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Silos & Smokestacks Federal budget plan clouds funding future
PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area has been federally funded for 20 years. Organizers hope that funding continues, but say it and other “natural heritage areas” may be facing their strongest test yet in
On the cover: The cover photograph is “Farm Tree Swing,” by Dave Austin, submitted for a Silos & Smokestacks photo contest.
that regard. The area, a consortium of visitor attractions in an area generally north of Interstate 80 and east of Interstate 35, was organized in the 1990s to help those attractions tell a cohesive story of the history of American agriculture. Silos was organized in 1991 and received federal designation and funding in 1996. Since then, there’s been periodic challenges to that continued funding, even though heritage areas were created in the mid 1980s with bipartisan support. “We faced being eliminated before, and have come through it,” Silos president Cara Miller
said. “But this time was a little more concerning to us.” That’s because the proposal came not from an individual or Cara Miler group of members of Congress, but from the federal government itself. A March 16 press release from the U.S. Department of the Interior announced President Trump was requesting. $11.6 billion in funding from the department for federal fiscal year 2018. “The president’s budget blueprint also eliminates some duplicative programs,” the release said,”including ... National
Heritage areas that are more appropriately funded at the local level.” “This is the first time we’ve see it in writing from the Department of Interior,” Miller said. Federal funding is a big chunk of Silos’ revenue Miller said.
“We’re received $710,000 per year for the last three years from the National Park Service under the Department of Interior and our operating budgets for those years were 2014 — $817,230; 2015—$818,269; and 2016 — $859,793,” she said. There are 49 such areas around the country. “We’re grassroots, community driven, and our charge is to enhance the local economic development through historic preseration, tourism recreation,” Miller said. “The National Park Service saw heritage areas as a model for how public-private partnerships can happen. Please see SILOS, Page 6
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Dairy thrives through work and innovation
New labels on milk in the Hansen’s Dairy welcome center.
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newsroom@wcfcourirer.com
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HUDSON — Is it possible to support five 21st century households with the income from a family-run dairy operation? It may sound like an idea best left to a bygone era or perhaps something only a large, automated operation could accomplish. However, Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy proves the area’s long-held family farms can thrive through ambition, innovation and hard work. “We feel like we were in on the ground floor of the local food movement,” said Jordan Hansen, marketing director. “More and more people want to buy food from their neighbors. It’s good for the local economy, and it’s good for the environment.” Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy has grown considerably in 13 years and now sells products at eastern Iowa grocery stores, co-ops, farmers markets and other locations. Dozens of area eateries use the products in their recipes, too. The dairy also sells milk, butter, cheese and ice
Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy
Soon expands to other varieties to meet customer demand.
1864
-Ice cream and butter products are introduced.
-Jay Hansen’s German ancestors emigrate to Hudson and begin farming at present site.
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PHOTOS BY MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Jordan, Beckett, Blake and Reese Hansen at Hansen’s Dairy farm on a Please see HANSEN’S, Page 10 raw spring morning.
2006
-Moo Roo Ice Cream and Dairy Store opens at Kimball and Ridgeway avenues in Waterloo.
-Jay Hansen begins farming in Hudson with his father, Jack. Jay and wife, Jean, raise five children there.
2007
2004
2011
-Hansen Dairy Farm produces first official gallon of whole milk.
-Tour Center opens, giving 4,000 to 5,000 visitors per year an in-
-Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy Outlet opens at 127 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls.
sider’s view of family farming. 2014 -Hansen Dairy is one of four Black Hawk County farms to receive state recognition as a Heritage Farm, indicating it has been under family control for 150-plus years. 2016 -Due to steadily increasing expenses, Hansen Dairy raises price of milk products for first time since 2004. 2017 -Hansen Dairy staff reaches 25, plus family members.
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Silos From 2
“For us, that manifests itself in all these sites around this region,” Miller said. Some existed before Silos; some were established later. “We support them and help provide expertise, resources. Some of our sites are run entirely by volunteers. Others only maybe have one person at the helm. Having our staff being able to help them promote themselves and draw tourism is important.”
Attractions
Silos now has 117 member attractions; one the latest is Cinnamon Rigde Farms in Donohue, a modern working farm. “We are constantly working with sites interested in becoming part of the heritage area and have a story to tell. We have workshops and trainings.” Some local Silos-member attractions, among others, in-
clude the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy in Hudson, Bennington Township No. 4 School north of Waterloo, the Grundy County Heritage Museum and the La Porte City FFA Historical & Ag Museum. Other larger members include Living History Farms in Urbandale, John Deere Tractor Cab & Assembly Operations in Waterloo and the Iowa State Fair. Some board members and attractions spill outside the congressionally designamed geographic boundaries. “We have board members from out of our territory but felt this draw and commitment to Silos & Smokestacks,” board member Soo Greiman said. “This is our Disneyland, this is our Disney World that we have here in Iowa, so we’re glad to attract people from all over the state to be on the board, that believe in it.” Tourism is a big part of the
state’s economy and contributes to a comparatively low unemployment rate, Miller said. “We have to have good sites for tourists to come to. And that’s our charge: To make sure we have good sites preserving and telling the story of American agriculture.” Silos, which receives about $700,000 a year in federal funding, also already receives private
and local money; in fact, it’s required that federal dollars be matched with private resources. About 86 percent of its budget goes to programming and the rest to administrative expenses.
