AG Mag Keeping it Real Southwest Iowa
Organic farmers in Southwest Iowa are taking a fresh approach
LAY OF THE LAND: Third ‘Golden Era’ for Iowa farm land values may have ended TALK IT OUT: Have a plan for avoiding an estate tax hit PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 14 CRESTON, IA 50801 P.O. Box 126 Creston, IA 50801 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
FUTURE FARMING: Robots rule at a western Iowa farm A Publication of Shaw Media
Summer 2015 AG Mag
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Index
AG Mag Southwest Iowa
Publisher Rich Paulsen Advertising Director Craig Mittag Managing Editor Kyle Wilson Magazine Editors Larry Lough, Jeff Rogers
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Page Design Jeff Rogers
COVER STORY
Reporters & Photographers Pam Eggemeier, Philip Marruffo, Amy Hansen Ost, Alex T. Paschal, Bailey Poolman, Ian Richardson, Jake Waddingham, Christi Warren, Vinde Wells, and Kyle Wilson Published by Creston News Advertiser 503 W. Adams St. Creston, IA 50801 641-782-2141 Articles and advertisements are the property of Creston News Advertiser. No portion of the Southwest Iowa Ag Mag may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Creston News Advertiser. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Creston News Advertiser cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Creston News Advertiser cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
Going green An Adair County family is at the front of a growing trend in agriculture – organic farming. Forum on flu We ask Southwest Iowa farmers about their concerns that bird flu will come back in the fall or next spring.
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AG Mag
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Index The future of farming Robots, including R2D2, play a big role on the Campbell farm near Neola, Iowa.
18 Saddling up for college
28
24
Creston High School grad Brooke Thelen is planning to turn her love of horses into a degree in animal science.
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CENTERPIECE STORY
Homemade meals in Orient
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Has a ‘golden era’ for land values ended? Last year, Iowa saw its largest decline since 1986.
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Index 33
The market report A directory of farmers markets in Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri.
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CAPITAL CONNECTION
Taxing times
Several area farmers share a concern over what the controversial federal estate tax could mean to family farms.
8 Summer 2015
A lifetime on the farm Childhood sweethearts Karen and Monty Chew live on a Murray, Iowa, farm that has been in the family for 110 years.
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AN ORGANIC REVOLUTION Raasch family in Adair County part of growing trend of farming naturally
Y
BY KYLE WILSON For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
ou’ve seen their sign in grocery stores across southwest and central Iowa. In 5 short years, Bridgewater Farms – owned by 57-year-old Dale Raasch – has branded itself a premier organic producer in the state of Iowa. Its 40-acre certified organic farm sits in southwest Adair County where nearly 40 different fresh vegetables are cultivated each year. “We wanted the peace of mind of selling products
10 Summer 2015
that were healthy and safe to eat,” Raasch said. “There is no risk and no health hazards when you bite into one of our products. That’s why we went organic.” Raasch said Bridgewater Farms has been growing organically for 5 years, but didn’t become certified organic until 2013 because the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that producers not use certain sprays on their farm for 3 consecutive years. CONTINUED ON 11
CONTINUED FROM 10
Naturally higher prices Organic growers agree to a strict outline that states irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides, and genetically modified organisms can play no part in the growing process – whether for crops or in the feed used to raise livestock. “[In 2006] corn was somewhat cheap, but organic corn was still probably close to double,” Sterling, Illinois, farmer Keith Landis said of his decision to go organic. “Milk prices – they were several dollars higher.” Today, organic corn often sells for 3 to 4 times what conventionally raised corn costs – a product of higher input costs and a significantly lower supply. But the growing – if still relatively small – demand for naturally raised products is a trend that Craig Chase, local food systems program manager at Iowa State University Extension, doesn’t see ending anytime soon. “As far as trends in organic products, [demand has] been going up pretty
much every year for the last 20 years or so,” he said. “Even through the recession in 2008 and 2009, the demand for organic products continued to rise. And, as far as predictions, it’s probably going to continue to rise. … People talk about it leveling out, but it keeps on going.”
Dale Raasch
Demand demands attention That trend has garnered the attention of even chain restaurants, including McDonald’s, one of the world’s most beloved and reviled fast-food corporations. In a March announcement, the company said it would source only chicken raised without antibiotics that were used by humans, and use only milk from cows not treated with the controversial hormone rBST, which was developed by Monsanto to increase milk production. “Our customers care more than ever about the food they eat and how it is
sourced,” McDonald’s announced. “We are taking steps to deliver on their expectations of us.” It’s a reflection of changing attitudes about the way we eat, and what it is that we do eat. Denny Wimmer A recent study by the National Institute of Health measured the levels of pesticides in urine samples from two groups of participants. The first group was placed on an all-organic diet; the second group ate conventionally farmed foods. Guess which group had lower pesticide levels in urine?
Less than 1 percent of farms More than 19,000 farms in the United States are certified organic. In Iowa, there are more than 800; in Illinois, more than 300. Those numbers continue to grow. CONTINUED ON 12
Kyle Wilson/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
A greenhouse at Bridgewater Farms has been in operation for 5 years. Owner Dale Raasch said grocers like to stock Bridgewater’s organic products because they have a longer shelf life and “they don’t have to throw our stuff out.” AG Mag
11
Bridgewater Farms produces nearly 40 different certified organic vegetables in southwest Adair County. CONTINUED FROM 11
“I think people are really interested in and concerned about their health,” ISU’s Chase said. “They’re really concerned about what they eat, but not only that – what their children eat. “Corporations like McDonald’s are going to have to go along with what [their consumers] want,” he said. “What we’re seeing from McDonald’s, and from others, is that they’re suggesting it. They would like it, but they’re not mandating it yet.
“So what consumers are going to be looking for is, Where are the mandates? Are you really going to, at some point, say my Chicken McNuggets are cagefree? … A lot of consumers are excited about it, and they’re just waiting for stuff like that to actually happen.” But that doesn’t mean it’s end times for conventional farming – not even close. Census numbers indicate that less 1 percent of farms in both Iowa and Illinois were certified organic – just 0.1 percent in Illinois and 0.3 percent in Iowa.
Tough transition to organic
In talks with conventional farmers, Landis notes, the main reservation that holds them back from going organic is a general lack of knowledge, or lack of belief, when it comes to the effects of conventionally raised produce on humans. “Some feel what they are doing is right,” he said. “I’m not necessarily going to say they’re wrong, but they do not feel what they’re doing is wrong at all, and they see there is no problem with [chemicals].
