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Tour de Iowa Agriculture: ISA showcasing the "AG" in RAGBRAI
TOUR DE IOWA AGRICULTURE
BY LAUREN HOUSKA
PHOTOS BY JOSEPH L. MURPHY
ISA SHOWCASING THE “AG” IN RAGBRAI
Whether it’s fuel or food, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) is celebrating the “ag” in RAGBRAI® this year. The one thing everyone sees along the route is agriculture, through soybean and corn fields, pig and poultry barns, cattle lots and more!
RAGBRAI, or the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is the nation’s largest and best-known bicycle ride. While Iowa may not have beaches or mountains to see, the beautiful countryside and Iowa hospitality has made the event immensely popular amongst cyclists, attracting riders from all 50 states and many countries. Officials are expecting more than 35,000 riders this year.
Every year since 1973, bicyclists have started at the western side of the state and pedaled across Iowa to the Mississippi River over a seven-day period. Towns along the route make riders feel welcome when RAGBRAI rolls through town and ISA and Iowa soybean farmers are no exception!
Officials expect more than 35,000 riders for RAGBRAI 2019.
Building on past success
ISA Director Robb Ewoldt was excited about the success of the unique, out-of-the box marketing opportunity RAGBRAI provided ISA last year. His family also hosted an “open farm day” on their farm outside of Davenport on the Sunday after RAGBRAI — many riders stuck around to attend the event.
“I thought it was a wonderful way for ISA to reach out to farmers and non-farmers across the state by riding and wearing the ISA jerseys,” Ewoldt says. “These riders were seeing soybean fields across Iowa for seven days. Having them out to our farm was a great way to continue to engage with them and showcase the importance of Iowa agriculture.”
Even in Iowa, there's is a tremendous portion of the population with no personal connection to agriculture. It is one of the reasons why ISA joined with other ag groups and retailers to launch the Iowa Food & Family Project in 2011.
David Ausberger, a Jefferson soybean farmer and ISA member, says RAGBRAI is an opportunity to put a personal touch on food and farming in Iowa.
“In the past, everyone had a personal connection to agriculture — an uncle they might bale hay for or a neighbor they might do chores for. But that’s no longer the case. Any chance we have to explain what we do and how we do it is another chance to foster understanding and trust.”
Ausberger, passionate about continuous improvement of his operation and protecting Iowa’s land, water and air, says RAGBRAI is a unique opportunity to immerse riders in agriculture while they are in the midst of it that week.
“When the audience is on a bike, rather than traveling 60 miles per hour down the highway, it provides an opportunity to see real-world examples of conservation practices, farming equipment and more — it also gives the information a little more time to soak in.”
Fueling riders
ISA is a Premier Friend of RAGBRAI this year. Presented by ISA, an “AG OASIS” will give riders a chance to hop off their bikes when there is a long stretch between towns to hydrate and rest. Riders will have the opportunity to learn about agriculture in our great state and taste some Iowagrown treats.
ISA and other riders will wear these jerseys, covered in facts about Iowa agriculture, on various days of RAGBRAI to encourage conversations about food and farming.
The AG OASIS will open on Day Three of the ride and be located at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, between Winterset and Cumming. RAGBRAI is expecting up to 40,000 riders this day alone. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association have joined as sponsors.
Fueling transportation
Equipment haulers and buses that transport the bikes and equipment will be powered by Iowa biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from soybean oil and other feed stocks.
Soybeans are BIG in Iowa, thanks in part to Iowa biodiesel!
Iowa biodiesel producers made about 365 million gallons at 11 biodiesel plants throughout the state in 2018, according to the National Biodiesel Board, making Iowa the leading biodiesel-producing state. An ABF Economics study of biodiesel production levels shows Iowa biodiesel supported about 4,700 fulltime equivalent jobs in the state in 2018 and adds $568 million of Gross Domestic Product annually.
Economic research shows soybean, corn and livestock farmers all benefit from biodiesel production. The clean-burning fuel helped soybean farmers realize an average of $36 per acre in additional value from 2007 to 2015. At the same time, it helped lower the cost of soybean meal for livestock producers by $21- $42 per metric ton.
Fueling the future
ISA is also taking the opportunity to help bring agriculture to Iowa’s youth through sponsorship of RAGBRAI’s Dream Team. The Dream Team assists youth in developing a healthy spirit, mind and body by developing a productive, positive approach to life’s challenges through preparation for and participation in RAGBRAI. ISA and the Dream Team will connect throughout the summer on rides and events.
The Dream Team after a practice ride to Jefferson.
The Dream Team rode from Des Moines to Jefferson for a campout and then back to Des Moines June 1-2 as part of its training. ISA and IPPA sponsored a cookout and several farmers attended and engaged with the youth on the agricultural sights they see riding through the Iowa countryside and why agriculture is important to Iowa and the world.
Contact Lauren Houska at lhouska@iasoybeans.com.