Heritage areas
Heritage areas, “were originally established to be a partnership among federal, state and local government and pri-
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vate entities. So in the original charter of heritage areas, the federal government is part fo the picture,” Miller said. “Certainly we need to expand and have diverse funding from everywhere,” she said. “One of the places we are trying to grow is our private giving and private contributions.” And the organization relied on private resources prior to the federal designation, in its initial years of operation, Greiman noted. She agreed with the analogy that withdrawing federal funds would be like pulling one leg out of a three-legged stool. There is, by definition, a national significance to the heritage areas, Miller said. “The purpose of the heritage areas is to tell the culture of America,”Miller said. “All these stories together really do tell what American is and was. That’s really important in this day and age when we have so many new Americans, or kids
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who don’t quite understand what the culture of America is — for all these heritage areas to say, ‘This is our story.’ “They weave it together,” Greiman said. And Silos’ piece is to tell the history of agriculture. “There was always this belief and this faith in this area that we can do it,” Greiman said. “Who better to tell this story of ag history, and further it with ag education, than us?” “Agriculture built America,” Miller said. “For us to be able to tell that story, the history as well as what’s going on now, is really important.” Greiman said that, among those various agricultural attractions in northeast Iowa, “This is kind of the glue that holds everybody together, is the Silos organization itself — working in the trenches, helping to tell that unite all our sites together.” An October 2007 report by
The Heritage Foundation, written in opposition to the creation of additional heritage areas at that time, said doing so would “jeopardize the property rights of private individuals in the area, distract the National Park Service staff from its core mission and do little more than to benefit a small number of businesses within the boundaries of the NHAs.” The Park service provides advisory and technical assistance only to the locally run heritage areas, according to an information sheet from the Park Service. In a March 27 letter to the chair and ranking member of a U.S. House subcommittee on Interior appropriations, U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Ryan Costello, R-Pa., wrote that heritage areas “preserve and revitalize cultural, historic and natural resources,” have “a proven record of fostering job creation” in that effort and
“have undergone rigorous independent evaluations by the National Park Service which document the program’s worth.” The congressmen called for “an enhanced level of funding so all area can continue their important work.” U.S. 1st Dist. Rep. Rod Blum of Dubuque signed on in support of Tonko’s and Costello’s letter. He said he supports the heritage area funding as a way to promote the state’s tourism and economy. He suggested there may be opportunities to offer amendments supporting that during the legislative process. Heritage area legislation was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. One of its earliest champions was longtime U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa. The Rivers of Steel National Heritage area in his disCOURTESY PHOTO trict was used in the early ‘90s by organizers here as a model for Soo Greiman addresses the crowd as one of the honorees at the 11th annual Golden Silo Awards Luncheon in Williamsburg. Silos & Smokestacks.
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Osage FFA honoree sees future in ag STEVEN THOMPSON
Courier Lee News Service
OSAGE — Taylor Dohlman, a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in agricultural business and minoring in public relations, recently received her American Farmer Degree. Dohlman was one of only 131 Iowa FFA members receiving the honor at the organization’s national convention in Indiana in October 2016. Only one percent of the FFA national membership is eligible for the organization’s highest degree. Dohlman, daughter of Jim and Michelle Dohlman, was raised on an acreage near Osage and attended Osage Schools, graduating in 2014. Her dad, Jim, farms, and her mom, Michelle, is a counselor at Osage High School. The family
recently moved to a farm near Chester. Taylor has a brother and sister who are juniors at Osage. Dohlman says she was exposed to agriculDohlman ture at an early age, which included a dad who farmed, a mom who was an agriculture instructor in Rockford for more than a decade, aunts who also were involved in ag education, and her grandfather, Richard Schaufler, whose career was teaching agriculture and being an FFA adviser. Schaufler spent eight years teaching in Osage and was Taylor’s ag instructor and FFA adviser. Dohlman’s own interest in agriculture began with her involvement in 4-H, while in grade
school. During her freshman year of high school, she joined FFA and became a member of the chapter’s Conduct of Meeting Team, which qualified for state competition. Her sophomore year, she became a member of the Parliamentary Procedure Team, which also made it to state. She also participated in soil judging and raised Simmental cattle, which she showed at the Mitchell County Fair. As a junior, Dohlman was treasurer of the Osage FFA Chapter and as a senior, served as the chapter’s president. During her junior and senior years, she was a part of the ag sales team, which placed first at state competition during her senior year. In 2014, Taylor received her State Farmer Degree at the FFA
State Convention held in Ames. Dohlman said the application process for the American Farmer Degree was extensive. “You have to fill in all the offices you have held, all the committees you were involved and all the Student Career Development Events you participated in.” The applicants also provide information for any community service projects in which they had been involved. Dohlman’s application covered her 50 hours of community service. Much of her community service was through Catholic Heart Work Camp, where she traveled on mission trips to Tennessee, Kansas and Montana, where her youth group worked in low-income areas in cities. “One year, we worked in a women’s shelter, where we painted a basement, and did a
bit of yard work for them as well,” Dohlman said. Another part of the extensive application centers on the FFA member’s Supervisor Agricultural Experiences, which are records kept from their freshman year covering work experiences and projects. Dohlman’s records covered her cattle project throughout the years, which included her beef feeders, heifers and cow calf project her senior year. Another SAE was her work experience at Teluwut, where she worked with food. Dohlman also spent one summer on a detasseling crew. Recalling her FFA experiences, Dohlman said, “I think the list of memories I have is just going places like the State and National Conventions and building relationships with kids.”
