Telling the story of American agriculture for 20 years
SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016
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SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
Silos & Smokestacks turning 20 Agriculture comes alive at heritage locations
not just the planting of the fields, but in continuous improvements Who better to tell the story in the science and technology of how the world is fed than Io- of the agriculture industry, in wans? the safety of its animals, in the Iowans have been involved, health of the people who grow the food and those who buy the food. It’s a fascinating story dating back decades. Following the farm crisis of the 1980’s, some Cedar Valley residents were concerned about the future of Iowa farming and the empty storefronts in downtown Waterloo. What could they do to revitalize the downtown area and boost the economy? They determined the best way was to tell the story of agriculture and preserve the sites where it all happens. Silos & Smokestacks was born. This year, Silos & Smokestacks is celebrating its 20th anniversary. There is no building or location of its own, but it covers 115 sites in 37 northeast Iowa counties and includes farms, museums, conservation areas and nature centers, recreation areas, vineyards and tractor tours. This National Heritage Area is recognized by the U.S. Congress for its unique qualities and NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com
Open a door to history.
resources, and is affiliated with the National Park Service, which is celebrating its Centennial this year. It is the only Heritage Area in Iowa, and the only Heritage Area from among 49 others in the entire country telling the story of agriculture. “Silos has always been about preserving the story,” said President Cara Miller. “The Heritage Areas across the nation are all about telling a story. There is ‘Rivers of Steel’ in Pennsylvania. Ohio has the story of the Erie Canal. Here we are all about the agri-industry and agriculture. The preservation and telling of the story manifests itself in our 115 partner sites. And we are adding more every year.” When the idea began to percolate in 1991, no one involved had an inkling the plans would become a National Heritage Area. It was so designated by Congress in 1996. The ensuing years were taken up by planning with the National Park Service. Federal funding wasn’t received until 1999, just short of $200,000. Monies received grew steadily to where in the last several years federal funding has amounted to
about $700,000. Silos’ staff and board members serve as helping hands to the emerging sites, which go through a rigorous planning process of their own. “We provide the technical assistance and support for the sites to become what they need to be,” Miller said. “We make sure they are ready to welcome visitors in terms of things like ‘is there a place to park, are there restrooms, is the site user friendly?’ “Sites have to meet standards, all need to have a quality story to tell and all are good places to visit. People know they can leave a site understanding a piece of the history of agriculture.” Candy Streed, Silos director of partnershipsm recalls, “We started out with just a handful of sites in 2001. In 2002, we had a huge growth.” The first partnerships recognized as part of the Silos & Smokestacks Heritage Area included Hartman Reserve Nature Center and the University of Please see Silos, Page 3
Explore more than a century of stories at Montauk, the home of former Gov. William Larrabee in Clermont, and the other State Historic Sites of Iowa. Your adventure starts at iowaculture.gov. The State Historic Sites are proud partners of Silos and Smokestacks.
iowaculture.gov “Tyden #6 Sunrise Shadows” photo by Phil Pitzenberger. Photo taken in Dougherty, Iowa.
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| SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016
SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
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An overhead view of the “It Takes An Iowan” exhibit at the Iowa State Fair.