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CONTINUED FROM 12
“I know when I was looking at going organic, I called and talked to a number of other organic farmers, and the question I asked was, ‘What is the hardest part about going organic?’ And they all said it was about changing the mindset.” Marnie Record, a coordinator with the Illinois Organic Growers Association, offers a more practical reason for the reluctance of conventional farmers to switch over. “It’s a different type of farming,” she said. “They don’t want to deal with it. It’s a little bit more hands-on. It’s just a different way of doing things. Imagine having to change the entire way of doing your job. That’s hard to do for anybody. ... Also, the land has to have no chemicals put on it for 36 months, so that’s a tough time.”
‘It’s worth it’ Denny Wimmer of Arispe knows well the stipulations with becoming certified. This is his first year growing certified organic corn on his farm in southern Union County. He hopes to sell all 50 acres of his corn to Yorktown Organics near Afton. “They package the grain into feed, which is then sold to organic chicken and cattle farmers,” Wimmer said.
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Contributed photo
Bridgewater Farms became a certified organic farm in 2013. This certificate from the Department of Agriculture is from 2015.
Wimmer said becoming a certified organic corn grower will cost him about $800 this year. Meanwhile, Bridgewater Farms’ Raasch said he pays about
$2,000 a year to be certified through the USDA. “It’s worth it, though,” Raasch said. It’s worth it because the produce is now sold at Fareways in Greenfield, Winterset, Atlantic and Creston and at Hy-Vees in Winterset, Waukee and Atlantic. Bridgewater Farms also sells to Whole Foods, Gateway Market, and Campbell’s Nutrition in Des Moines. “Our products have a shelf life of 21 to 25 days,” Raasch said. “Grocery stores like that. In contrast, stuff from their warehouses can only be on the shelf 3 to 5 days because it’s being shipped much of the time from California or elsewhere. They don’t have to throw our stuff out.” Raasch said Bridgewater Farms raises 10 different types of potatoes including yukon gold, kennebec, dakota pearl, red norland, pontiac, peter wilcox, russet, beauregard (sweet), o’henry (sweet) and covington (sweet). “The sweet potatoes might be the best seller,” Raasch said. Raasch and his son Tyler also sell at farmers markets across the region. They are at Creston on Mondays, Johnston on Tuesdays, Atlantic on Thursdays, and Winterset on Saturdays. Visit their website at www.bfproduce.com. Also, visit Wimmer’s website at www. wimmerfarms.com. Reporter Christi Warren contributed to this report.
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Farmers Forum WITH KYLE WILSON/SOUTHWEST IOWA AG MAG
Bird flu infected more than 30 million birds in 18 Iowa counties this past spring. Agriculture officials hoped the outbreaks would diminish as summer warmth destroyed the virus in the environment. But, some producers are calling for a vaccine. Is a vaccine the solution? How concerned are you that the virus will come back in fall or next spring? Brett Routh, Creston
“I don’t think a vaccine is the way to go. It’s my understanding this virus is hard to pin down because it’s changing all the time. Good bio-security and a good hot summer will kill this virus. It will take care of itself.” Colton Dunphy, Creston “Yes, I’m worried it will come back in the fall. ... I’m all for a vaccine, but to my knowledge there is nothing available on the market and there are no positive discussions on one becoming available in the future. I don’t see the downfall in having a product that saves millions of birds. When will one be available?” Kevin Buchanan, Clearfield “There is no vaccine for this strain right now. And even if there was, there are concerns that other countries would stop taking our birds if we vaccinate. I am very
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concerned about the virus coming back in the fall. This is a nightmare for every producer. We have ramped up bio-security, which is time consuming. But, we can’t take any chances.” Steve Jennett, Blockton “I was pretty concerned about the bird flu. That was until I spoke to a veterinarian from Jewell, Iowa. Other states like Pennsylvania have seen avian influenza, and it didn’t come back. I think education is half
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Poultry clipped from local, state fairs
Iowa fifth state to cancel shows to help contain the spread of avian influenza
T
BY JAKE WADDINGHAM For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
he cancellation of all state and county level poultry shows in May left local exhibitors disappointed, but appreciative their backyard flocks would be less likely to be exposed to the bird flu. More than 30 million birds have been destroyed in an effort to prevent the spread of the H5N2 bird flu virus. The total number of confirmed cases in Iowa outbreaks was more than 65. “This issue is overwhelming in many respects, so we are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of our state and federal officials,” Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Poultry Association, said in a news release. “We conveyed our need for adequate on-the-ground support and financial aid to manage and overcome this. We need them to find the source of this virus that has spread despite strict and heightened bio-security measures. We need collaboration to
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sanitize infected farms, stop [avian influenza] spread and help these farmers recover.” Iowa is the leading egg producer in the U.S., contributing about one in every five eggs sold nationwide. Iowa’s turkey industry ranks ninth in the nation, with 130 turkey farmers raising 11 million turkeys each year. “The scale of this outbreak has been unprecedented, so we think it is important we take every possible step to limit the chance that this disease will spread any further,” Northey said in a news release.
No shows The announcement for no poultry shows at the county or state level puts into action bio-safety practices that State Fair 4-H Livestock Superintendent Mike Anderson hoped he would never have to enforce. “I was at the extension office when they got the call about no shows,” said
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Tyler Waddingham, who has shown poultry at the Union County Fair for 5 years. “I was a little heartbroken and slightly excited at the same time. I had plans of showing at the fair, but with the disease spreading, I was waiting to purchase my birds.” Waddingham has shown market and breeding poultry at the county fair. He also shows rabbits, sheep and cattle at the local and state level. “The decision is meant to protect everybody,” Northey said. “We know this can show up in backyard flocks, and we want to protect them. But it also protects the industry. We don’t want to start moving the disease around to other sites. It’s important for both reasons.” The call to cancel poultry shows at Iowa’s state and county fairs prevents more than 3,455 poultry projects from being exhibited. Other states that recently took similar steps in banning poultry shows include Minnesota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
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A robot nicknamed R2-D2 sweeps feed closer to a line of dairy cows waiting to eat on the Campbell farm southwest of Neola, Iowa. The robot helps to keep the cows fed around the clock so they can continue to produce milk. Each cow milks an average of three times each day. (Photos by Jake Waddingham/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag)
A (ROBOTIC) HELPING HAND Western Iowa family upgrades dairy farm with robots
T
BY JAKE WADDINGHAM For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
he Campbell family has four generations of milking experience, but after installing a robotic milking system, they had to learn a completely new way to operate their dairy farm. “We tried working the cows every day, but we kept crashing the system,” said Seth Campbell, who operates the robotic milking system for the family. “The moment we walked out, the cows started doing their own thing and we did a lot better. If you keep pushing them, they get into that routine. They won’t come up to milk until you come push them.”