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Hansen’s
Today, the dairy supports Jay and Jean Hansen and four From 4 of their five children — Brent, Brad, Blair and Blake — and cream and products of local their families. (Daughter, Lynn, entrepreneurs at its two retail lives in Omaha with her family.) outlets in Waterloo and Cedar Jay Hansen represents the Falls. fifth generation of his family
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to run the farm. According to the dairy’s archives, his twotimes maternal great-grandfather, Christian Frederick Brandhorst, purchased the land southwest of Hudson in May 1864. For decades, the farm produced a variety of crops and animals, which helped the operation achieve self-sufficiency. In the 1950s, the farm narrowed its focus to dairy operations, said Jordan. Today, the original Christian Brandhorst’s original plot of 150 acres has been expanded to 440 mostly contiguous acres. Jay and Jean Hansen settled at the farm in the 1970s to work alongside Jay’s father, Jack. In 1975, they started their family. Over the years, they encouraged their children to find other careers; they didn’t want them to feel obligated to the homestead. They listened — for a while. After working at other dairy farms, Blake, the youngest boy, returned to the homestead. Blair followed. Together, they calculated how to slowly and deliberately increase their closed herd from 100 to 150 head. “The idea was to open an onfarm creamery that would allow them to produce their own milk to sell,” said Jordan, now Blake’s wife. “If they could cut out the middleman in the dairy production process, they’d be able to increase the farm’s income.” That, Blake and Blair believed, would allow the farm to provide them with enough income. They sold milk to the local co-op for market price and began developing plans to open an on-site creamery. It was a big commitment, and they invited their older brothers to return and help. Blake also put a new face on dairy farming — namely, a wallaby. He was introduced to them while traveling in Australia. He brought some to Hudson, where they became an attraction in their own right. “This was right around the time we were starting the creamery, so the wallaby was
Fun facts Fun Fact: In 153 years and seven generations, no two cows at Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy have shared the same name, according to historical records. Fun Fact: All of the 150 cows at Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy were born and raised there. These cows produce in excess of 12,000 gallons of milk per day. incorporated into the logo,” Blake said. It’s another unique touch for the family business, said Jordan, who noted, “It’s not the typical Holstein.” (The couple has since switched to kangaroos.) After opening in 2004, Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy sold whole milk at a few smaller Cedar Valley locations like Randall’s Grocery, as well as farmers markets, recalled Jay. Other groceries contacted the dairy about stocking the milk. Meanwhile, customers started asking for skim and 1 percent milk. “The processing to make the other types of milk meant there was leftover cream,” said Blake. It was easy to find a use for this “excess,” Jay added. “We made ice cream, then butter, then cheese curds,” he explained. Increased demand and the rapidly expanding product line positioned the dairy to open a retail outlet, Jordan added. In 2006, the family opened its first store at Ridgeway and Kimball avenues in Waterloo, followed about one year later by its East 18th Street location in Cedar Falls. “The Cedar Falls store was supposed to be a temporary thing — a way to sell a lot of milk quickly,” Jordan recalled. “It turned out to be such a success that we ended up buying the location — the building, the land, the gas station.” These experiences help the Hansens reinforce their reasons for keeping a closed herd
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— animals that were all born and raised on their homestead. Today, the dairy works to balance producing enough to meet demand while not reaching the point of overproduction, said Jordan. The family’s commitment to maintaining a closed herd limits the dairy’s ability to grow at the rate of a large-scale production. This contributes to relative “shortages” of some products, which can frustrate some customers. At this time, 150 cows supplies the dairy’s retail and wholesale customers. The family would like to grow the herd to 500, which will require a major overhaul of the farm’s infrastructure. “We’d need to tear down the old barn and build a new one,” said Jay. “A new barn is a huge project. We have a site picked out and the water situated … but it will still take something like two years before we can get to that.” The family has been somewhat surprised by the public desire to see their operation up close. “It was a little shocking, but then again, it wasn’t,” Jordan recalled. “People today really want to see where their food comes from. We’re a local brand. We’re transparent about our operation, and that makes us accessible. So it makes sense. Most kids have no real agriculture around them, other than what they drive by.” Each year, up to 5,000 visitors get to “see where milk comes from” at the dairy’s Tour Center. Visitors can schedule tours and experiential learning opportunities. Jean, Jordan and other guides discuss the farm’s history, production and family farming. They also offer a behind the scenes look at what things like “organic,” “hormone-free” and “farm-to-table” mean. “This is an in-the-trenches experience,” Jordan said. “You see how the milking is done. We bottle feed calves and handmilk cows. There isn’t glass between visitors and the cows; you get right in there where they live.”
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Fresh and local for area restaurants, grocers META HEMENWAY-FORBES, meta.hemenway-forbes@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — The faster a food gets from the farm to your table, the more fresh and tasty it is. Local businesses and area farmers are teaming up to feed Cedar Valley residents food produced right here at home. “Rather than having that lettuce shipped in on a truck, we can go literally right across the street to get it. You can’t get more fresh than that,” said Jill Mejia, director of operations at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. Mejia is referring to how food is purchased for the casino’s eateries, namely the Farmer’s Pick Buffet. The buffet partners with local farmers and regional growers to make sure only the freshest dishes hit the palates of buffet diners. Locally grown and produced items, including vegetables, fruit, herbs, meat, eggs and dairy products are used in the restaurant’s menu. It’s true farm-tofork dining, Mejia said. Just down the road from the Isle is A Family Market Place.
Iowa grown produce at the University Avenue Hy-Vee store.
The farm grows more than 50 varieties of produce, much of which is picked for The FarmPHOTOS BY BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER er’s Pick Buffet, which opened University Avenue Hy-Vee produce manager Kevin Fauser. in July 2013. “It’s been very well received since we opened,” Mejia said. support the community we re“One priority for us is that we side in. Keeping our purchasing dollars local is a huge priority for us. We are part of a larger casino program called Buy Iowa First.” The result is that 95 to 97 percent of the food at the Isle is fresh, cooked onsite, rather than being trucked in frozen. Now Hiring - CNC Machine Operators “We get complimented all the time,” Mejia noted. “The food is at our Cedar Falls Facility. so fresh and there are so many Qualified candidates will be responsible for loading and options. We are happy that we unloading parts in/out of fixtures and performing quality checks. can provide such a great, fresh Experience with calipers, micrometers and blueprint reading is helpful but not required. If you have the desire to learn, we will train. product and support our comPay is based on experience. munity.” Other local restaurants, among Benefits include Medical, Life Insurance, 401K, ST & LT Disability, Dental, Vision, PTO (Paid time off), Paid Holidays, Shift Premiums. them Rudy’s Tacos and Newton’s Iowa grown produce at the University Avenue Hy-Vee store. Paradise Cafe, use locally grown Qualifications: Ability to lift 30 lbs, must be able to work overtime when required and good communication skills. produce and dairy as well. Local grocers are also punch- Tornoto (Iowa),” Fauser said. and get everything I can locally.” If you are enthusiastic, dependable, team oriented and possess ing the buy local ticket. Kevin Right now Hy-Vee customers That includes Muscatine melthe desire to learn, then we’d like to hear from you. Be part of our growth and part of the team that contributes to our continued success. Fauser, produce manager of the can find mini cucumbers and ons, gourds and pumpkins from HyPro is an equal opportunity employer and offers University Avenue Hy-Vee in cherry tomatoes from J&J Pro- Heartland Farms in Waterloo, a competitive wage and benefits package. Waterloo, looks for home-grown duce out of Hawkeye. herbs from Rolling Hills Green“That’s one of the cool things house in West Union, rhubarb goods whenever possible. He gets sweet corn from local growers about Hy-Vee; they allow us to go “from a guy out on Osage Road” and other vegetables from Oel- out and get those things. They re- and apples from Fugitti Orchard wein. ally try to push the home-grown just on the outskirts of Waterloo. Apply in person, online at www.hypro.com, or send your resume to: “Probably one of our best sell- stuff,” Fauser said. “Especially “As they come in I pounce on Attn: Careers, 711 Enterprise Dr., Cedar Falls Or email your resume to: Careers@hypro.com ers is a really nice tomato from when it comes in season, I try it,” Fauser said.
