DES MOINES, Iowa – A big weekend is approaching for military veterans across the region who are ready to take their boots from the battlefields to the farm fields. The Midwest Conference for Farmer Veterans aims to connect vets and service members considering a career in agriculture with information and resources on everything from land access to food safety.

“For example, USDA,” says Matt Russell, state food policy project coordinator of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University. “The USDA has tremendous programs to help family farmers. “If you didn’t grow up in agriculture, you might not understand all of those resources. So, just helping them navigate that, that would be one of the services that we’re providing as well.”

The farmer veterans conference will be held this Friday and Saturday at Drake University in Des Moines, and will include a tour of a diverse farm operation. More than 40 percent of military members come from farms and small towns, so Ed Cox, chairman of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Iowa and staff attorney of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University, says it’s also a vital for rural development to help veterans put down roots and grow a career in agriculture.

“So, if we can get these people that have a record of service to their country back in those rural communities, not only as farmers, but as leaders in the community, it can be a very valuable asset for those rural communities,” he says.

Cox also notes that some returning veterans are looking for a continued sense of service and purpose, and with farming, they can get that by helping to feed their communities and their country.

(Iowa News Service)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A conservation official says a recreation trail between Council Bluffs and nearby Neola could be ready by 2017. Mark Shoemaker, executive director of Pottawattamie County’s conservation board, says design work will begin this year and construction will start next year for a trail between Council Bluffs and Weston. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports that work will expand to Underwood in 2016 and Neola in 2017, which is a stretch of 16 miles.

A $1.1 million grant from the Iowa West Foundation was recently announced for the design and construction of the 10-foot-wide concrete trail that would be parallel to a county road. It will require a match that county officials are already trying to fill.

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that the 200,000 visitors to Iowa’s national parks in 2013 spent $11.4 million and supported 172 jobs in the state. Patricia Trapp, acting director of NPS’s Midwest Region, which includes Iowa and 12 more states, said “The national parks of Iowa attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year from across the country and around the world. Whether it’s a day trip of a long family vacation, they come for a great experience — and they end up spending a little money along the way, too.” Iowa’s national parks are Effigy Mounds National Monument and Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

According to the national report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (30.3 percent), food and beverages (27.3 percent), gas and oil (12.1 percent), and admissions and fees (10.3 percent). Souvenirs and other expenses accounted for the remaining 10 percent. Nationally, the largest jobs categories supported by visitor spending were restaurants and bars (50,000 jobs) and lodging (38,000 jobs).

To learn more about Iowa’s national parks and how the National Park Service works with communities in the state to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/iowa.

ARTHUR, Iowa (AP) – No injuries have been reported after an explosion at an ethanol plant in northwest Iowa. The blast occurred Thursday night at the Flint Hills Resources plant in Arthur. Flint Hills spokesman Jake Reint says the explosion occurred in a grain dryer.

The plant will remain out of operation until the explosion is investigated and damage is repaired. Reint says it’s unclear how long that will take. The plant employs about 50 people and operates 24 hours a day.

A company website says Wichita, Kansas-based Flint Hills Resources bought the plant in September 2013. The plant began operating in 2008 and produces 110 million gallons of ethanol a year.

(corrects earlier post)

The Audubon County Fair continues through Monday at the fairgrounds in Audubon. Thursday night marked the crowning of the 2014 Fair Queen, the title of which went to Cassie Irlmeier, daughter of Kenneth and Sandra Irlmeier, of Elk Horn. She received her crown from 2013 Queen Jan Asberry. Cassie is a Medic with the Iowa National Guard. She plans to study Criminology at UNI this fall.

First Runner-up for the Fair Queen title was Mary Wede, daughter of Mark and Sue Wede, of Audubon.  Mary plans to study Early Childhood Development at DMACC this fall. And, the second Runner-up was Sarah Mosinski, daughter of Donald and Jennifer Mosinski, of Audubon. Sarah plans to pursue an education in either teaching or cosmetology.

Today’s Schedule at the Fair:

8:30 AM Future 4-H’er Sheep/Goat Show
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat Show
9:00 AM Judging Open Class Static & Antiques Entries
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show
1:30 PM Knowledge Bowl-Show Barn
2:30 PM Livestock Judging Contest Sign up
3:00 PM Livestock Judging Contest 3:30 PM-4:30 PM Open Class Rabbit Check in 4:30 PM Future 4-H’er Rabbit Show
5:00 PM 4-H/FFA & Open Rabbit Show
6:00 PM 4-H/FFA Youth Volleyball Tourney Registration – Pavillion
6:30 PM 4-H/FFA Youth Volleyball Tourney – Pavillion
7:00 PM Farm Bureau Cook Off Contest Judging

Royalty at the 2014 Potttawattamie County Fair were crowned Thursday evening, at the fairgrounds in Avoca. Officials say 17-year old Kyra Martens, of Oakland, won the title “2014 Pottawattamie County Fair Queen.” The teen, who will be a senior this fall at Riverside High School, is the daughter of Mark and Mischa Martins.

Runner-up for the Fair Queen title was Delaney Carroll, of Avoca. Jessica Wise, of Avoca, received the title of “2014 Miss Congeniality.”

Also at the Pott. County Fair, Thursday, Olivia Kock was honored with the title of “Junior Fair Queen.” She was competing against Lydia Wede, of Treynor.

A young lady from Stuart was crowned Queen of the 2014 Adair County Fair in Greenfield, Wednesday. Adair County Fair Board Secretary Brenda Meisenheimer reports the honor went to 16-year old Hailey Gross, the daughter of Cindy and H.A. Gross, of Stuart.

Hailey Gross, 2014 Adair County Fair Queen.

16-year old Shelly Soper, the daughter of Clint and Mindy Douglas, of Adair, was named Runner-up.

Also at the Adair County Fair: The title of “Little Miss Adair County” went to Ellie Brewer, daughter of Jeremy & Kim Brewer of Fontanelle. Runner Up – MaKinley Edwards,daughter of Tyson & Megan Edwards of Fontanelle.

Jorja Holliday, daughter of Doug and Jodie Holliday, of Greenfield, was named “Little Miss Congeniality”; “Little Mister” honors went to Camden Reynolds, son of Angela & Josh Reynolds, of Greenfield. Runner-up was Charles Rudolph, son of Scott and Danielle Steele, of Casey; and the title of “Little Mister Personality” went to Colt Douglas, son of Clint and Mindy Douglas, of Adair.

For a full list of activities at the Fair, go to www.adaircountyfair.org. The Adair County Fair continues through Sunday, in Greenfield.

w/ Denny Heflin

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The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) voted against recommending approval to the DNR, plans by two farms near Orient to expand their hog confinement operations. Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News their decision was based on scoring of the Master Matrix. She said the Board didn’t agree with the points taken on the Master Matrix application, and since there needs to be 440 points and 425 were allowed, it falls under the amount required for recommended approval.

The Geidel family wants to double each of two of their farming operations from 2,500 head to 5,000. Schaefer says failure to approve the Master Matrix application doesn’t mean the matter is decided. She says the Board of Supervisors don’t have all that much control over the matter. All they can do is to recommend the DNR approve or reject the application. The DNR can either affirm the Board’s recommendation and deny the expansion plans, or they can reject some or all of the points removed by the Board.

If the final number of points meets the requirement, the expansion plans can proceed.

w/ Kate Olson

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