A robot targets a cow’s udder as it prepares to start the milking process. It takes less than 7 minutes to fully milk a dairy cow on the Campbell farm. 18 Summer 2015
Marlowe Campbell started milking in 1943 on his farm near Neola, Iowa, and his son Robert bought the farm from him in 1970. He added a milking parlor in 1976 that could accommodate milking eight cows at one time. Bruce Campbell, 49, took over operating the farm in 1999. CONTINUED ON 19
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Jake Waddingham/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Campbell family members work together to operate their dairy facility and farm near Neola, Iowa. Pictured (from left) are Seth Campbell, Bruce Campbell, Kyle Campbell and Ronald Campbell. They have been using robots to increase their production capacity since 2013. CONTINUED FROM 18
“When my boys [Seth and Kyle] came home, we were trying to milk more, but our facilities were made for 50 cows, so it didn’t work,” Bruce said. “We wanted to expand, but we didn’t want to milk cows by hand for 10 hours each day.” In 2013, the Campbells built a DeLaval VMS barn. Two robotic arms are capable of milking about 60 cows each day. The robots are available to milk 24 hours a day with the exception of two 20-minute wash sessions. The cows are trained to freely visit the robots to be milked. Currently, the Campbells are producing an average of 70 pounds of milk each day. The robot needs about 7 minutes to sanitize and milk each cow. It is the only robotic dairy operation in western Iowa. By law, the milk is shipped out by truck every other day to Dairy Farmers of America. “Not only did we have to relearn how to operate, but our truck drivers had to learn we were ready to ship whenever they got here,” Bruce said. “We still have people ask when the best time to come see the machine milking. It is hard to grasp we milk 24 hours a day, until they see the system at work.” If the robots have a problem, the operating system contacts Seth, 25, via text
message and phone call. Kyle, 23, and Robert, 18, care for the new calves, bottle feeding them twice a day. A dairy operation calves year round, and the Campbells schedule about 10 to 12 calves each month. “A perfect cow will milk 305 days each year and have a dry period for 60 days,” Seth said. “You start to dry them at 7 months, because at 9 months, they have their calf. The moment they have the calf, they get put back in the barn to start milking again.” The free-stall barn uses smart gates and an RF identification sensor in the cow’s ear to direct the cattle to milk, eat, drink and rest without human interaction. Each cow wears a blue collar to track activity throughout the day. “By monitoring their activity, we can tell if a cow has a slow day and tell the computer to sort her off for us or the vet to check without pushing her or getting the rest of the herd upset,” Bruce said. “Animal health has gone way up.” A Lely Juno robot – nicknamed R2-D2 – runs the length of the barn 17 times each day, sweeping feed closer to the cattle stalls so cows can easily reach the fuel needed to produce milk. “We are still learning new things, learning almost every day,” Bruce said, “but I think we are in a good place with it.”
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AG Mag
19
P
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Union County now has Youth Beef Team By Southwest Iowa Ag Mag staff
Earlier this year, a new youth group began with the purpose of beef promotion. That group – the Union County Youth Beef Team – is affiliated with the Union County Cattlemen’s and Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. The Youth Beef Team is open to all youth ages 12 to 18 who are interested in promoting the beef industry. It consists of young beef producers from around the county. The members include Cole Smith (Creston), Conner Mitchell (Afton), Reilly Martinez (Afton), Brianna Hagen (Afton), Gavin Kline (Afton), Lauren Mitchell (Lorimor), Mara Weis (Afton), Tyson Tucker (Creston), Darin Hatfield (Creston), Kaden Wilson (Creston), Dillon Bailey (Creston), Tyler Waddingham (Creston), Gracie
LENOX, IA
Russell (Creston) and Macy Evans (Creston). Scott and Kelly Schultz and Karen Loudon are the team’s advisers. Vital issues face the beef industry today. Every student encounters information in school and from the media on food safety, animal rights, the environment and nutrition. The goal of this group is to equip young cattlemen and women with information they need to speak out positively for the beef industry, pointing out the advantages beef offers to our health our environment and our economy. After attending the training session that was done in March, Youth Beef Team members are equipped to conduct beef promotional activities in their own and surrounding communities. Activities can be done on an individual or group basis.
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WHAT GOES MUST
Iowa land values experience largest decrease since 1986 BY JAKE WADDINGHAM
T
For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
he third “golden era” for Iowa land values over the past 100 years is coming to an orderly end as surveys indicate a decrease in farmland values across most of the state. An estimated 8.9 percent decrease in farmland values is the largest percentage decrease in Iowa since 1986. In spite of the decrease, land values are more than double what they were 10 years ago, and 81 percent higher than 2009 values. According to the 2014 Iowa State University Farmland Value Survey, the decline does not come as a surprise. As corn and soybean prices started to fall in 2013, farm income began to drop. The Federal Reserve Board indicates that interest rates are expected to slowly rise in 2015. “This is not an alarmist type of situation,” said Tim Eggers, field agricultural economist at Iowa State University. “It is merely a recognition of
22 Summer 2015
lower profitability and the fact that producers have been in the primary land purchasers.” Lower commodity prices was the top negative factor affecting land values, mentioned by 94 percent of respondents in ISU’s survey. High input costs and an uncertain agriculture future were also mentioned. According to the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, estimates of the average dollar value per acre for high-, medium- and low-grade farmland in southwest Iowa was down 13.5 percent to $6,513; southcentral Iowa averaged $4,475 an acre, down 6.6 percent. “We have had several land auctions this spring, and they have held their values well, which has been a bit of a surprise,” said Steve Crittenden, senior loan officer at First National Bank in Creston. “We haven’t seen the decline in land values like other areas of the state, but it is probably coming with commodity prices being lower.”
UP COME DOWN Commodity prices could plateau somewhere in the mid to upper $3-a-bushel range for corn and $10 for soybeans. ISU’s survey reported the market has been influenced by the demand shift to use agricultural commodities for energy and increased demand for feed grains worldwide.