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Osage man carries on family farm tradition STEVEN THOMPSON
Courier Lee News Service
OSAGE — FFA means dedication for one Osage man. “FFA meant a lot of dedication for me, because my grandpa and my dad both were In FFA,” Darin Koch said. “Grandpa was one of the first ones in the state of Iowa to receive the American Farmer degree, so that drove me.” He received his degree in 1965. Koch received his AmerKoch ican Farmer Degree in October 2016 at the National FFA Convention in Indiana, one of the highest honors awarded by the National Future Farmers of America. Darin, whose parents are Rodney and Loretta Koch, was raised with a younger brother and two younger sisters on the family farm northeast of Osage. The farm’s enterprises consists of row crops of corn and soybeans, along with raising alfalfa. The family also has a cow-calf operation and cattle feedlot operation. Koch’s interest in agriculture began at a young age when he joined 4-H in the fourth grade. He continued in the organization until he graduated from Osage High School in 2015. His 4-H projects consisted of showing cattle, welding and woodworking. He also had served as treasurer of his 4-H club for a period of time. Koch took vocational agriculture and joined FFA in 2011, having Richard Schaufler as his vocational ag instructor and
“I spent over a 100 hours restoring it,” Darin Koch said on restoring his great-grandpa’s 1946 H Farmall tractor FFA adviser. His FFA projects consisted of market beef steers and heifers. During his senior year, he also added a beef cow to his projects. During his junior and senior years of high school, Koch served as chairman of the FFA Test Plot Committee. “The Osage Co-op Elevator provided 10 acres of ground, as well as chemicals and fertilizer for the corn plot,” Koch said. “I had to go out and talk to seed dealers to find the varieties of corn to plant, and I also had to find farmers to do the planting. “Each year, we had from 15 to 20 varieties of corn, and at harvest, we had a weigh wagon to calculate the yield of each corn variety. We also had to measure the length of the rows to determine the yield per acre. Each corn company involved in the corn test plot were provided with test results.” Koch was also co-chairman of the “Food for America Program,” which educated young students on food sources. “Every FFA member who had livestock worked together to give presentations to second-, third- and fourth-grade classes,” Koch said. “Some of the FFA members brought livestock to the school, so youngsters could experience what farm animals were like.” Today, that same FFA program has grown into the Second Grade Agriculture Fair, which
COURTESY PHOTO
One of Darin Koch’s major accomplishments was his restoration of his great-grandfather’s 1946 H Farmall tractor, which was displayed at the Iowa State Fair. the Mitchell County Farm Bureau sponsors in connection with the FFA. As a freshman, Koch was also on the soil judging team that went on to state competition. He participated on Osage’s meats judging team, which placed third at the state level in 2013 and fourth in 2014. Koch received his FFA State Farmer Degree in 2014. One of Koch’s major accomplishments was his restoration of his great-grandpa’s 1946 H Farmall tractor, which was displayed at the Iowa State Fair. “I spent over a 100 hours restoring it,” Koch said, who obtained some of the needed restoration parts from machinery salvage yards. Koch is a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in agriculture studies. He is exploring options after graduation.
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Tyson to eliminate antibiotics in chickens by September COURIER WIRE SERVICES
ne of the nation’s largest O poultry producers will totally eliminate the use of human antibiotics in its chicken later this year. Tyson Foods said this morning it will make the change by September. As of June, all chickens raised for the Tyson retail brand will be grown without using any antibiotics — ever. Tyson representatives said, “This makes us the world’s largest producer of no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) chicken. Consumers may start to see the NAE label on some chicken products at their favorite retailer, but we’re committed to delivering on this promise and all fresh and frozen Tyson brand chicken we sell to your local retailer will be NAE by this fall.” Later this year, Tyson Food-
service will offer chicken raised with no antibiotics ever under the Tyson Red Label brand, Tyson True Tenderpressed brand, and select Tyson individually frozen bone-in products. “To meet our goal, we’re working on ways to reduce the need for human antibiotics on the farm by using alternatives, such as probiotics and essential oils, improved housing and selective breeding,” the company said on its website. “We have a responsibility to treat sick animals and animal well-being will never be compromised.” Tyson said it is working with food industry, government, veterinary, public health and academic communities to acSHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO celerate research into disease prevention and antibiotic alternatives. The independent AniThe company, which stopped their use in broiler chickens mal Well-Being Advisory Panel using human antibiotics in 35 by more than 80 percent since is also providing input. hatcheries, said it has reduced 2011.
“Only a small percentage of our broiler chickens ever receive human antibiotics, which are given only as needed and only as prescribed by a veterinarian,” Tyson said. “We’ve formed working groups with independent farmers and others in our beef, pork and turkey supply chains to discuss ways to reduce the use of human antibiotics on their farms. Our international business is committed to taking similar measures on antibiotic use in its chicken operations but has not set a timeframe.” Tyson isn’t the only company to cut antibiotics in chicken. Perdue, Chick-fil-A, KFC and McDonald’s are a few food service providers that have made the switch to antibiotic-free chicken. Also going without antibiotics are McDonald’s, Burger King, Panera, Chipotle, Taco Bell and Wendy’s.
