(Atlantic, Iowa) – The start of the Cass County (Iowa) Fair is just a little more than a week and a-half away, and the static building will be bustling with activity throughout the fair. Along with being open to see all the great static exhibits members have been working on throughout the year, the building is also host to many competitions. During the week static exhibits will be on display along with Bucket of Junk exhibits.

The building will open for the first time from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, July 24th. When the building opens you will be able to see the static exhibits for the first time including which exhibits were chosen for State Fair. Also during this time is the 4-H Food Sale, which will be taking place in the lobby of the Community Center and is free will donation for food made by 4-Hers that will be judged Wednesday, July 23rd. Building hours can be found below along with a schedule of events that are being held each day.

You’re invited to come out and support the fair exhibitors as they showcase the skills and exhibits they have been practicing and building all year. Static Exhibits are projects youth have created this past year as an active growth of their areas of interest. These are a sample of learning youth have achieved. They talk to a judge about what their goal was before they started, the process they went through, and what they learned working towards their goals.

The exhibits may include food, photos, creative signs, posters, or displays and much more. Come see the variety of learning 4-H can offer for young people.

For more information on how to enroll in 4-H, contact Katie at 712-243-1132 or https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/join-4-h.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Swimming is not recommended at over a dozen Iowa beaches. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources report suggests avoiding these 14 beaches, all of which have E. coli levels that are too high and indicate other bacteria. They are as follows:

• Backbone Beach
• Beeds Lake Beach
• Blue Lake Beach
• Bobwhite State Park
• Denison Beach
• Lake Ahquabi Beach
• Lake Darling Beach
• Lake Manawa Beach
• Lake of Three Fires Beach
• McIntosh Woods Beach
• Nine Eagles Beach
• Pleasant Creek Beach
• Prairie Rose Beach
• Union Grove Beach

Last week, swimming was not recommended at 12 Iowa beaches. The DNR conducts weekly tests at more than three dozen public swimming beaches between the week before Memorial Day through Labor Day.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the state and federal government should stick with the voluntary approach to reducing farm chemical runoff into Iowa waterways. A report commissioned by Iowa’s largest county has found nitrate levels in the rivers used to provide drinking water in the Des Moines metro are among the highest in the United States. “You know regulation is hardly ever the answer. That’s a killer in most instances,” Reynolds said. “It takes out innovation. It takes out you know just the ability to be nimble.” Reynolds says since she took over as governor eight years ago, the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to help farmers install conservation practices that improve water quality.

Gov. Reynolds spoke with reporters after an event in Des Moines on July 10, 2025. (governor’s office photo)

“That’s, I think, where we need to continue to put our efforts,” Reynolds says. “I can’t control Mother Nature. They can’t control Mother Nature, so that’s just a component that they have to work with, but mark my word, they are working every single day to implement conservation practices because they know it benefits everybody.” Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack served 12 years as the nation’s secretary of agriculture. He says there is a definitely a role for the federal government in cleaning up waterways, but Vilsack suggests it’s supporting new ways to use manure from Iowa livestock operations.

“One of the reasons we have the nitrate problem is because there is an over application of manure on ground around the state…There’s only so much nutrients that land needs. It gets rid of the excess. It goes into the rivers and streams. We’ve got the problems,” Vilsack said. “What if you diverted that manure? What if you created opportunities to basically take that manure and create something more valuable from it?” Vilsack says manure is generating energy and fuel in other parts of the country and the federal government should support research and projects that turn manure into a commodity that’s sold like corn and beans. “You’ve reduced the level that’s applied to land, which reduces nitrates — which deals with the water issue, you’ve created an opportunity for that farmer to have additional income…and you also create jobs in rural places,” Vilsack said. “What’s not to like about that opportunity?”

Vilsack says there are other creative solutions like sensor technology that determines how much farm chemicals are needed on crop land. “In some cases it’s been suggested by folks at Iowa State that maybe 30% of our corn acres don’t necessarily need fertilizer at all,” Vilsack said. “Well, if that’s the case, that’s a savings for farmers.” Vilsack made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The downtown Atlantic City Park is a magical place to celebrate Christmas…in July! Event organizers invite your join them at the farmers market for Christmas in July, featuring festive fun for all ages: Christmas face painting, holiday-themed art with Your Forte, a special visit from Santa, and a performance of Christmas carols by the Cass County Choral Society. Don’t miss this jolly good time at the park!

25+ vendors with fresh produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh onions, local meats (chicken, beef, and lamb), farm-fresh eggs, honey, and  freeze-dried snack. Baked goods such as breads, cupcakes, brownies, and gluten-free desserts, as well as Christmas Cookies including sugar, ginger bread, peanut butter kiss, and hot chocolate cookies. Craft and art products including wood items such as charcuterie boards and cutting boards, upcycled clothing, rocks and crystals, paintings, leatherwork, soaps and other bath and body products, garden decorations, and compost.