Not a ‘bubble bursting’ The land price correction is taking place on a national scale, said Ryan Drollette, a farm management educator with the Iowa State Extension office in Iowa City. However, it’s hitting various pockets at a different rate. In Iowa, he said, the correction hasn’t been so swift. In states like Illinois and Indiana, it took hold sooner. Experts don’t really know what’s in store for land and commodity prices, Drollette said. “There’s some sentiment that we’re going to
continue to see it correct downward,” Drollette said. “It’s just a matter of how far we see it correct downward.” His role in the state is to educate, but farmers are constantly asking him the same questions: Should they sell now, what is their land worth, and how far down will the correction spiral? Drollette doesn’t have the answers, but he recommends landowners get their land professionally appraised if they’re looking for solutions. “I can’t tell people if they should sell now,” Drollette said. “I can give them a general ballpark figure. I always tell individuals if you want an actual value ... call up a land appraiser.” But local and statewide land appraisers seem to agree with Iowa State’s Eggers: this market shift is a correction, not a bubble that’s bursting. CONTINUED ON 24
AG Mag
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2014 Land Values by Crop Reporting District
CONTINUED FROM 23
Correction relatively mild
TOP ROW: Estimates of average dollar value per acre for high, medium-, and low-grade farmland on Nov. 1, 2014, by Iowa Crop Reporting District MIDDLE ROW: The Crop Reporting District average BOTTOM ROW: The average percentage change from Nov. 1, 2013. The estimates are based on a survey conducted by Iowa State University, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.
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Keith Zoeller is a Sterling, Illinois-based accredited farm manager and a long-standing member of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. His experience spans 33 years, and he says he’s “seen it all.” The market drop, naturally, might concern some landowners, Zoeller said. But it’s nothing close to what happened to the market when he started in the 1980s – a period in which Zoeller observed a 25-percent national drop-off in farm values. “I’ve seen the bottom; I’ve seen the top,” Zoeller said. “I don’t think we’ll see what we saw in the 1980s. I think our prices should level out a little more.” When grain prices were high, Zoeller said, investors were buying land left and right. Now that prices have leveled off, the net income for land and its yield is lower, making those investors less apt to buy. “Our land values had drastically increased over the last 4 to 5 years. A lot of it had to do with corn and soy prices going sky high,” Zoeller said. CONTINUED ON 26
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“The farmers were making lots of money. They decided that it’s time to start buying land. ... “I think a lot of your land investors that were in the market before are just sitting back now and waiting to see where the good prices are going to,” he added. “When you can’t get a return on the property, investors aren’t going to buy it.” Zoeller estimated that during the upswing, 70 percent of land purchases were being made by land investors. Most of the purchases now are being made by individual producers because “they have other ways to make it pay.” “If they can get a return, they’ll buy the ground,” Zoeller said.
Watch interest rates But commodity prices aren’t the only indicators to watch.
Average value per acre of Iowa farmland
Dave Aberle is vice president of 1st Farm Credit Services in Rock Falls, Illinois, a branch of the largest ag lender in the state. He pays mind to the interest rates, which have been low for several years. All the while, ag land borrowing ticked up during
the fall 2014, according to the Kansas City Federal Reserve. Experts expect interest rates will eventually go up, again affecting land values. “The big factor that influences land values is commodity prices and what interest rates are doing,”
Aberle said. “Commodity prices were high and interest rates were low, so that’s what got the land prices to go up so high.” He said his recent clientele is almost exclusively individual farmers. “At one time, there might have been 20 percent [investors seeking loans],” Aberle said. “Now it’s virtually zero – less than 5 percent. Investors haven’t been too interested since [land values] jumped up the last 3 years.” He recommends land buyers keep in mind what they’re able to afford. It’s a personal decision. “Make sure you’re looking at your cash flows, and make sure you can handle a drop in commodity prices,” Aberle said. “You’re going to have to subsidize your purchases with today’s prices. If that farm isn’t going to pay for itself, you’re going to have to generate income to pay for that farm.” Reporter Brenden West contributed to this report.
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Creston senior commits education, career to beef industry BY JAKE WADDINGHAM For the Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
May is recognized as National Beef Month for its role as one of the strongest agricultural industries within the United States and throughout the world. According to the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the U.S. has more than a billion beef producers, and 97 percent of the operations are family owned. It’s also Creston High School senior Dillon Bailey’s favorite time of year on his family farm west of Creston. “You get to see all the little calves playing around,” Bailey said. “We just turned pairs out to pasture this past week.” Bailey farms with his family in Union and Adams counties. Their herd consists of about 50 cows and 10 retention heifers. “Beef is going to be a big portion in my life through my old age,” Bailey said. “If my dad hands it [the farm] down to me, I would like to keep our herd going for the next generation.”
Bailey and his father, Greg, have worked a retention program into their beef operation to help build their herd. Each year, they work together to decide how many heifers to hold back from the sale barn. Dillon “We keep about 10 to Bailey 15 [heifers] each year for about the past 5 years,” Bailey said. “Then we either sell the others as bred heifers or as pairs here at the Creston Livestock Auction, or keep them here.” As Bailey has learned more about the beef industry from his family, his responsibilities on the farm have grown. His mother, Mindy, and two younger sisters, Marcey and Cooper, share daily duties. “Ever since I could walk, I’ve been around cattle,” Bailey said. “Within the past 5 years during the calving season [March and April], I will be here late
at night staying up checking heifers at midnight and 2 to 3 a.m.” During the summer, he checks on the cows and repairs damaged fence. Bailey, who is 18, is an active member of the Douglas Booster 4-H Club and the Creston FFA Chapter. He has shown cattle for both programs at the county fair and state level. His family has shown at the national level at the National Western Stock Show. “It is a family ordeal when we go to a calf show,” Bailey said. “We all go to support each other.” Most of Bailey’s show steers and heifers are home-raised. He said the heifers typically stay home after county fair to get ready for the calving season, but they have shown good steers throughout the year at a variety of shows. Bailey has started automotive classes at Southwestern Community College. When his core courses resume in the fall, he plans to focus his studies on ag business and beef management.
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She’s not just horsing around Creston grad Brooke Thelen’s love for horses, agriculture spurs degree in animal science BY IAN RICHARDSON For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Ian Richardson/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Creston High School graduate Brooke Thelen sits on her horse, Loretta, in the cow pasture at her house. Thelen has been riding horses since she was 5 years old.
If you want to see Brooke Thelen’s face light up, mention summer rodeo season. It’s a time when she and her horses run barrel races at up to four shows a week. “That’s the best time of year,” she said, grinning. “I love it.” Thelen, a 2015 graduate of Creston High School, received her first horse at 4 years old and was riding by age 5. In the years since, she’s become an avid racer, rodeo queen, horse riding instructor, and Iowa FFA award winner. This fall, Thelen will attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Oklahoma, to study animal science with a focus on equine. It’s a continuation of a love for animals that began with that first horse and has grown ever since. Growing up as the youngest of three farm kids, Brooke said she was expected to join 4-H and, when she entered high school, FFA. CONTINUED ON 29
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Brooke Thelen Age: 18 Parents: Randy and Sarah Thelen Siblings: Kyle and Maggie High school: Creston, class of 2015 College: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Oklahoma) Major: Animal science Hobbies: Barrel racing, teaching horse lessons, showing cattle, rodeo queen competitions Awards: Held the positions of Creston FFA assistant officer, sentinel and vice president; fourth place in the state of Iowa FFA for public speaking as a sophomore; 2014 FFA Star Over Iowa in agribusiness candidate; 2015 Iowa FFA winner, proficiency in equine science entrepreneurship; 2015 qualifier for National High School Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, for barrel racing.