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Hudson kids quiz USDA boss FFA students take part in You Tube town hall ANDREW WIND
andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com
HUDSON — As President Trump proposes cutting agriculture programs and renegotiating trade deals, students in Hudson High School’s FFA chapter may have more questions about federal farm policy than usual. Who better to pose them to than newly conPerdue firmed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue? That’s just the person two of the chapter’s members talked to recently as their peers looked on. The 42-member FFA chapter was one of six from around the country that participated in a
45-minute town hall-style question and answer session with the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Students gathered in Hudson’s ag classroom dressed in their navy blue FFA jackets for the event through You Tube Live. Purdue expressed optimism about the future of agriculture, tackled questions on trade disputes and talked about conservation efforts by farmers. With one questioner asking about a product that came before the USDA for approval, he admitted to not knowing enough to give an answer. “These are questions I’m going to have to go and study on,” said Purdue. “It’s my fifth day on the job.” The Senate confirmed his appointment to the position
April 24. Other FFA chapters participated from Leesburg, Va.; Eau Claire, Wis.; Dover, N.H.; Greeley, Colo.; and Indianapolis. The national FFA organization recommended participating schools. “To me, it’s very humbling because we have very many, many strong FFA programs in the state of Iowa,” said Dennis Deppe, Hudson’s FFA adviser and agriculture teacher. When Hudson was first called on to ask a question, senior Maria Geisler, president of the FFA chapter, stood up. She pointed out that, for Iowa and surrounding states, the Mississippi River is an important part of the infrastructure to transport farm products around the U.S. and across the world. “What would you do as the secretary of agriculture to im-
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Hudson FFA member Maria Geisler asks a question of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. prove the infrastructure in the United States?” she asked. “The president has proposed a very costly, very significant infrastructure program,” responded Perdue. Agreeing rivers and ocean ports are important to the transportation of agricultural goods, he suggested infrastructure dollars need to be used
for enhancing production so “we can keep growing and thriving.” When Hudson was called on again, freshman Kacie Herring brought up the issue of those in America who don’t have enough food. Noting “42.2 million Americans live in food insecure
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Author promotes regionalism as path to rural revitalization MELODY PARKER
melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
DECORAH—Some people define self-sufficiency as grabbing a loaf of bread and gallon of milk at the store before a snowstorm hits. Author Robert Wolf is old school. His concept of self-sufficiency
is closer to the classic definition: “Needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs, particularly in producing food.” In his new book, “Building the Agricultural City: Handbook for Rural Renewal,” Wolf examines regionalism as a source of economic self-sufficiency to safe-
Cultivating Relationships for Generations COURIER FILE PHOTO
Robert Wolf, author of “Building the Agricultural City.”
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guard against the collapse of our centralized economy. He describes the book as an essay in possibilities. “I simply maintain we no longer live in a civilization. That’s what holds things together,” said Wolf, author of such nonfiction works as “An American Mosaic: Prose and Poetry by Everyday Folk,” “Voices from the Land” and “The Triumph of Technique: The Industrialization of Agriculture and the Destruction of Rural America.” He also produces a weekly radio program, “American Mosaic with Robert Wolf,” distributed nationally through Pacific Radio. “We are on the brink of collapse,” he explains, pointing to systemic breakdowns throughout the United States, centralization of the power of government, banking and businesses in urban centers and a system that has simply become too large, complex and unwieldy. “The energy for effective, self-corrective action is absent,” Wolf says. “We’ve lost our moral and ethical compass as a society. There are no longer shared principles. Things seem increasingly grim, and people are angry. We don’t trust each other. This book is a call to action, an attempt to bring people together and create a more human-centered society. It’s
also a call to revitalize rural communities economically, culturally and socially.” Such self-sufficiency might protect a region from the specter of another Great Depression, he believes. Although rural communities pull together during natural disasters or family crises, Wolf thinks “people have gotten out of the habit of relying on themselves and each other. They talk about being self-sufficient and then complain about the lack of state and federal funds. All of this goes beyond political party factions. We have to see that we’re being manipulated into distrusting each other.” Wolf advocates regionalism as
a means of rural economic development, using the Driftless region of Iowa where he lives to illustrate possibilities. This winter, Wolf spearheaded a large gathering in Decorah with officials and residents, including mayors, city managers and others, to discuss sustainability, rural redevelopment and how to revitalize a spirit of regional cooperation and self-sufficiency. It is the first of many such meetings Wolf envisions happening around Northeast Iowa. From a social perspective, potluck dinners, dances and other casual get-togethers also can foster a renewed sense of regionality. Wolf became interested in regionalism in the 1990s, when he and his wife, singer/songwriter and artist Bonnie Koloc, a native of Waterloo, returned to lowa. He has done considerable research and published numerous books related to the subject and, in 1994, wrote an award-winning series on the need for rural America to develop self-reliant economies. In his new book, Wolf explores stirrings of renewed interest in regionalism, such as the local food movement, food cooperatives and community development banks. He examines the importance of Please see AUTHOR, Page 18
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Roots run deep for American growers The trend of home and community gardens is on the rise in the U.S. A 2014 study by the National Gardening Association found 1 in 3 households now grow their own food to help put breakfast, lunch and dinner on kitchen tables. While more and more people are helping to provide for themselves, purchasing food is the third-highest expenditure in typical American households, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This means that while many people maintain fruitful gardens, farming is still a major industry in the U.S. Based on recent statistics, the USDA reports: U.S. growers produce more than $178 billion in crops per year. The U.S. has 2.06 million farms on more than 911 million acres of land. The U.S. exported $133 billion in agricultural products in 2015 alone; 44 percent of those exports went to Canada, China and Mexico. One in 10 Americans work in agriculture and its related industries. Do you ever stop to think about the men and women who help grow the world’s food? They come from all walks of life. Many have spent their whole lives working on their families’ farms, while others can trace their love of farming back to a high school teacher or college class. For each of these men and women, agriculture is not only what they do, but also who they are. To celebrate the individuals whose agricultural roots are making a difference in all our lives, Syngenta has launched the #RootedinAg campaign. Here are a few of their stories: Leon Hunter grew up on a small family farm in southwest Georgia. He remembers working on the farm at a young age, helping his father and two uncles operate his grandfather’s farm outside the town of Whigham.
best job that you can.” These are just a few of the stories that Syngenta is proud to share through its #RootedinAg campaign. Go to the Syngenta Thrive website to read more.