Exhibit reaches a broad audience NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com
With the world’s population predicted to reach an astounding nine billion people by the year 2050, it’s going to take more than a village to feed all those people. It’s going to take an Iowan. As leaders in agriculture and education, the world looks to Iowans and will continue to look to Iowans, to get that overwhelming job done. As part of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area mission, the “It Takes An Iowan” exhibit is helping to educate consumers and to become mindful stewards of the land and innovative producers in order to make a difference. The 36-foot-by-32-foot traveling exhibit explores the evolving roles Iowans have played and continue to play in feeding not just the nation, but the world. It includes interviews and commentaries from Iowa farmers, educators, inventors and agriculture leaders. “The exhibit is an interpretive display that travels to our partner sites to share today’s agriculture story,” Laura Elfers, Silos’ edu-
cational engagement director, explained. “Our partner sites do an excellent job of telling the past. We were looking for a way to share today’s story. As it developed it began to have a much bigger message than first thought.” Barely a year old, the exhibit debuted at last year’s Iowa State Fair. It was so successful that it will be on display in the Agriculture Building again this year. Booked for display through November, look for it at historical centers outside of the 37-county Heritage Area, such as shopping malls and city halls, and empty storefronts. Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar has reserved the exhibit for the entire month of June. Find the exhibit’s location schedule at www. ittakesaniowan.com. It is designed so separate panels can be displayed in a square or in linear form. The center circle provides a quieter and more private space where teachers can gather their students for a purposeful discussion away from the crowds. In partnership with the Grout Museum, which has produced
its own interactive exhibits, “It Takes An Iowan” includes three touch-screen kiosks. Each kiosk shows six different interviews with farmers, store owners, authors —showcasing careers that the public probably does not realize are connected to agriculture, such as natural resources and soil and water conservation. “The interviews show how far-reaching agriculture can be,” Elfers said. “It’s just not about farming.” Land O’Lakes, AgVentures Alliance, John Deere and the National Park Service provided monetary assistance for the development of the exhibit. The Grout Museum District, University of Northern Iowa Public History Program and Iowa State University Special Collections assisted with images and historical content. Casey’s sponsors the Featherlite trailer for storage and transport. “It Takes An Iowan” has its own web site at www.ittakesaniowan.com. Included is a curriculum for educators and suggestions for pre- or post-visiting activities done on site.
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SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
Two new sites join partnership NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com
The breadth of the Silos & Smokestacks experience continues to widen, not just in numbers of partner sites, but also in the variety of agricultural lessons available. Visitors can leave their cars and leisurely stroll through scenic landscapes, imagine how life used to be at restored sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, begin to understand the meaning of farm fresh and learn about regional heritage at museums and galleries. They can return to nature at parks and nature centers, enjoy entertainment and mouth-watering food at various fairs, unwind at hospitable bed & breakfasts, and learn how the agriculture industry has changed and improved by viewing historic and new farm machinery. One of the first sites designated a partner site in 2001 is the Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve & Center in Rockford. The Rockford Brick and Tile Co., was located within what is now the preserve, and produced sought-after drainage tiles. The quarry area where they dug the clay was found to contain the Devonian fossils today’s visitors can pick up easily. Visitors also can roam through the native prairie, see the beehive kilns where the tiles were made and learn how the company helped expand agriculture. “Fossil & Prairie epitomizes what Silos & Smokestacks is all about,” said Candy Streed, director of partnerships. “It explains how we drained the land and changed the landscapes. It’s a very important part of our story. “And why fossils? The story explains how land was once covered by shallow seas, how we then got the soil and prairies, then how European settlers farmed the land. How it changed with the tiling and how that business went away
One-room schoolhouse at Norman Borlaug Boyhood Home and Birthplace Farms
“Fossil & Prairie epitomizes what Silos & Smokestacks is all about. It explains how we drained the land and changed the landscapes. It’s a very important part of our story.
GMDistrict.orG/voices-of-iowa
Candy Streed and how tiling is done differently today.” Two of the newest sites designated just this year include the Norman Borlaug Boyhood Home and Birthplace Farms in Cresco, and the Kinze Innovation Center in Williamsburg. Borlaug has been called the “Father of the Green Revolution.” Visitors can take a walking tour or guided tour of his boyhood home with the assistance of interpretive signs. This
homestead is where he learned the lessons leading to the revolutionary changes he engineered not just for Iowa, but the world as well through his innovative approaches in agriculture. His one-room schoolhouse, his bedroom, farm buildings and fields are accessible. Visitors can learn about his scientific and humanitarian work that resulted in saving a billion lives.
voices of iowa ProJect Telling & Preserving the Stories of Iowa’s Farmers & Veterans.