Contributed photo
Brooke Thelen rides Loretta in a barrel race at a 2013 event in Waterloo, Iowa. Thelen has participated in rodeos since her sophomore year of high school. CONTINUED FROM 28
“My brother and sister were in it,” she said, “so it was one of those things, ‘OK, they were in it; now it’s time for you to be in it.’” Thelen involved herself quickly, entering competitions every year and serving as a local FFA officer for 3 years. In 2014, she was one of six finalists for the Star over Iowa in Agribusiness award. This year, she was the 2015 Iowa state FFA winner for equine entrepreneurship proficiency. Both awards were based on her log of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). One of those experiences was the riding lessons business she started her sophomore year. Creston FFA adviser Kelsey Bailey said that helped Thelen’s SAE stand out. “Most kids who do SAEs through FFA, they tend to just do riding, or they do
dent, helped prepare Thelen for the Lenox Rodeo Queen competition, as well as the following Iowa High School Jen Rodeo Queen Stephens competition. Stephens said a specific quality that makes Thelen successful in her events is the attention she gives her animals. “She always follows the
same routine,” Stevens said. “She really cares about her horses and really notices the details.” These rodeos have also paid off in scholarships. Thelen said her combined rodeo scholarships are greater than any other awards she has received. As Thelen looks to the future, she isn’t sure what she wants to go into specifically. However, she and her mentors agree that she’s following her talents in the right direction.
barrel racing, rodeo, showing,” Bailey said. “Brooke’s gone a different direction, and she’s made a Kelsey business out of Bailey her project.” Among Thelen’s students are Bailey’s three children. Bailey said Thelen’s patience makes her a good teacher. Also during her sophomore year, Thelen began participating in Iowa High School Rodeo Association events. Thelen finished third in the IHSRA Queen competitions in 2013 and 2014, and in 2013, she won Lenox Rodeo Queen. As is Lenox rodeo tradition, Thelen rode a steer on opening night. She stayed on for 3.5 seconds. “It was not like riding a horse,” she said. Jen Stephens, Marion County horse superintenAG Mag
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LET US GATHER
Orient restaurant deals out meals grown on the property BY BAILEY POOLMAN For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Photos by Bailey Poolman/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Katie Porter, chef at The Gathering Table in Orient, spoons beef and vegetable curry onto beds of quinoa during a lunch hour in mid-June.
Spices waft through the air while Katie Porter, chef at The Gathering Table, sears hunks of beef and leafy greens in a curry sauce for lunch. Porter has been the chef and food programs manager at the Orient location for The Wallace Centers of Iowa since 2012. Based on what is growing on the center’s farm 20 yards away, she prepares meals for lunch and dinner at the center’s restaurant. “The Gathering Table restaurant is a restaurant that is open on Fridays for lunch and dinner,” Porter said. “Our menus are focused on what vegetables are grown on the farm, so it changes each week, depending
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In the photo above Porter pulls a flaky slice of vegetable quiche, packed with leafy greens and asparagus, during the lunch hour. on what vegetables we have.” All produce is grown in the farm’s soil before being picked, cleaned and prepared for the Friday meals. Such produce includes strawberries, asparagus, kale, chives and onions. “It’s primarily what vegetables we have on the farm, but it’s also local meats, so it’s not a vegetarian restaurant,” Porter said. CONTINUED ON 31
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“We use cheeses, flour, honey, eggs, all from local purveyors.” Meats and other ingredients in Porter’s meals can be found within 50 miles of Orient, such as Bridgewater, Elkhart, Clearfield and Osceola. Each menu offers appetizer, entrée and dessert options, which can change weekly depending on which vegetables are available. Each entrée comes with an appetizer, and can vary from vegetable quiche to braised pork shoulder. The restaurant plans to offer country favorites like meatloaf and fried chicken in the future. “We did country favorites this year, just a special offered weekly,” Porter said. “But, we’re going to do more country favorites on our dinner menu, and have more fried chicken and meatloaf, pork chops. Really, we want to showcase what Iowa can produce.” When the restaurant opens in March for the growing
season, patrons slowly trickle in because of the weather. But by the time summer rolls around, Porter and her co-workers are kept busy until closing in December. “We like to use all the vegetables on the farm, so you will come across vegetables that you may not be familiar with,” Porter said. “We do present them in a way that is familiar to people.” Porter said the center is making connections with local farmers by purchasing their products to use, which is one thing that makes eating at the Wallace Center a unique dining experience. “I just think it’s really great that we can walk out and see the vegetables that we’re serving on the menu. If you run out of tomatoes, you can run out and get a tomato,” Porter said. “I think it’s the most peaceful and beautiful place in southwest Iowa, and so when we have our dinners, people sit out on the deck ... and just have a smile on their face.”
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Photos by Bailey Poolman/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
LEFT: Beef and vegetable slathered in curry sauce atop a bed of quinoa, and a spring greens salad packed with radish slices and curried almonds, wait to be taken to a patron at The Gathering Table. RIGHT: A spring greens salad tossed in a ginger vinaigrette is paired with a vegetable quiche for a lunch option. CONTINUED FROM 31
Other programs and events are available at the Wallace Center, such as farm tours and dinners, and culinary classes. For more information, contact The Wallace Centers at the Orient location at 641-337-5019, or visit the website at www.wallace.org.