And if you make your living in agriculture as a grower, reseller, educator or adviser, consider sharing your story in the #RootedinAg Contest for a chance to benefit your community. fcsamerica.com
serving agriculture. supporting rural communities. Life in the country or a rural community offers a unique and rewarding experience – a lifestyle we’ve BRANDPOINT PHOTO
Leon Hunter, Agronomy Service Manager, Syngenta. “Agriculture was embedded in me,” he says. “Working on the farm was what my cousins and I did after school and all summer.” Hunter learned the value of hard work from his family — especially his grandfather, who was an astute farmer and businessman with strong values. Hunter now uses those same lessons as he prepares a new generation of growers in his role as a Syngenta agronomy service manager. He and his team of 10 agronomists educate, train and advise colleagues and growers on how to produce the best crops possible in much of the Corn Belt east of the Mississippi River. Mitch Roth grew up on his family’s Michigan farm, where his parents taught him the value of having a nutritious meal on the table each night. Today, Roth is a graduate student at Michigan State University, working toward a doctorate degree in genetics. He hopes his degree will help him find sustainable ways to feed the world. In 2015, he won the graduate level Syngenta Agricultural Scholarship because of his drive and innovative outlook. While Roth gained invaluable
hands-on experience working on his family farm, he knows the average American doesn’t have his level of understanding about agriculture. He believes shrinking that knowledge gap can help eliminate unnecessary fear of genetic research. “Not everyone can become an expert in agricultural biotechnology,” he says, “but I believe more can be done to bridge this gap.” Brenda Wolgamott and her husband, Duane, began their winemaking business in Lockwood, California, in 1999 after years of working in agriculture and pest control. The pair created their own label, named after their young daughter, Marin. Eighteen years later, Marin, who studied wine and viticulture in college, works side-by-side with her parents and is now the winemaker for her namesake vineyard. Both she and her mother agree that working hard can and will pay off, especially in an industry with such a close-knit group of people. “In this business, in agriculture, the thing that counts the most is your reputation,” Brenda says. “It’s important you do the
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18 | Sunday, May 14, 2017
AUTHOR From 16
entrepreneurship, and the tools and instruments that can be used to develop a supportive, self-reliant regional economy in chapters he titles “Let’s Build an Ark.” He also is producing a film that illustrates concepts of his
work that will be shown nationally and entered into film festival competitions. “As long as rural America is dependent on the global economy, it will continue to be poor. Rural America is being killed by globalism, and regionalism is the answer. It’s fair to say that if the natives don’t get charge of their lives, the powers-that-be are going to own them,” Wolf added.
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Do you know how old your farmer is? Smartphone? Check. GPS? Check. Seed, fertilizer and tractor? Check. Welcome to the world of modern agriculture, where high-tech is the rule and savvy millennials are in demand as U.S. agriculture embraces the many challenges of feeding a growing world. From planters guided by GPS to corn and soybeans with built-in resistance to insects, today’s agriculture is a far cry from Old McDonald’s farm or the pitch-fork-wielding couple of American Gothic. Many of the technological advances in modern agriculture rival the smartest smartphones and the most intuitive interfaces. Imagine drones that scout for pests, farm machinery that decides where fertilizer is needed or harvest equipment that steers itself. Then there are plants that “sense” when weeds get too close, “turn a switch” when they need to conserve water, and produce their own “pheromones” to ward off insects and diseases. It’s the kind of high-tech stuff that’s the perfect match for millennials, often defined as people born between 1982 and 2004.
Getting to know them
Currently, more than half of our nation’s farmers are at least 55 years old. However, as these farmers retire over the next few years, millennials — America’s largest demographic and arguably our most tech savvy — will likely be taking their place. Many companies that hope to supply this new generation of farmers with goods and services are getting ready for the transition. Syngenta has already launched a training initiative designed to help its employees build trust, improve service and strengthen partnerships with younger customers and coworkers. The training gives participants a better understanding of who millennials are and what’s important to them. “Millennials are one of the
BRANDPOINT PHOTO
Millennial grower Nathan Miller helps manage his family’s 13,000-acre farm in Washington Court House, Ohio. most talked about but least understood generations,” says Gil Strader, head of field force excellence and training at Syngenta. “We’re finding fascinating insights that can help bridge this generation knowledge gap.” Research reveals that younger growers in the agricultural industry are:
younger ages than their predecessors — decisions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, two-thirds are the primary decision makers for their operations, from seeds to marketing.
Inquisitive
To no one’s surprise, millennials use the Internet to gather information from diverse sources. High-tech and Young farmers are hungry for information — information to help high-touch them make smart business deYoung growers take more in- cisions. It’s not enough to simnovative risks than their older ply know how to do something: counterparts, but personal re- They want to know why. lationships are just as important to them as the latest tech- Purpose-driven nology. Many prefer phone calls Millennials view farming as a and in-person meetings over the business and a lifestyle. They are digital dialogue so dominant to- very serious about what they’re trying to accomplish on the job, day. but they also want to have a high Educated quality of life outside work. While only 33 percent of These findings debunk the American 35- to 44-year-olds myth that the millennial generhave a bachelor’s degree, 57 per- ation is self-absorbed, indecisive cent of young growers do. Eleven and addicted to social media. As percent of them even have a a group, young farmers are serimaster’s degree or higher. It’s the ous decision makers who crave highest level of education among connection, communication and U.S. farmers to date. a sense of purpose. To learn more about millennials and other agDecisive ricultural trends, go to www. Due to increasing farming syngentathrive.com. complexity, millennials are making significant decisions at Source: Brandpoint
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Folk school at Three Pines Farm HOLLY HUDSON
holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com
Kara Grupp’s journey from doing research at a state university to living on her family’s farm was as unexpected as it has been fulfilling. While working at Iowa State University, Grupp’s husband, Forrest Stowe, was offered a job opportunity in Cedar Falls. When discussing the proposal with her father, he mentioned Three Pines Farm, established by her great-great grandparents in 1856, would be available because the couple who had worked the farm for decades had decided it was time to give it up and move to town. “I had always wanted to live on a farm and have that lifestyle,” Grupp said. “But it would be a big responsibility. All that history. Something I understand the value of is a family farm, wanting to maintain that integrity and keep it going for the subsequent generation.” Grupp also had to grapple with what her vocation would be. “There are not a whole lot of opportunities to work in the sciences around here,” she said. “If I was going to move to the farm, I knew there was something more I would need to tap into.” And then she had a revelation. “I remember it so clearly,” she said. “I was measuring DNA concentration one day — it was a Thursday — and I realized I knew so many wonderful people doing wonderful things but lacked a vehicle to share their passions. Chefs, artists, plasterers — the whole spectrum — experts in their fields. “If they could share that with others, bring it to the community, connect with each other. If we could teach them slower ways, creative ways, and they
COURTESY PHOTOS
Kara Grupp is shown with her husband, Forrest Stowe, and their children. would leave with a deeper understanding of what these artisans are doing.” Thus, the idea of Grupp’s folk school was born. But there was some apprehension involved. “It is a very different direction for a very traditional family farm,” Grupp said. “To go from strictly ag to the educational realm, I was a little worried what my family would think.” But her family whole-heartedly supported her vision. “That was a sign I was heading in the right direction,” Grupp said. A visit to the farm at 9611 Wagner Road, Cedar Falls, solidified things. “I hadn’t seen it since I was 12 or so,” she said. “It felt like home. That’s what sealed it for me and my husband. “And then we saw the little barn and said ‘This is the space.’” Following a compete renovation of what was once a pig barn, Grupp started her enterprise, opening in 2014.
