling decisions of both Universities as they move forward. We are excited to support any match ups that can take place in 2020 and hope you will tune in to the 2021-2022 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series™ when college athletics are back to normal!
athletes and agriculture
Ike Boettger
University of iowa - FOOTBALL
Tyler Ellerman
Graduated 2014
Graduated 2014
About Me
About Me
Iowa State University - Basketball
I grew up west of Cedar Falls, Iowa where I helped my dad around the acreage with chores and taking care of our livestock. We raised hogs and cattle and grew corn, soybeans, and hay. As I got older, we actually ended up converting our buildings and barns into a storefront that sells value added ag products from all over the state, homemade soup, sandwiches, treats, and other great products. My mom runs “Barn Happy” and has for 18 years.
I graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Ag Studies and a minor in Agronomy. Since then, I have been working on my family farms row crop operation. My dad, Mark Ellerman, Grandpa, Bill Ellerman, and I farm 2,300 acres of rotated corn and soybeans. I also have a custom land rolling business mainly for rolling soybeans in the spring.
What did growing up on a farm teach you?
What did growing up on a farm teach you?
It taught me responsibility with the chores I was given, mowing, sweeping, driving the grain cart and eventually semi tractors. It becomes very easy to lose focus in the long term goals of farm projects and I think this applies directly to athletics and the focus it takes to get better every day at practice and not become complacent with your skills.
Growing up on a farm and always being around hard work, discipline, focus, and commitment taught me not only a lot about how to be a good athlete, but also how to be a good husband, father, brother, son, and man. I had a great role model in my dad who worked his tail off being a pastor and then coming back home and using all of his free time to raise pigs. I don’t remember a day where he would come home and just relax, it was incredible and something I tried to learn from. The same can be said for both of my grandfathers, neighbor, and his father. Those men shaped how I view hard work, discipline, and focus.
What is your favorite part about the IOwa Corn CY-HAWK games? I like the extra competitive spirit it brings out in everyone. Well, really my favorite part would be winning it!
Why IS the IOwa Corn Cy-Hawk Series an important tradition?
What is your favorite part about the Iowa Corn CY-HAWK Football games? It’s a great weekend that is definitely filled with a lot of emotions for players and fans. My favorite part about the game is that I never lost to the Cyclones as a starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Why IS the IOwa Corn Cy-Hawk Series an important tradition? It brings all of Iowa together! From tailgating before, trash talk for the entire year after. It’s a tradition that people mark on their calendar every year and wouldn’t miss it!
It’s a great way to learn about each other’s traditions along with raising money for great organizations. A perfect example is what happened with Carson King’s spontaneous fundraiser for the Iowa Children’s Hospital! Ike
tyler
How do you like your steak?
Medium Rare, with Maytag Blue Cheese
Medium, Preferably Rib-eye
Pork or beef?
Beef
Pork for Lunch, Beef for Dinner
Ike
tyler
RED OR GREEN TRACTORS?
GREEN, ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF JOHN DEERE
All green equipment
Favorite piece of equipment?
Skidsteer
9460R 4WD tractor hooked on to the ripper
Fall is in the Air There are many different kinds of corn grown in Iowa and it can get a little confusing when trying to distinguish what is standing in a field. Field corn, sweet corn, and even popcorn can all be found in Iowa, although 99% of corn grown in Iowa is called field corn.
Field Corn
Sweet Corn
Ornamental Corn
Popcorn
Field corn has classic big ears of yellow dented corn you see dried and harvested in the fall.
You may refer to sweet corn as the delicious one percent. Sweet corn, unlike field corn which is harvested when the kernels are dry and fully mature, is picked when immature.
This variety of corn is planted in late April or early May, mostly in southern Iowa. It is not uncommon to see this corn grown on a smaller scale in backyard gardens also.
Popcorn is also grown in Iowa, in fact most of the world’s popcorn is grown in the Corn Belt states.
How is it used? Some of the field corn is used as corn cereal, corn starch, corn oil and corn syrup for human consumption, it is mainly used for livestock feed, ethanol fuel and exported around the world.
How is it used? It is picked with the intention to be consumed fresh, frozen, or canned. You may enjoy it covered in butter on a warm summer day!
How is it used? Although this corn is edible it is mostly used to decorate.
How is it used? Popcorn is popular because if its sweet and savory flavor, but it is also a nutritious snack. With just 31 calories and other nutritional value, it is a healthy choice for Iowans.
Check out www.iowacorn.org/warm-welcomes for more corn facts! #cornGrowsiowa