IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN
JANUARY 15, 2014
SOUTH WEST IOWA
HARRISON . SHELBY . AUDUBON . GUTHRIE . ADAIR . CASS . WEST POTTAWATTAMIE . EAST POTTAWATTAMIE . MILLS . MONTGOMERY ADAMS . UNION . CLARKE . LUCAS . FREMONT . PAGE . TAYLOR . RINGGOLD . DECATUR . WAYNE
Monsanto fund aids math and science education For the third consecutive year, America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, will give Iowa farmers the opportunity to enhance math and science programs in their communities. Now until April 6, 2014, farmers can nominate a local public school district to compete for a merit-based grant of up to $25,000. Administrators of nominated school districts may then submit grant applications through April 21. This year, the number of eligible counties has expanded to 1,289 across 39 states. “We believe that growing the next generation begins with a strong foundation in math and science,” said Michelle Insco, Mon-
santo Fund program officer. “This opportunity for success begins in the classroom.” The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to partner with farmers to support rural communities. America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education launched in 2012 after a successful pilot in Minnesota and Illinois. The program has since helped more than 400 school districts improve math and science education across 39 states. School districts that apply for a $10,000 grant compete against other school districts in the same USDA-appointed Crop Reporting
FARM FAMILY FAVORITES Tomato Soup Lois Oaks, West Branch (Cedar County) 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 2 c. tomato juice 1/2 c. water 2 Tbsp. sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 3/4 c. wide egg noodles, cooked (optional)
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter or margarine. Add flour, and stir to form a smooth paste. Gradually add tomato juice and water; stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add sugar and salt. Stir in egg noodles, if desired, and heat through completely. Yields two servings. This recipe may be doubled.
“Chicken-Lickin” Good Pork Chops Mrs. LeRoy Stevenson, Sibley (Osceola County) 1/2 c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1-1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 6 lean, boneless pork chops 2 Tbsp. canola oil 1 can chicken with rice soup (low-sodium)
Combine flour, salt, mustard and garlic powder in a ziploc bag. Shake pork chops in bag until well coated. Brown in large skillet with canola oil. Place in crockpot, and add soup. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.
Sour Cream Date Dreams Kathy Snitker, Postville (Allamakee County) 1/4 c. shortening 3/4 c. brown sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 egg, beaten 1-1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 c. dairy sour cream 2/3 c. chopped dates Walnut halves
Cream shortening, sugar and vanilla. Add egg and combine well. Sift together dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture, alternating with sour cream. Stir in dates. Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with a walnut half. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. Yields three dozen cookies.
District (CRD). CRDs with five or fewer eligible school districts will compete against each other for a single $10,000 grant. School districts that apply for a $25,000 grant will compete against schools that are located in the same state or designated region. Winners will be announced in August. Monsanto Fund grants will be judged based on merit, need and community support. In 2013, more than 73,000 farmers demonstrated their support for education by nominating 3,851 school districts, resulting in $2.3 million in grants to 181 recipients. This year, the number of eligible counties has expanded from 1,271 to 1,289.
For more information about the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program and to view the official rules, a list of eligible states, counties and CRDs, visit www. GrowRuralEducation.com. In 2013, the following Iowa school districts received a total of $165,000 to enhance math and science curriculums: • Alburnett Comm. School District ($10,000) • Boyden-Hull Comm. School District ($25,000) • CAL Community School District ($10,000) • Forest City Comm. School District ($10,000) • Moulton-Udell Comm. School
District ($10,000) • Newell-Fonda Comm. School District ($10,000) • Riceville Comm. School District ($10,000) • Schaller-Crestland Community School District ($10,000) • Springville Comm. School District ($10,000) • Washington Community School District ($10,000) • West Lyon Community School District ($25,000) • Western Dubuque Comm. School District ($25,000) To view a list of all the winning school districts from previous years and for more information visit www. GrowRuralEducation.com.