“I call it a folk school, a creative studio, a community hub,” she said. “It encompasses all those things.” Grupp’s first event was a series of cooking classes highlighting community supported agriculture in conjunction with Kaiser Farm in Waverly. “A chef came in and we did ... sessions, learning kitchen skills and preparing dishes using really wonderful ingredients.” Whatever the focus of Grupp’s sessions, food seems to be a connection theme, she said. “I want this to feel like their home away from home,” she said. “For every class we have homemade treats, coffee, tea and, on occasion, wine. Food is a big deal. I want them to feel taken care of.” Grupp will be able to expand on that as the kitchen in the studio space is now fully licensed. “We will do full dinners with wonderful local food,” she said. “It will be a special dining Please see PINES, Page 20
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experience.” Grupp has been busily filling the schedule for the coming months. “We’ll be bringing back some favorite regulars like Lois Reichert from Knoxville, an award-winning cheese maker,
and I am working on getting an artist from Australia,” she said. The realization of her vision means as much to her as it does to the participants in her workshops, classes and events. “I am so very grateful to the students, in addition to the artisan-educators, who share their time here,” Grupp said. “People often comment when they visit, ‘Oh, what a beautiful space.’ And
YOUR FUTURE IS AHEAD OF YOU JOHN DEERE IS BEHIND YOU
I tell them, each and every time, ‘The space is a reflection of those in it.’ “We’ve had a lot of people visit since we opened a year and a half ago — a therapist who came to learn a 15th Century Japanese ceramic repair technique that he creatively incorporated into his therapy, a poet who came to transform her poem into a weaving, a college wrestler who came to write a legacy letter to his mother , a cancer survivor who found her ‘zen’ with pine needle basket making. ... They are all so special. ... They make the space.” For more information, visit www.threepinesfarm.org; (319) 404-2942
Three Pines Farm’s upcoming schedule Artisan Ancient and Sprouted Grain Breads with Vicky Dunn of C’est La V Bakery (April 9)
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May 1, respectively)
fied artist Kim Bakken-Parr (Sept. 24)
Artisan Bacon with Chef Brett McClavy from The Cheese Shop of Des Moines (summer)
Nature’s Beauty in Silver: Artful Jewelry with PMC-certified artist Kim Bakken-Parr (Sept. 25)
Chef-Led, Specialty Farm-to-Table Dinners (throughout the year, starting this spring, first one with Chef Brett McClavy on May 22nd)
Coming up in the next year, but yet to be determined dates:
Intro to Reed Basketmaking: Make Your Own Market Basket with Lisa Kids in the Kitchen: Make Your Own Yogurt (summer, starting in Nelson (April 23) May) Botanical Illustration with AcCommunity Talks on Iowa’s Agriclaimed Artist, Mary Chambers Bauschelt: Intro to Graphite Illus- cultural History with State Experts (dates TBD) tration Techniques, and Intro to Botanical Illustration with Water- Precious Metal Clay—A New Art colors (April 30 and Form in Jewelry with PMC-certi-
HUDSON From S15
John Deere is committed to FFA and its continued education and career-development opportunities. FFA is improving upon the hope for a world with more crop availability and less food insecurity. Because each day that you choose to work toward a stronger, more sustainable world is a new chance for growth within the farming community and beyond. Visit the John Deere Journal online to learn more.
households,” she asked what steps Perdue would take to improve the situation. He pointed out the U.S. agricultural sector produces plenty of food, and it’s relatively affordable. “The farmers of America, the producers of America, are doing more than their share,” said Purdue. A student at another site asked about the threat of cuts to the department presented in the administration’s budget. “We’ve had no real input or
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impact,” said Purdue, since Trump’s budget proposals were unveiled before he was confirmed. While the agriculture secretary will advocate for programs, if cuts are approved “we’re going to manage the budget we’re given.” Perdue also faced budget cuts in a former position as governor of Georgia and learned how to protect priority programs. “We did more with less,” he said. Other Hudson students also were prepared to ask questions. “I wish he would have talked about technology a little bit,” said Lane Marlow, a junior. He expressed concern veteran
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farmers doing their job “the old-fashioned way” are getting pushed out by younger counterparts who have gone higher tech and are making more money. For senior Ethan Griffith, the issue was corporate farms versus family farms, like the one run by his family. He worries the solution is getting bigger, like those corporate players, or getting out of the business. “There’s all these corporate farmers that are taking over everything, and we can’t compete,” said Griffith. “If he would have touched more on that, it would’ve helped me out. I don’t want to lose what my family’s built.”