Please see Partnership, Page 9
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SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
s National Heritage Area
This map is for representational purposes only. Sites are keyed to nearest town and may not represent the actual location of the site. Please reference a local/IDOT map for navigation or place the desired site address into your GPS device.
Northwood
4
15
40
Other National Park Service Sites
Cresco 42 43
Osage A
B
Effigy Mounds National Monument 151 Highway 76 Harpers Ferry (Map E-4) 563-873-3491
Clear Lake
30 29
95
Charles City
Dougherty
MISS
Belmond 31
32
68B
3
80 79
19 18
Ackley
Cedar Falls
81
Grundy Center
Iowa Falls Eldora
58
66
20 103
Story City
97
113
Hudson
6 5
96
Ames Nevada
82
1
101
45
51
A
70
Johnston 94 Urbandale Des Moines Prairie City 46
Traer
State Center
Boone 14
47
B
91
Manchester Independence
83
Grinnell
21
25
22 23 24
85
86
87
9
Maquoketa 36
Amana Colonies
Clinton
4
Tipton 38 37
112
39
Oxford Williamsburg Coralville 84
Baldwin
Cedar Rapids
93
Newton Lynnville
Anamosa
Toddville 28 27 26
Andrew 7
99
Marshalltown Toledo Haverhill
92
53 54 55
Cascade
Monticello
Center Point
102
Belle Plaine Marengo
Dubuque
17
Vinton
57
56
52
Hopkinton
La Porte City
Dysart
100
Dyersville
72
76
73 89
Morrison
2
74 75
Waterloo
51
Hazleton
71
104 109 105 108 106 107
171 miles 173 miles 157 miles 297 miles 210 miles 135 miles
R
2 1
Webster City
Chicago to Dubuque Milwaukee to Dubuque Minneapolis to Decorah St. Louis to Cedar Rapids Kansas City to Des Moines Omaha to Des Moines
VE
67
Dows
50
Allison
Hampton
68A
Clarion
69
Calmar Fort Postville65 Atkinson 88 90 New Clermont Froelich Hampton 35 3428 Marquette 111 63 64 Elgin West Fredericksburg 61 Union 59 60 Elkader IS Guttenberg SIPP I R Strawberry Oelwein Waverly I 9822 Point 8 Aurora 10 Bankston
12
11
A Waukon Harpers Ferry
62
Rockford
49
114
Decorah 44
16
Mason City
33
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site West Branch (Map E-1) 319-643-2541
3
Distance From Major Midwest Cities
Burr Oak
Montezuma
Iowa City 77 78
110 B
Donahue
48
Bettendorf
West Branch
13
Davenport 41
C
D
E
F
52
FESTIVALS, FAIRS, SHOWS & MORE FESTIVALS •MapleSyrupFestival,1stweekendinMarch •HartmanReserveNatureCenter,CedarFalls •Hoover’sHometownDays •HerbertHooverPresidentialMuseum,WestBranch •Oktoberfest,1stweekendinOctober,Amana FAIRS •FranklinCountyFair,3rdweekinJuly •HamptonIowaStateFair,11daysinAugust, “A Farmer’s Heaven” photo by Michael Stark DesMoines •NationalCattleCongressFair,2ndor3rdweekend inSeptember
SHOWS •HeartlandAcresTractorRide,2ndweekendinJune •HeartlandAcresAgribitionCenter,Independence •PrairieHomesteadAntiquePower&CountryCraft Show,3rdweekendinAugust •BelmondNationalFarmToyShow,1stweekendin November,Dyersville & MORE •BreakfastontheFarm,3rdweekendinJune • Iowa’sDairyCenter • CalmarLivingHistoryFarmsOffRoadRace • UrbandaleNorwegianChristmas,1stweekendin December
Sunday, June 26, 2016 | 7
SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
50
Day Trip Planner
1 B-3
Ackley Heritage Center
Ackley
2 B-3
Carson Art Gallery
Ackley
3 B-3
Prairie Bridges Park