SAUTÉED ZUCCHINI WITH MINT, BASIL AND PINE NUTS 1 pound zucchini or summer squash 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 small cloves garlic
10 mint leaves 5 basil leaves 1 heaping tablespoon capers, rinsed 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts, lightly toasted 1 or 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar Sea salt and freshly ground pepper Additional mint and basil leaves, slivered or torn to finish Slice the zucchini into rounds a scant one-half inch thick. In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the zucchini and sautée, flipping and turning every few minutes until golden brown, about
15 minutes. They won’t necessarily cook evenly. Meanwhile, chop together garlic, mint, basil and capers and toast the pine nuts. When the zucchini is golden, add the herb-garlic mixture and the vinegar to taste, and toss well. Taste for salt, and season with pepper. Turn onto a plate. If you aren’t going to eat zucchini right away, cover and let stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Finish with pine nuts, basil and mint just before serving. CONTINUED ON 34
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Farmers market directory Bethany: 7:30 a.m. till sellout Saturday, 4:30 p.m. till sellout Wednesday, May-October, 3606 Miller St., Bethany, Missouri; Heather Benedict, 660-425-6434 Carlisle: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, June-October, 95 Iowa 5, Carlisle, Iowa; Mark and Marilyn Goodhue, 515-989-3140. Chariton: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May-October, east side of square on Grand Avenue, Chariton, Iowa; Sonya Gwinn, 641-2032431. Corning: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May-September, pavilion in Central Park, Corning, Iowa; 641-322-3184 Creston: 4-6:30 p.m. Monday, June-September, McKinley Park, Creston, Iowa; Brian Zachary, 641-247-1663 Lamoni: 8:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, May-September, Main and Linden streets, Lamoni, Iowa; Sophie Ryan, 641-203-2990 Leon: 3-5:30 p.m. Thursday, June-October, north side of square near courthouse, Leon, Iowa; Darlene Richardson, 641-4425417 Norwalk: 4-7 p.m., Friday, June-September, 1120 Sunset Drive, Norwalk, Iowa; Jim Dixon, 515-975-4348 Osceola: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, June-October, southeast corner of square near courthouse, Osceola, Iowa; Anna May Wilson, 641-342-3933
Tips for selling goods at a farmers market BY VINDE WELLS For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
What should vendors know to make the most out of their time spent at farmers markets? Andrew Larson, a University of Illinois Extension eductor for Local Food Systems and Small Farms, led a session in mid-April in Oregon, Illinois, on marketing and merchandising for farmers market vendors. Topics ranged from how to set up a booth and what color tent is best to pricing products and how to deal with challenging customers. On the last subject, experienced vendor Steve Hammer, Oregon, offered a simple solution. “Keep smiling,” he said with a grin. Larson said farmers markets are a fast-growing business, although not usually a main income source. “Farmers markets are growing in the Midwest, and it’s generally a side gig,” he said. “The majority of vendors make less than $5,000 per year.” Although fresh vegetables and homegrown produce is the thing farmers
markets are known for, Larson pointed out that many other home-grown and homemade products are offered. Fresh eggs, maple syrup, baked goods, and craft items are also routinely part of the fare. Larson, himself a farmers market vendor, offered tips and tricks of the trade. Customer service should be the main priority, he said. Booths should be set up for customer convenience and good traffic flow. He advised vendors to have a name for their business and display on an eye-catching sign so customers will remember them. He stressed the importance of displaying products in an eye-catching way, using contrasting colors to make items “pop.” Products should be positioned in the sell zone “from eyeball to elbow,” he said, to be noticed and for customers’ convenience. Teamwork between vendors is important to the success of the farmers market, Larson said, urging his listeners to consider other vendors as co-workers rather than competition.
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POTATO BEET SQUASH PANCAKE Makes from seven to nine cakes 2 eggs 1/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 1/2 cups potato, thinly julienned 1 cup summer squash, thinly julienned 1 cup beets, yellow or red, thinly julienned 1/4 cup beet greens, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 2 tablespoons basil or parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon vegetable oil In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs, flour, salt and pepper. In a medium mixing bowl, place potato, zucchini, beets, beet greens, garlic and basil, pour egg mixture over vegetables and mix lightly. In a medium sautée pan, heat oil. For each cake, scoop 1/3 cup of the vegetable mixture and place into the pan. Repeat until all of the vegetable mixture is used. As you get down to the last few cakes, drain slightly if there is excess liquid. Sear cakes for about three minutes on each side, until golden brown. Cakes can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven. Potato cakes are great by themselves or as a side dish. Try them with smoked trout, sautéed vegetables and a yogurt dill basil sauce. Any vegeta-
A lone order is clothespinned along a cable in the order window at The Gathering Table during the lunch hour. ble would be a great addition to the pancakes. Have some fun and play around.
FRUITY PICO-GUAC Makes about two cups. 2 avocados, ripe but firm 3/4 cup grapes, cut in half 1/2 lime 1 medium tomato, diced 2 tablespoons onion, minced 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons cilantro 1 teaspoon cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Bailey Poolman/Southwest Iowa AgMag
Try a dish of olive oil cake, ripe strawberries and creamy whipped topping.
Halve the avocados and remove the seed. Use a sharp knife and carefully score the avocado flesh to make small cubes while still in the skin. With a spoon, scoop the avocado out of the skin. Lightly stir all the other ingredients together and add avocado last. Avocado
should stay somewhat chunky. Serve and enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips, in burritos or tacos, or to accompany grilled fish, chicken or pork. Use the avocado seed to help preserve guacamole by placing it into the mixture before storing. This will help the guacamole stay fresh longer.
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Life, death and ESTATE TAXES Does the estate tax hurt family farms? Not as many as you might think. BY IAN RICHARDSON For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
Randy Buxton has been planning the eventual succession of his farm southwest of Creston. Portions of the farm have been in the family for five generations. Buxton said he recommends working toward a succession plan with family and tax professionals. “Be open and honest on how you want it done,” he said. (Ian Richardson/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag)
Portions of Randy Buxton’s farm southwest of Creston have been in his family for five generations. Recently, Buxton has been working through the succession of his father’s estate, as well as planning the eventual succession of his own estate. In southern Iowa and northern Missouri, farming families like Buxton’s often span generations. Several area farmers also share a concern over what the controversial federal estate tax could mean to family farms. However, many of those who work in the real estate and tax business – some of them family farmers themselves – say when the proper precautions are taken, not many area farmers are actually affected. CONTINUED ON 36
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Buxton said he recommends sitting down with family and working toward a succession plan while there is plenty of time left, as well as looking to tax professionals for guidance. “Be open and honest on how you want it done,” he said. “Have someone who’s in the know put out scenarios.” Lenox farmer Paul Maynes, who owns Maynes Realty in Lenox, agreed that working with a tax professional is the best Paul Maynes option. He said that even though land prices have increased in recent years, few farmers actually have to worry about being over the $5.43 million exemption, which can be doubled if they have a spouse. “We are constantly referring people to go see their tax accountant,” he said. “It’s not as big of an issue once they find out what the facts are.” Maynes said while some may differ from his opinion on the issue, he supports the estate tax as it stands. “A lot of the people that that catches are people that have deferred the tax,” he said. “A lot of people will buy stocks and bonds, and they’ll hold them their entire life, and the gain on those goes inside the estate. If you don’t have the
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I can think of several farmers we do business with who want it to go away. They’ve worked hard to build this estate, and they don’t want to give 40 percent to the government. Jamie Travis, Creston area farmer and owner of Hometown Insurance Inc. in Creston
estate tax, that money can pass to the next generation without ever being taxed.” Marion James, an attorney from Creston who has been doing taxes for more than 40 years, said that since the tax affects only Marion James those who inherit an estate valued at more than 2015’s $5.43 million filing threshold – double that if a spouse is involved – it’s by no means killing family farms. “It’s a misconception,” James said. “Not too many people have the $10 million tied up in land, and if you do there are ways that you can plan around that.” Jamie Travis, who lives on a farm northeast of Creston and owns Hometown Insurance Inc. in Creston, agrees the tax doesn’t affect most local farmers, citing an article by Iowa State University Extension that estimated 1 in 800 estates would be taxable in 2011.
