Tractors are rolling, green grass is growing and we can finally feel sun on our skin again! This must mean spring is finally here (and hopefully to stay). This time of year always reminds us of new beginnings: from the baby animals and growing crops and flowers, everything just seems so new and fresh! We hope you enjoy this fresh edition of Warm Welcomes from the Farm.
Below you will find a brief look into a day in the life of a farmer during one of the busiest seasons of the year. Find some corn-inspired recipes for on-the-go lifestyle and feel inspired and connected after reading the feature story from mother, farmer, consumer and attorney Mary Lauver.
We hope you enjoy this edition ofWarm Welcomes and have a happy and healthy spring season!
Did you know that your grocery cart and home are full of corn products? That’s right, corn is an ingredient in more than 4,000 everyday products. From the tires on your vehicle to the makeup on the bathroom counter, to the corn-fed meat at your dinner table and more, there’s corn in that!
Follow farmer, Ashley Recknor, as she shares some ways that corn is in her everyday life. What corn products do you have in or around your house?
Meet our farmers and learn about their stories here!
With spring comes the busy season quickly approaching! Whether you are taking meals to the field or packing quick dinners on the way to practice, these recipes make for fast, delicious meals!
Cheesy Egg Pockets
This recipe is for those get-up and go-getters! Nothing screaming morning breaky like cheese, eggs and biscuits! Find the full recipe from the Iowa Egg Council here.
Fun fact: Did you know that Iowa is the #1 producing state of eggs and corn!
Kings Hawaiian Western Sliders
Beef, it’s what for dinner, even when your busy! These corn-fed burger sliders make a classic burger just a little more manageable for little hands, while still packing a delicious punch! Find the full recipe from the Beef Checkoff here.
Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
These ooey, gooey cookies are sure to be a show stealer with any activities you are running to. Did I mention the cookies are no bake, there is nothing better! Find the full recipe here.
Hungry for more? Visit our website to see even more corn-inspired recipes!
New Beginnings
By Mary Lauver
It's April in Iowa The smell of soil is in the air and my husband, a farmer, is about as excited and anxious as a child starting school. It's planting season, the time when it all begins. We plant a tiny seed and pray that it will produce a bountiful harvest despite whatever weather or challenges come our way. As farmers we all know that tingly feeling we get in our gut when it's “ go time.” These feelings of excitement, anxiety and hope are just a part of farming. They are a part of what defines us.
Farmers are trying their best not just for their own family, but for each of the families they feed Farming is more than a career; it is a passion and a way of life Each of us, who farm, have a deep-rooted desire to be a part of feeding the world. Farmers are truly stewards of the land. The land and its ability to produce food for generations to come is a farmer's legacy. My dad always said that we don't farm for ourselves, but for our grandchildren and our great grandchildren. He wasn’t just talking about passing down the farmland but was sharing the importance of taking care of the land so generations to come may have safe food to eat, safe water to drink, clean air to breathe and soil that can produce bountiful harvests
As a mom of two little girls, a farm wife and an attorney, I never know what I may face in a day, but one thing I don’t worry about is the safety of the food I buy at the grocery store. This is not just because we farm. I may know the ins and outs of corn and soybean production, but I don’t know the first thing about growing peanuts. The reason I don’t worry is because I have immense trust in my fellow farmers because they are the experts at growing the crops or livestock that they produce I hope the same can be true between a trusted farmer and the suburban mom in West Des Moines or Iowa City. The only way to do that is to build those trusted relationships with each other by asking questions, researching the facts and supporting each other.
As a mom sometimes, I catch myself jumping to conclusions before listening or observing I hear silence in the next room and assume that my toddler is causing trouble, but she may just be reading a book. If we jump to conclusions before working to build that trusted relationship, we are missing out on not only a relationship about our food, but even more so a trusted source. As a mom driving the tractor with my daughters riding in the buddy seat, I have a lot in common with the mom driving her children in her minivan to the park. No matter how different we are, we are all consumers. As moms, no matter where we live or our career path, we are all trying to ensure that our families have safe and healthy food to eat
Spring and planting are always signs of new life and new beginnings. Each planting season on the farm is a new beginning to grow something new. I am going to take this new beginning to focus on what I have in common with consumers, rather than our differences. I hope that you will join me by asking questions, researching the facts and supporting each other!
Mary Lauver is a mother, consumer, farmer and attorney from Lake City, Iowa.
Mary was born and raised on a farm in Illinois. After marrying her husband, Andrew, they decided to come back to help farm his family’s farm where they grow corn and soybeans and raise their daughters.
Aside from farming, Mary is also an attorney at a law firm. When she's not busy working or helping on the farm, Mary also enjoys crafting, cooking, riding horses and cheering on the Cyclones.
Grow a Baby Corn Plant
Have you ever wanted to be a corn farmer for the day? Learn how to germinate and grow a baby corn plant just like a real Iowa corn grower. Just imagine, farmers help plant and grow millions and millions of kernels every year, through the help of technology like planters and tractors, to produce corn for the whole world. That is a lot of corn!
Things you will need:
Corn kernels
Clear plastic cups
Paper towels
Spray Bottle
Tweezers
Magnifying glass
Potting soil
Find the full directions and experiment here.