Ackley
4 D-1
Amana Heritage Society Museums Amana Colonies
5 A-2
Reiman Gardens - Iowa State University Ames
6 A-2
Special Collections Department, Iowa State University
Ames
40 C-4 41 F-1
Site Map Number Location
Norman Borlaug Boyhood & Birthplace Farms
Cresco
Putnam Museum & Giant Screen Theater
Davenport
42 D-4
Seed Savers Exchange
43 D-4
Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum
Decorah
Winneshiek County Historical Society-Locust School Museum
Decorah
44 D-4
Decorah
7 F-2
Historic Limestone Insane Asylum
Andrew
8 D-3
Richardson-Jakway Historic Site
Aurora
46 A-1
State Historical Building
Des Moines
Baldwin
47 A-1
The Wallace Centers of Iowa
Des Moines
Bankston
48 E-1
Miss Effie’s Country Flowers & Garden Stuff
Donahue
Tyden Farm No. 6 Tours
Dougherty
9 E-2
Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery
10 E-3
Park Farm Winery
11 A-3
Belmond Historical Society Museum Belmond
12 A-3
Jenison Meacham Memorial Art Museum & Farm
49 B-3 50 B-3
Dows Historic District
Bettendorf
51 E-2
Dubuque Museum of Art
Family Museum
14 A-2
Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace
15 D-4
Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum Burr Oak Iowa’s Dairy Center
17 E-2
Cascade Historic Limestone Silo
18 C-3
Cedar Falls Historical Society
Iowa State Fair
Belmond
13 F-1
16 D-4
45 A-1
Boone
Includes Site Number and Map Coordinates, Listed Alphabetically by Community
77 D-1
Plum Grove Historic Home
Iowa City
78 D-1
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
Iowa City
79 B-2
Calkins Nature Area
Iowa Falls
80 B-2
Eagle City Winery
Iowa Falls
81 B-2
Scenic City Empress Boat Club
Iowa Falls
82 A-1
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
83 C-2
La Porte City FFA Historical & Ag Museum
84 C-1
Wagaman Mill & Museum
Des Moines
Johnston La Porte City Lynnville
85 E-2
Hurstville Interpretive Center
Maquoketa
86 E-2
Hurstville Lime Kilns
Maquoketa
87 F-2
Jackson County Historical Society Museum
Maquoketa
Dows
88 E-3
Eagles Landing Vineyard & Winery Marquette
Dubuque
89 C-2
Grundy County Heritage Museum
90 C-4
Carnegie Cultural Center
Morrison
New Hampton
52 E-2
Four Mounds Inn & Conference Center
Dubuque
91 B-1
Jasper County Historical Museum
Newton
Calmar
53 E-2
Mathias Ham House Historic Site
Dubuque
92 B-1
Cascade
54 E-2
Mines of Spain Recreation Area
Dubuque
Sugar Grove Vineyards & Gathering Place
Newton
93 D-1
F. W. Kent Park
Oxford
94 B-1
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Cedar Falls
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Dubuque
56 E-3
National Farm Toy Museum
Dyersville
55 E-2
19 C-3
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
Cedar Falls
20 C-3
University of Northern Iowa Marshall Center School
Cedar Falls
57 C-2
Dysart Historical Center
Dysart
21 D-2
African American Museum of Iowa Cedar Rapids
58 B-2
Hardin County Farm Museum
Eldora
22 D-2
Brucemore
59 D-3
Gilbertson Conservation Education Area Elgin
60 D-3
George Maier Rural Heritage Center of Clayton County
Elkader
61 D-3
Motor Mill Historic Site
Elkader
Cedar Rapids
Prairie City
95 B-3
Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve & Center