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Co-opting future C.F. hopes for store with local, organic focus HOLLY HUDSON
holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com
Residents have been clamoring for a grocery store in or near downtown Cedar Falls since Deel’s closed 15 years ago. A group of dedicated volunteers is hoping the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will fill that void in the not-too-distant future. “The end result will be a full-service, community-owned grocery store that focuses on local and organic goods,” said Melanie Drake, outreach coordinator for the co-op. “We’re looking at a 10,000- to 14,000-squarefoot store with competitive prices. It will be a one-stop shop model.” Interest in the co-op, which people can buy into, has been growing since an informational meeting was held in September 2012, right around the time Roots Market closed its doors. “We had more than 75 people at that meeting,” Drake said. “There was definite interest.” Since then, the group established a steering committee, which would become the official co-op board in October 2014, and started recruiting member-owners. They are currently more than half way to their goal of 1,000. Member-owners buy in for a one-time investment of $200, which can be paid in full or in installments. That investment gives the member-owner a voice in how the co-op is run and later, once the store is open, they will get a percentage of the profits back as a dividend. Member-owners also can take advantage of discounts from the co-op’s more than 40 business partners, which are listed on the group’s website, cedarfallsfood.coop. “But anyone can shop there,”
Co-op statistics 51, 106 The number of local farms and local producers, respectively, the average co-op purchases from. The percent of co-op profits donated to local charities (compared to 4 percent of conventional grocers). The percent of revenue spent on local employee wages/ benefits (compared to 13 percent of conventional grocers). $14.31 the average earnings per employee (compared to $13.35 for conventional grocers). The percentage of employees eligible for health insurance (vs. 56 percent at conventional grocers). The percentage of co-op revenue spent locally (vs. 24 percent). Source: National Cooperative Grocers Association Drake said. “You will not have to be a member.” Drake said the co-op will be much more than a grocery store. “It will be a place to gather,” she said. “Ideally, we will have community space to host classes on co-op principles, health and wellness, yoga classes, cooking classes. We would even like to have local musicians come in.” Once the 1,000 membership mark is within reach, a capital campaign will begin. “That will allow us to go to lending agencies, apply for grants, seek member loans,” Drake said.
While a site has not been finalized, the group is doing a lot of research, including a market study conducted last year that concludes the Cedar Falls Food Co-op would be viable and the downtown area would be the best location. “We are hoping by 2018 we will have a store,” Drake said. Drake said the average time from incorporation to opening a store is up to six years. “We are now into our fourth year.” Adding new members is a priority for Sarah Foster, a volunteer on the group’s membership committee. Foster has been a member-owner since 2015. “When I’m visiting other communities, I love shopping at their co-ops,” she said. “So I thought it is time to put our money where our mouth is. I feel like I’m investing in our community.” With being halfway to its membership goal, Foster’s committee is encouraging current members to reach out to friends, neighbors and co-workers. “If everyone gets one person to join, we will meet our goal,” she said. Members also are holding house parties to educate friends about the co-op, and business partners are holding events. “We’ve seen potlucks, book clubs,” Foster said. “We are seeing great results. “I think the beautiful thing about it is it will be a community hub and we will be putting more revenue back into the community, keeping that revenue and that income source in the area.” “This will be a new version of a co-op,” she said. “This is not my parents’ co-op.”
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
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8 common myths about raising poultry From fresh egg production to natural garden fertilizer, there is no shortage of benefits in raising poultry. But even as families become more familiar with sustainable living and keeping chickens, several poultry myths still exist. Here to set the record straight for our feathered friends is poultry expert Lisa Steele, creator of the renowned Fresh Eggs Daily brand and author of three top-selling books on the subject. Steele is also a consultant with Tractor Supply Company, the rural lifestyle retailer. Here are Steele’s eight most common myths surrounding backyard flocks: Myth 1: Chickens are difficult to care for. “There is, of course, a certain level of responsibility required to properly care for any living animal. However, when it comes
to backyard poultry, the time commitment is fairly minimal — maybe 30 minutes daily,” Steele says. Here’s what you can expect: In the morning, chickens will need to be let out and fed; waterers will need to be filled. At some point, eggs will need to be collected. Then, around dusk, after the chickens have wandered back to the coop, the door needs to be locked to protect from predators. Myth 2: Chickens (and coops) smell. “Chickens themselves don’t smell, nor does a well-maintained coop,” Steele says. “On average, a chicken produces about 1.5 ounces of manure a day, which is far less than the average dog — not to mention, when composted, it makes wonderful nitrogen-rich fertilizer for a garden.” Myth 3: Chickens are noisy. “Despite what you may have
heard, chickens are pretty quiet. In fact, a clucking chicken tends to be on par with normal human conversation (60-65 decibels),” Steele says. Roosters are a different story, Myth 4: You need a rooster to get eggs. Chickens will lay eggs regardless of whether or not there is a rooster in the flock. A male chicken is only needed to fertilize an egg, meaning eggs laid by hens in a rooster-less flock can never hatch into baby chicks. And while there are some benefits to having roosters, they aren’t necessary for your hen to produce a basket of delicious, fresh eggs. Myth 5: A chicken lays an egg every day. “The average chicken will produce four to five eggs a week, but that will vary depending on the chicken’s age, breed, health
and environment. Shorter days, extreme temperatures, molting (growing in new feathers) and other stressors, such as the presence of predators, can all affect egg production,” Steele says. Myth 6: Brown eggs are more nutritious than white eggs. “The nutrient content of an egg is based largely on a hen’s diet, not the color of its egg, which is determined solely by the chicken’s breed,” Steele says. According to a study conducted by Mother Earth News magazine, a free-roaming chicken that consumes grass and bugs will lay eggs with less cholesterol and saturated fat and more Vitamin A and E, beta-carotene and Omega-3s than a chicken fed purely commercial corn/grainbased foods. Myth 7: Chickens carry disease.
“Chickens don’t carry any more risk of disease than a dog or cat. In fact, they love to eat ticks and other pesky critters known to transmit diseases like Lyme disease, tapeworm and heartworm,” Steele explains. “While salmonella can be transmitted to humans through poultry dander and feces, simply washing hands after handling the chickens keeps the risk of infection minimal.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also cautions against live poultry inside the home and against letting children younger than 5 years old handle poultry. Myth 8: Chickens attract rodents and predators. “Wild predators are not any more attracted to chickens than they are to wild birds, rabbits, squirrels and other small animals,” Steele says.
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Originally founded by farmers for farmers, we know the challenges of agriculture. Leveraging over 115 years of our parent company’s experience and growth, Rabo AgriFinance understands the industry better than any other ag finance lender. That is what makes us uniquely positioned to help you and your business succeed. We provide our client producers with valuable industry expertise, client-focused solutions and long-term business relationships. Our offerings inlcude: • Real estate term loans • Operating credit with flexible maturity dates and competitive rates • Livestock financing • Equipment financing • Crop insurance
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