’’
Those who aren’t exempt, Travis said, can use strategies like forming a limited liability company and then including their children as partners. Even though the estate tax doesn’t affect many area farmers, Travis said he does work with some local farmers for whom it is an issue. “I can think of several farmers we do business with who want it to go away,” he said. “They’ve worked hard to build this estate, and they don’t want to give 40 percent to the government.” And, in his opinion, it’s an unnecessary tax. “I don’t like the law,” Travis said. “I think it needs to go away completely, but fortunately, right now it’s not affecting most farmers.” The U.S. House agrees that the tax is unnecessary. This past spring, the Republican-controlled House voted to repeal the so-called “death tax.” CONTINUED ON 37
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enough votes to proceed, the chances of the tax being taken off the books anytime soon are slim. If the bill makes its way through the Senate, Republicans don’t expect President Obama to sign it. A presidential election looms next year, and it could be an issue that neither party wants to be associated with until the next president is chosen. The bill went through the House as a separate item, but in the Senate it will be part of a much larger tax reform plan – one that isn’t likely to develop quickly. “The Senate Finance Committee is looking at tax reform issues, as are several study groups,” said Adam Nielsen, director of national legislation and policy development for Illinois Farm Bureau. “The estate tax has kind of dropped off the radar screen for now.” Tax issues were at the heart of the fiscal cliff situation when a budget stalemate threatened to trigger a combination of expiring tax cuts and reductions in spending at the end of 2012. At that time, agriculture lobbyists were working to fend off a threatened reduction in the estate tax exemption to $3.5 million. It was left at $5 million, and now after regular adjustments for inflation, the first $5.43 million of any estate is exempt from taxes. Farm Bureau is still working to have the estate tax repealed, but another tax
CONTINUED FROM 36
The Death Tax Repeal Act went to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. The bill is one that solidly divides lawmakers along party lines – it is being pushed by Republicans, and met with resistance by Democrats. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., has walked the party line on the estate tax, in April voting against the bill to repeal it. She said her vote was more about fiscal responsibility than tax reform, because she feared it could increase the budget deficit. “I have long supported bipartisan, comprehensive reform of our tax code that closes unfair loopholes and lowers rates,” said Bustos, whose 17th District is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River. Bustos, who sits on two agricultural subcommittees, said she couldn’t predict whether the estate tax would even make it to the Senate floor, but she hopes the parties come together on a comprehensive tax reform package. “I am encouraged that leaders from both parties, in the House and Senate, have expressed a desire to achieve this goal, and I stand ready to work with them in this effort,” Bustos said. The bill needs at least 60 votes in the Senate to pass, so Republicans cannot do it without Democratic support. However, even if the GOP can muster
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is considered more important this year. “Tax issues are still a high priority for Farm Bureau,” Nielsen said, “and the estate tax is an enormous part of that, but more emphasis is being put on the small business expensing option.” Commonly known by its tax classification, the Section 179 option allows small businesses and farmers to deduct up to $500,000 a year on capital purchases. “Section 179 expires every year, and every year farmers converge on Washington to lobby for it not to be cut,” Nielsen said. In addition to producers, farm equipment dealerships have a vested interest in the tax write-off. Any expensing cuts would defer the purchase of big-ticket items until the tax climate became more favorable. “Section 179 already expired, and it was extended for a year,” Nielsen said. “The closer we get to the 2016 election, the more likely these issues are to be politicized.” Farm Bureau hasn’t lost all hope that the “death tax” could die before the election. “There is still potential for the tax to be repealed in the Senate,” Nielsen said, “but within the context of broader tax reform, if it doesn’t catch momentum, it could take a while.” Pam Eggemeier contributed to this report.
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A fond fairwell for Sundquist Retiring after 45 years of cattle judging BY IAN RICHARDSON For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
If you ask 70-year-old Bob Sunquist what cattle judging is all about, he’ll tell you without hesitation, It’s the kids. In his 45 years of officiating beef shows at the county, state and multistate level, that one thing has never changed. “I’ve had a lot of good times with kids,” he said. “It’s about the youth and trying to teach them the right way and have sportsmanship and manners and respect.” Sunquist retired from judging in September. Before then, he was judging an average of 18 to 25 shows a year. Sunquist has judged at fairs in 96 of Iowa’s 99 counties, including more than 15 times at the Adams County Fair. He’s also judged at multiple Iowa State Fairs and at large events in several states, including the Ak-Sar-Ben stock show in Nebraska, the largest 4-H stock show in the U.S. Sunquist’s interest in judging started as a young 4-H’er, when his group
would do judging exercises in which the kids would travel to local farms and evaluate animals for practice. But unlike many judges today, Sunquist never went to college. He was drafted into Bob Sundquist the armed forces, where he served for 6 years. He then came back home to the family farm, which is when he began judging, learning more about the craft as he went along. Chris Nelson, Adams County Extension youth and agriculture program coordinator, has known Sunquist since their 4-H days together. Nelson said what has always made Sunquist a good judge is his heart for the children who are showing. “He’s got a really good eye for cattle, but he also just has a way with encouraging every kid,” Nelson said. “Whether they’re the one that has the champion animal, or whether they’re at the bottom of the class, I think they go out of the show ring thinking they have accomplished something.”
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He’s got a really good eye for cattle, but he also just has a way with encouraging every kid. Chris Nelson
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An example of this came years ago when a 12-year-old girl was showing a calf that was not champion quality, but Sunquist was struck by her love for her animal. “I told her, ‘Well, if I was going to give your calf a ribbon, I would have to give it a red. But if I was going to give you a ribbon, I’d give you a purple,’” he said. After everyone else had left the ring, Sunquist gave her a purple ribbon, just like the champion had received. He said it was the first time he’d ever cried in the ring. The story made it into Iowa Farmer Today. Sunquist’s final judging show was at Ak-Sar-Ben, which was fitting, he said, because he used to show there as a boy. Now a “semi-retired” farmer, Sunquist lives in Stanton, Iowa, with his wife, Sonia. They have been married nearly 52 years.