96 B-2
Watson’s Grocery Store Museum State Center
97 A-2
Museums of Story City
98 D-3
Strawberry Hill Farm & Garden
99 D-2
Wickiup Hill Learning Center & Area Toddville
Rockford Story City
Carl & Mary Koehler History Center
Cedar Rapids
24 D-2
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Cedar Rapids
25 D-2
Indian Creek Nature Center
Cedar Rapids
62 D-4
Fort Atkinson State Preserve
100 C-2
Iowa Masonic Library & Museum Cedar Rapids
Farm House B&B/Engelbrecht Family Winery Fredericksburg
Traer Historical Museum
26 D-2
63 C-3
101 A-1
Living History Farms
27 D-2
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch
102 D-2
Vinton Railroad Depot
103 C-3
Bennington No. 4 School
Waterloo
104 C-3
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
Waterloo
105 C-3
Grout Museum District
Waterloo
106 C-3
Hawkeye Community College Farm Laboratory
Waterloo
23 D-2
28 D-2
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
29 C-4
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home
30 C-4
Floyd County Historical Society Museum
Cedar Rapids
64 C-3
Fort Atkinson
Fredericksburg
Cedar Rapids
65 D-3
Froelich General Store & Tractor Museum
Charles City
66 C-2
Barn Quilts of Grundy County Grundy Center
67 B-3
Charles City
31 A-3
4-H Schoolhouse Museum
Clarion
32 A-3
Heartland Museum
Clarion
33 B-4
Kinney Pioneer Museum
34 D-3
Montauk Historic Site
Clermont
35 D-3
Riegel Blacksmith Shop
Clermont
36 F-1
Clinton County Historical Society Museum
Clear Lake
Froelich
Franklin County Fair & Grandpa’s Farm
Hampton
68A B-3 68B B-3
Franklin Co. Historical Society Museum Franklin Co. REA Power Plant Museum Hampton
69 E-4
Ion Exchange, Inc.
70 B-2
Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop
Strawberry Point Traer Urbandale Vinton
107 C-3
John Deere Waterloo - Tractor Cab & Assembly Operations (TCAO) Waterloo
Haverhill
108 C-3
National Cattle Congress
Waterloo
Waterloo Center for the Arts
Waterloo
Harpers Ferry
71 D-3
Fontana Interpretive Nature Center
Hazleton
109 C-3
72 E-2
Delaware County Historical Museum Hopkinton
110 E-1
Clinton
73 C-2
Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy/J&J Dairy Hudson
Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum
111 D-3
Fayette County Historical Center
112 D-1
Kinze Innovation Center
Independence
113 B-2
Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive
See Map
Independence
114 A-3
Northern Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive
See Map
37 D-1
1876 Coralville Schoolhouse
Coralville
74 D-2
Cedar Rock the Walter House Independence
38 D-1
Iowa River Gazebo
Coralville
75 D-2
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
39 D-1
Johnson County Historical Society Museum
Coralville
76 D-2
Wapsipinicon Mill Museum
West Branch West Union Williamsburg
Fold-Out Map, Next Page *
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Silos & Smokestacks Area is proud toArea be an National Heritage is Afiliated of the proud to beArea an Afiliated National Service, Area of thePark National Park U.S. Department of Service, U.S. Department the of theInterior. Interior.