Student-sponsored ag outlook conference set for Feb. 8 at Iowa State The Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization (AMMO), a new Iowa State student organization, will be hosting an ag outlook conference on Sat. Feb. 8th at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames. The conference will be held in 127 Curtiss Hall. Farmers, students, and the general public are welcome to attend. There is a suggested donation of $30 for attendees. Lunch will be provided. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. the day of the conference. The opening session is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Speakers featured in the confer-
ence include: Elwynn Taylor, ISU climatologist sharing his weather outlook for 2014 and beyond; and Steve Johnson, ISU extension farm manager giving tips on how to manage tighter profit margins for row crops in the coming year. The conference will end at 1:30 p.m. The Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization was founded in the spring of 2012 – making it one of the newest Iowa State University clubs. The club emerged out of an ag marketing class to provide members with take home, tangible knowledge for their own farming operations or agribusinesses.
Though it started with only 15 members, the club now has over 60 members of various majors in the College of Ag and Life Sciences. This conference will serve as a fund raiser for the club in order to send members to conferences and industry tours as well as support club activities. For more information, contact Dacia Dykstra at ddykstra@iastate. edu or Donna McCune at dlmccune@iastate.edu. Please RSVP at isuammo@gmail.com or by calling Donna McCune at (815) 303-3287 by February 1 in order to have an accurate head count for lunch.
Iowa Beef Center Heifer Series addresses challenges SUBMITTED BY DECATUR One of the biggest challenges facing cattlemen today is maintaining young cows in their herd long term. The Iowa Beef Center, in partnership with the Iowa Cattleman’s Association, is offering a program series focusing specifically on management practices to keep young cows in the herd to improve long-term profitability. The Heifer Development 2: Maintaining Your Investment series of programs is a follow-up to the 2012 series on yearling heifers, Heifer Development – Rebuilding our Future. The goal of the 2014 series is to pick up where the 2012 series left off, and looks at the nutrition, health, calving and reproductive management of bred heifers through their second breeding season. All sessions include a meal for those preregistered at least two days prior to the event. The $20 fee is payable at the door. Walk-in registrations are $25 per person and a meal is not guaranteed. Heifer Development 2: Maintaining Your Investment locations and dates
• Jan. 16, Maquoketa – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Centerstone Inn/Suites, 1910 Nairn Drive. To preregister, call 319472-4739. • Jan. 21, Nashua – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Borlaug Learning Center, ISU Research Farm, 3327 290th St. To preregister, call 641-394-2174. • Jan. 21, Postville – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Postville Vet Clinic, 110 Hyman Drive. To preregister, call 319-4724739. • Jan. 23, Anita – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Anita Community Center, 805 Main St. To preregister, call 712-769-2600. • Jan. 28, Spencer – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spencer School Administration Bldg., 23 E 7th St. To preregister, call 712-262-2264x10 or email mhorst@ iastate.edu. • Jan. 29, Holstein – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lohff-Schuman Community Center, 301 Lohff Schuman Drive. To preregister, call 712-225-6196 or email sechler@iastate.edu. • Feb. 4, Humboldt – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ox Bow Park, Izaak Walton
League, 7 Park Rd. To preregister, call 515-332-2201. • Feb. 5, Mount Pleasant – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Henry County Extension Office, 127 N. Main St. To preregister, call 319-385-8126. • Feb. 5, Albia – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monroe County Extension Office, 219 B Ave. W. To preregister, call 641932-5612. • Feb. 6, Winterset – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Madison County Fairgrounds, Jackson Bldg., W. Summit St. To preregister, call 515-462-1001. • Feb. 6, Osceola – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Clarke County Fairgrounds Event Center, Hwy 34 W. To preregister, call 641-342-331. • Feb. 19, Ames – 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Hansen Ag Student Learning Center, 2816 Mortensen Rd. To preregister, call 641-774-2016. For more information contact a beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach or the Iowa Beef Center website at: www.iowabeefcenter.org.