And, if we couldn’t pay for it, we didn’t build it or buy it. We went without a lot of things that would have made our lives easier until we could pay for them.” Nancy said, “Our banker back then said ‘You have to decide what you want versus and what you need.’ That was good advice for us.” Craig added, “When you’re young and enthusiastic, you think you can do anything.” Nancy continued, “And you think you need a lot of stuff.” Craig concluded, “Jack told me, ‘If, instead of buying a combine, what if you hired someone with a combine? Let’s go through the numbers.’ Looking back, that was really good advice to us to pay attention.” Another philosophy he taught them was to avoid year-end machine buying binges. “He said ‘I’ve watched too many farmers spending a lifetime trying not to pay taxes. The government never takes it all. But, if you do foolish things to avoid paying taxes, the bank will take it all.’” In addition to feeding cattle, growing grain and traveling to the Southwest, Craig and Nancy have been very active in local civic activities. Nancy has served as a commissioner on the Soil & Water Conservation District board for 20 years and she’s also on the Plymouth County Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Craig Anderson riding Dillon at Plymouth County’s Hillview Park.
Service is Our Business
Craig spent 14 years on the Plymouth County Zoning Board and is now in his 17th year as a Plymouth County Supervisor. He’s also on the board of the Iowa Public Investment Trust Fund. “I think if you’re going to live somewhere, you ought to participate. If you don’t like what’s going on, you throw your hat in the ring and try to change it,” he said.. Nancy said years ago they became concerned about residential growth moving north out of Sioux City. “Everybody wanted a one-acre plot of ground. Particularly when you look at the fragile soils in the Loess Hills area, one acre of ground was not a good plan.” For farmers whose land was worth $300 an acre, it seemed like a good deal to sell one acre for $3,000. So lots were selling “boom, boom, boom” which resulted in “driveway, driveway” and “bus stop, bus stop” and “mail stop, mail stop.” Craig said people were moving to one-acre country lots because they wanted the freedom of a country home. But then they’d have to move snow, get a dumpster because they didn’t have weekly garbage service, and eventually want a “man shed” for everything. Inevitably, the new one-acre country living folks would face septic issues – and possibly related problems with their well water. Craig has been pleased to be a part of forward-thinking zoning rule changes to address issues such as these.
2 South Marion St, Remsen, IA 51050 | 712-786-2234 24
The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | April 2022
He's also proud of how the Board of Supervisors created a precedent-setting agreement whereby the windfarm operating companies were held responsible for road use and decommissioning. The Plymouth County approach has become a model for other local government entities. In addition, Craig said getting the county’s finances in order has helped them bring focus and resources to bridge replacement. “We’re getting a lot of those ‘past due’ things fixed; and things that are going to be important for a long time.”