The National Park The National Park Service is celebrating its Service is celebrating 100th anniversary this its 100th anniversary year. A National Heritage this year. A National area is a region that Heritage area is a has been recognized by region that has been the U.S. Congress for recognized by the U.S. its unique qualities and Congress for its unique resources. To find out qualities and resources. more about National To ind out more about Heritage Areas or the 49 National Heritage Areas designated regions, visit or the 49 designated NationalHeritageAreas. regions, visit National com. Heritage Areas.com. The Silos & Smokestacks National The Silos & Heritage Area isNational located Smokestacks in 37 IowaArea counties. The Heritage is located area in the in 37participates Iowa counties. National Services’s The areaPark participates Passport Cancellation in the National Park Stamp Services’s Passport Program. Your Cancellation Stamp passport can be Program. Your passport stamped at any ofatthe can be stamped any 16 participating of the 16 participating Partner in the Partner SitesSites in the Silos Silos & Smokestacks area & Smokestacks area listed below: listed below: Amana Heritage Amana Heritage Society Society Museums; Cedar Museums, Amana RapidsRapids Museum of Art; Cedar Museum Family Museum, of Art Family Museum, Bettendorf; Fossil Fossil && Bettendorf Prairie Park Park Preserve Prairie Preserve and Center, Center, Rockford; and Rockford Gilbertson Conservation Gilbertson Conservation Education Area, Education Area,Elgin; Elgin Grout Museum Museum District, Grout District, Waterloo; Hartman Waterloo Hartman Reserve Nature Nature Center, Reserve Center, Cedar Falls; Indian Creek Cedar Falls Indian NatureNature Center,Center, Cedar Creek Rapids; Dairy CenCedarIowa’s Rapids Iowa’s ter, Calmar; Living History Dairy Center, Calmar Farms, Mines LivingUrbandale; History Farms, of Spain Recreational Urbandale Mines of Area, Dubuque; National Spain Recreational Area, Czech & Slovak Museum Dubuque National & Library, CedarMuseum Rapids; Czech & Slovak & Library, Cedar Rapids National Mississippi River National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque; Putnam Dubuque Putnam Museum & Giant Screen Museum Giant Screen Theater,& Davenport; Theater, Davenport State Historical Building, State Historical Building, Des Moines; Vesterheim Des Moines Vesterheim Norwegian-American Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah Museum, Decorah
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SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
COURTESY PHOTO
Megan Kregel at Iowa’s Dairy Center.
W
hether you want to speculate or participate, there is an agricultural experience to fit your timeframe and personal preference Silios & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is “Where the Story of American Agriculture Comes to Life.”
“Bobbing Fun at Applefest” photo by Dave Austin
“Farm Tree Swing” photo by Dave Austin
“Tending the Geraniums” photo by Barbara Briggs
“Iowa Prairie” photo by Terry Dermody
Sunday, June 26, 2016 | 9
Silos & Smokestacks
“Silos & Smokestacks provides many resources to help us improve our storytelling which is still in its infancy.” Claire Voss
2016 Music in the Vineyard Schedule June 19: Bryce & BillyLee Janey July 3: Timber City Concert Band July 17: The Blue 2 (Bob & Jeff) Aug 7: David Zollo Music from Aug 21: Craig Erickson 3-6 PM Sept 4: Kevin BF Burt Oct 2: Tony Brown & Dan Johnson Oct 16: Mississippi Band
Partnership From 5 Plan Your Event at Tabor Winery!
www.TaborHomeWinery.com
SAT., Sept 17: 20Th AnniVerSAry feSTiVAl Bob Dorr & the Blue Band, 1-6pm; $5 cover (adults)
Wine Tasng and Tours Everyday 11am-6pm
3570 67th Street, Baldwin, Iowa @TaborWines
teractive displays, it showcases the many agricultural innovations from Kinze’s rich heritage and highlights the technology that shapes farming today and into the future “Kinze took a lot of equipment ... and modified it so that it could be more efficient,” said Miller. “He created a 24-row planter. Because he knew how to weld, how to tinker, he could create things. He was a real pioneer.” The Kinze site includes an interpretive center and museum. “Silos & Smokestacks provides many resources to help us improve our storytelling which is still in its infancy,” said the Center’s Claire Voss. Streed visited the location in late summer of 2014. Silos
hosted its Annual Golden Silos Awards luncheon at the Center in April of 2015. The application for partnership status began that fall and by the end of 2015, Kinze submitted its full application. The on-site visit by Silos was scheduled this January and in April it was announced as a partner site. The relationship between a partner site and the Silos staff continues after the designation. “We continue to stay in touch and re-evaluate,” Streed said. “What are they needing now? What can we do to help? The partnership continues for as long as the site maintains the standards which allowed it to become a part of the National Heritage Area.”