Food Trucks: Noble Provisions Grilling Burgers, Zemog’s Mexican Kitchen, Louie’s Shaved Ice, Squeezing Lemons fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Details:

Event: Christmas in July Produce in the Park
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park, 10 W 7th St, Atlantic, IA 50022
Cost to enter: Free

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1VZGKY5Nip/

(Radio Iowa) – The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is thrilled over the Trump Administration’s plans for increased renewable fuel blending levels. Monte Shaw says the EPA released its proposed changes on Tuesday for the Renewable Fuel Standard for the coming years, and he says they’re very robust compared to previous years.

“The last rule was definitely below what it should have been,” said Shaw. “It’s kind of left the industry a little stagnant. And, these would be very robust levels — the largest we’ve seen. Fifteen billion gallons for conventional biofuels like ethanol, 24 billion gallons overall, so, a significant step up for the levels that biodiesel operates in, and things like that.”

Shaw says the standards set during President Biden’s administration hurt the renewable fuel industry. “The last rules under the Biden Administration woefully missed — I mean, they just missed,” he said. “It set the levels way too low for what was going on in the biodiesel and renewable diesel industries by billions of gallons. So, it really hurt the industry. Quite frankly, what the industry said was going to happen, happened. They (the Biden Administration) said, ‘Nah, you guys are too optimistic’ and low-balled it, and it hurt. We had biodiesel plants shut down.”

Radio Iowa file photo

Shaw hopes the improved RFS levels ease any discomfort President Trump’s proposed trade tariffs caused farmers. “We know farmers have faced a pretty rough two years,” said Shaw. “We know there’s going to be some disruptions to the markets based on how Trump wants to pursue his trade and tariff agenda. So, I think they looked at the RFS as something they could do for agriculture to provide some growth and stability while they pursue some other policies that can be a little tricky for agriculture.”

While calling the proposed levels “a great first step,” he urged the EPA to provide greater access to E-15 fuels by eliminating outdated regulations.

(Radio Iowa) – Drought conditions continue to improve in the state. The latest U-S Drought Monitor shows most of the middle of the state has no drought conditions, which is about 64 percent — and is up from 57 percent last week. Less than four percent of the state has areas of moderate drought, including one county in northwest Iowa, six in the southeast, four in south-central, and two in eastern Iowa.

Around 36 percent of the state is abnormally dry, in sections along the eastern and western edges. Just 20 percent of the state had no drought conditions at the start of the year.

(Greenfield, Iowa)…

THURSDAY, JULY 10 (Harlan, Iowa) 
6:30 – 8:00 a.m………….Enter & Weigh 4-H/FFA Beef Cows/Calves, Feeder Calves, Dairy Cows in Production, & Bottle/Bucket Calves – All livestock is to unload at dock and be inspected by a                                        Veterinarian.
8:00 a.m…………………..Poultry Exhibitors’ Meeting
8:30 a.m…………………..Judge 4-H/FFA Poultry (tent)
8:30 a.m…………………..Judge Open Class Non-Livestock Departments (if not judging Weds.)
8:30 a.m…………………..Enter 4-H/FFA Cats & Small Pets (cement pad North of Morgan Hall)
8:45 a.m…………………..Cat and Small Pet Exhibitors’ Meeting
9:00 a.m…………………..Judge 4-H/FFA Cats & Small Pets
9:00-9:30 a.m……………Enter Bottle Animals – Unload at dock and be inspected by a Veterinarian.
9:30 a.m…………………..Judge 4-H/FFA Feeder Calves, Beef Cow/Calves, Breeding Beef, and Dairy Cattle
10:00 a.m…………………Pie & Muffin Baking (check Green Book for your scheduled time.)
10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m….Little Hands on the Farm & Livestock Babies Barn Exhibits Open
12:30 p.m…………………Bottle/Bucket Calf and Bottle/Bucket Calf Plus One Exhibitors’ Meeting
1:00 p.m…………………..Judge 4-H/FFA/Clover Kids Bottle Bucket Calf Show
2:30 p.m…………………..Open Class Bottle Show
3:00-5:00 p.m……………Little Hands on the Farm & Livestock Babies Barn Exhibits Open
4:00 p.m…………………..Carnival Opens
6:00 p.m…………………..Shelby County Fair Parade – ‘”Shelby County Fair, How Sweet It Is!’
7:00-7:30 p.m……………Strolling Act – ‘Farmer Phil’
7:30-9:00 p.m……………Little Hands on the Farm & Livestock Babies Barn Exhibits Open
8:00-8:30 p.m……………Strolling Act – ‘Farmer Phil’
8:00 p.m…………………..Show Ring: Crowning of 2025 Shelby County Fair Queen and Hall of Fame Awards
9:00-9:30 p.m…………..Strolling Act – ‘Farmer Phil’

4-H & Open Class Buildings open following judging to 10:00 p.m.
Nishna Valley Model Railroad Building open from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.