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Karen and Monty Chew were childhood sweethearts, and now they live on a farm in Murray, Iowa, that has been in the family for 110 years.
Side by side Family-centric farm life is key to success for Chews BY AMY HANSEN OST For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
A productive life on the farm was the destiny of Karen and Monty Chew. The two were childhood sweethearts who graduated from the same class at Murray High School. When Karen and Monty got married, they already had 26 head of cows. “We didn’t want to give them up,� Monty said. “We
were both working off the farm and trying to take care of the stock when we got home. We were working in Des Moines.� Eventually, the couple bought the family farm from Karen’s parents. “It looked like in the ’70s it might have been a mistake, but we got through it somehow,� Monty said. CONTINUED ON 40
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ferent ways around the family farm. Asked whether he expects his grandchildren to enter the farm industry, Monty said: “I hope somebody likes to someday. When we can’t, I hope somebody does.”
CONTINUED FROM 39
He was referencing the economic and agricultural farm crisis of the 1980s. Karen decided to become more of a farm wife when her children were young and be more local. She gave up her job at Meredith Corp. and took on a position as the superintendent’s secretary at Murray School District for 22 years. She retired a few years early so she could spend more time with her children and grandchildren.
Working together As for Monty and the family, they primarily work with their cow-calf herd. They farm with their two sons. “It’s whoever’s here works, and try to catch up, and we’re never caught up,” he said. “We keep between 275 and 300 cows. So, it keeps us busy.” The Chews own some of the farmland themselves, and some they rent for pasture. Karen said they raise their own garden produce to can and freeze. “I don’t know what the outlook for farming is going to be in the next few years with the low grain prices and not a very good planting season for southern Iowa,” Monty said. “I don’t know. It’s kind of scary. It brings back memories of the late ’70s and early ’80s, but I hope it doesn’t do that.”
Century farms
Amy Hansen Ost/Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
The farmhouse on the Chews’ family farm in Murray, Iowa.
Spanning generations Monty says he enjoys working with his sons on the farm most of the day, unless they get into a squabble about how something should be done. Then Monty started laughing. “I think any farm family can tell you stories,” Karen said. “… He has an older thought. You know, sometimes older things, and the boys want to try new things and jump out there.” “Our youngest son is left-handed,” Monty added, “so sometimes, when he comes up with something different, we say, well, that’s the left hand talking.” It means a lot to Karen and Monty to have their children and grandchildren close. While many of the grandchildren are still little, they still can help in dif-
Between Karen and Monty, two century farms are in the family. Their farm is a century farm, an honor that was awarded to them last summer at the Iowa State Fair. However, it has been in the family for 110 years. Monty’s mother’s farm, where his youngest son now lives, is also a century farm. As for other honors, when Karen and Monty bought their farm from her parents, they financed it through Farmers Home Administration. Through their good recordkeeping and farm practices, they were awarded Farm Family of the Year through FHA. The Chews reflected on their best times on the family farm. “I think being able to raise our children on the farm,” Karen said. “The work ethic they have, maybe we overdid it.” “They’re workaholics,” Monty added. “They really are,” Karen said. “But, we didn’t send them out and say, ‘Go do this.’ We did everything together. And, so, they never looked at it as work. It was just family time that we did everything together.”
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‘Rugged work’ Orient man takes advantage of small vehicles for farm work BY BAILEY POOLMAN For Southwest Iowa Ag Mag
On a muggy June evening, Nathan Baier drives a side-by-side vehicle through a pasture toward a herd of brown cattle. Baier weaves the vehicle through rolling hills and rough terrain to the herd in half the time a pickup truck could get there. Baier helps his father, Paul Baier, on the more than 250-acre family farm northwest of Zion, Iowa, in Adair County. “We have row crop, beans and corn, and then a couple hundred head of cow and calf,” Baier said. “We’ll run, like, four tractors and a couple different planting implements. And, we’ve got five four-wheelers and two side-by-sides.” Baier, 27, and his family, all of Orient, have been using the smaller equipment since 1982 to move and watch cattle, and go from field to field. “We’ve definitely seen the demand increase for Gator utility vehicles,” said Jon Carlo, director of sales at AgriVision
Equipment. “In short, there’s definitely been an uptick in the last several years.” The smaller vehicles speed up daily farm work for Baier and his family, despite the muddy ruts or small swamps after a rainy season. “They speed up doing chores tremendously, getting in and out of them [fields], getting in small areas, going over rough terrain at a faster rate of speed than a pickup,” Baier said. “We recently purchased a side-by-side, and that’s definitely helped the operation tremendously.” Chores are made easier with the use of the smaller vehicles. Carlo said farmers have even used them to help with spraying. “People will put a sprayer in the back of a Gator utility vehicle and spray weeds, and terraces and lands in hard to reach places that you wouldn’t normally get to with a pick-up,” Carlo said. CONTINUED ON 42
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Blaise Fry, 6, smiles behind his helmet while he waits for Nathan Baier to open a fence to his pasture in Orient, Iowa. CONTINUED FROM 41
Baier, who also works on side-by-sides for others, said it’s not uncommon to see large numbers on an odometer for side-by-sides and all-terrain vehicles because some farmers drive between plots of land or down roads every day. “The conditions they run through, they’re used in rough conditions,” Baier said. “Your car is just going down the road. Well, these
things are going over bumps constantly, and mud and water. So, maintenance needs to be done, otherwise they don’t last very long.” Maintenance on the vehicles needs to be done at least once a month. The amount of miles a person can put on an off-road vehicle can vary, but about 12,000 miles on one vehicle is similar in equivalence to about 500,000 miles on a car, according to Baier. “When you talk com-
bines and tractors, that has a direct correlation to production in an effort to produce revenue,” Carlo said. “The side-by-sides and four-wheelers, they’ve replaced walking and horses, so you’re talking having the ability to jump in something that’s not so cumbersome as a pick-up.” Cost is high for side-bysides and ATVs fresh from the dealer, or can be cheaper if purchased used. “They’re almost like an automobile anymore. You
can spec them out so they can be as fancy or as plain as you’d like,” Carlo said. “There are more economical versions if you’re not in the mud or rougher terrain. There’s two-wheel drive options, there’s four-wheel drive options. There’s cab enclosures, there’s heaters. You can make it as affordable or fancy as you want.” Local shops like AgriVision Equipment are located in towns such as Creston, Greenfield, Indianola, Leon, Lenox and Winterset.
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