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“The Norman Borlaug experience tells the story of how agriculture changes over time,” said Silos President Cara Miller. “It tells about what people learn and how they can make a difference and an impact. Dr. Borlaug developed many hybrids and had an impact on feeding the world — creating crops that could be sustainable.” The Borlaug farm has been in existence, of course, for decades but its story needed interpretation. That’s where the Silos staff comes into play. “We worked for years to bring our site up to the level it needed to be. The application process was done over a year’s time,” said Barb Schwamman, board president. The Kinze Innovation Center, on the other hand, tells a more modern story, preserving the many innovations that Jon Kinzenbaw and Kinze Manufacturing have made over the past 50 years. It describes the inspiration, imagination and hard work by one man and generations of dedicated, hard-working people (employees, partners, family and friends). Through hands-on, in-
10 | Sunday, June 26, 2016
SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
Families roll on summer road trip seem a newer, fresher and less Celebrating its 100th ancomplicated place through the niversary, the National Park Service, along with President Sometimes, the world can eyes of a child. Barack Obama, have created an initiative called “Every Kid In A Park.” It’s designed to give every fourth grader the opportunity to experience a living classroom of America’s national parks and historic sites. In conjunction with the National Park Service program, Silos & Smokestacks has developed an initiative to celebrate its own 20th anniversary — the Summer Road Trip. “We invited four Cedar Valley fourth-grade students and their immediate family members to visit up to six Silos partner sites free of charge this summer,” said Jori WadeBooth, Silos marketing and Tickets, call 641-456-2049 or at www.franklincountyfair.com communications director. “After their visit, the children will blog about what they thought, what they saw, what they learned. It’s sort of a travel review through the eyes of a child.” The blogs will be featured on the Silos website and additional social media sites. Participating families are being provided a travel schedule and questionnaire prior to each visit to assist in the blog writing. One family is from La Porte City, two are from Waterloo and one is from the Waverly-Shell Rock area. WadeBooth hopes the program can be expanded in the future if this initial event is successful. Participating children said they are interested in animals and learning how they contribute to agriculture, some are
NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com
16 large and small models made entirely of wooden matchsticks! Open April 1-Nov 30, 7 days a week, 1-5 pm 319 2nd St., Gladbrook, IA 50635
www.matchstickmarvels.com
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum interested in the farm industry and the tractors and combines. One wants to learn about where her food comes from. Fourth-grader Maddie Leary attends Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School and is one of the four children participating. “I wanted to participate because there are a lot of machines I don’t know about, and I want to learn about them,” she said. “I like to travel, and I think it will be fun to learn about places in Iowa.” Maddie’s mother, Christa, said, “I think it’s a great idea to get out and be tourists in our own state. Both my kids are intrigued by farms and agriculture — the machinery, the animals, the vegetation. This is the perfect opportunity to
show them the history and the impact agriculture has on our country and the world.” Maddie says she also is excited to learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder after receiving the “Little House on the Prairie” books. She loves to write. “I was able to go to the Wartburg Writers Conference for two years,” she said. “It helped me work on my writing skills, and I thought it was fun. I like informational writing to help teach people things.” Casey’s General Store is helping to sponsor the Summer Road Trip. Each participating family receive gift cards which will pay for travel expenses. Every Kid in a Park, visit everykidinapark.gov.
“I wanted to participate because there are a lot of machines I don’t know about, and I want to learn about them. I like to travel, and I think it will be fun to learn about places in Iowa.” Maddie Leary
Sunday, June 26, 2016 | 11
SILOS & SMOKESTACKS
Goal is for growing grant funding NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com
Growing and maintaining a National Heritage Area such as Silos & Smokestacks which is spread out over 37 counties in northeast Iowa takes more than just $700,000 in federal funds. It takes the work of all 115 educational and tourism sites in becoming self-sufficient, and the effort of Silos staff in applying for grants to help match the federal funds, a requirement for a National Heritage Area. “We used to be one of the lowest funded Heritage Areas,” said Candy Streed, Silos Director of Partnerships, said, “We have given out just shy of $2 million in our general grants pool. We give out annual grants to site partnerships for projects which help them tell their unique story about the history of agriculture. “This money helps them with permanent or temporary exhibits, educational programs, audio-visual tours, murals, interpretive signage. Sometimes we are one of their key funders.” Site funding from Silos in the early years helped with infrastructure, perhaps as much as $50,000. More recently, funding averages around $5,000 to $10,000 and is less infrastructure based. Some sites are run totally by volunteers, some sites charge admission. But they all must also do their own research for grant funding. Other grants are used for the bus and intern programs which began in 2007. Laura Elfers, Educational Engagement Director, says she distributes $10,000 annually among school districts within the 37-county area, making it possible for student field trips to any of the partner sites. “We will pay up to 75 percent of the transportation costs to get kids from school to the sites and back,” she explained. “Teachers must show what about agriculture their
With the help of a Silos Bus Grant, students from Gladbrook visit Hansen’s Dairy. students will be learning by taking the field trip. That’s the only stipulation. “For instance, if they want to visit the Mississippi River Museum, they have to tell me how they are going to tie an agriculture lesson into the visit, such as talking about water conservation or clean water.
“Between 2007-2015, we awarded 296 bus grants that led to nearly 17,000 kids learning about agriculture,” she noted. Although the Silos home office in downtown Waterloo currently employs two student interns, the intern grants are specifically for the partner sites. “This is our way to help educate college students,” Elfers said. “To get them on-the-job training and skills. To help them build their resumes. But it also helps our partner sites in telling their story and with projects they may not have the staff to complete on their own. We usually have enough money to fund five interns.” Elfers told the story of a Luther College student who worked one summer at a site learning about pollination techniques and raising pollinators. She was an art history major who needed a summer job. She was so pleased with her experience she wanted to return the next summer. Streed noted that federal
funds never can be relied upon to last forever. “We need to get individuals involved who care about history and preservation,” President Cara Miller said. “Because of the quality of our
work and the integrity and process of our work, we get a lot of accolades for the partnerships we have,” she said. “We don’t want to compete with our partners for funding. We want to grow the pot.”
Experience the Heart of America Farms, museums, vineyards, fairs and historic sites
319.234.4567
silosandsmokestacks.org
Bed & Breakfast farm to taBle dinner small ConferenCe Center CHallenge ropes Course riverview Hiking trails HistoriC gentleman’s farm Camps & YoutH programming
4900 Peru Road, Dubuque 563-557-7292 www.fourmounds.org Preserve – Educate – Serve
Thank you for helping Silos celebrate its 20th anniversary!
The Historic Four Mounds Estate
Congratulations to the
Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area on its 20th anniversary!
T
he Iowa Pork Producers Association proudly supports the heritage area and partners with Silos and Smokestacks to preserve and share America’s farm story and the rich heritage of Iowa agriculture.
Pig farming is an essential part of the state’s and the nation’s agricultural heritage and generations of Iowa pig farmers have helped make Iowa the number one pork producing state in the U.S. Pigs eat corn and soybeans and lots of them and it’s the abundance of those crops grown in Iowa that makes pork production a thriving and successful industry. Thousands of Iowans are involved in hog farming and they devote their lives to producing safe, affordable food in a way that protects and promotes animal well-being, safeguards our natural resources and protects public health.
Farmers have led industry-wide efforts to achieve tremendous improvements in all areas of modern pig farming. Although we have always sought to practice agriculture in an ethical manner, momentum grew, starting in the mid-1980s, to scientifically evaluate and improve farming methods and strongly promote nationwide adoption of best farming practices through education programs. Today, modern pig farms combine the best of traditional farming practices with the benefits of modern technology and agriculture science. The Iowa Pork Producers Association and its members salute Silos and Smokestacks on 20 years!