(Lewis, IA) – The Cass County Conservation Board has announced a Bat House Workshop will take place this coming Saturday, Nov. 22nd, at Outdoor Educational Classroom near Massena. The workshop begins at 11-a.m.  The Board suggests a donation of $15 per bat house. All ages are welcome to attend and participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. During the Bat House Workshop, you”ll learn all about Iowa’s bats, and build a small bat house or purchase a kit. Please pre-register by Monday, November 17th, by calling 712-769-2372 or email lkanning@casscoia.us !

The Cass County Conservation Board is also holding a Nature Journaling Workshop next Saturday, at the Outdoor Educational Classroom in Massena. The Journaling Workshop begins at 1-p.m., and is free of charge. All ages are welcome, and again children must be accompanied by an adult. Learn all about nature journaling and techniques we can use. You will also make and take a journal home with you!

Find the Outdoor Educational Classroom by taking Highway 148 south of Massena, Turn Left on Tucson Road and follow it East for about two miles before turning right into the parking lot.

Please pre-register for one or both programs by November 17th. The CCCB hopes you will join Conservation Staff for the educational activities.

(A report by the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – An Iowa Department of Natural Resources study on food waste in the state found that Iowans on average, throw away 200 pounds of food each year.  The study identified a number of ways that households and businesses can reduce their food waste and in turn, help food insecure households, the environment and the economy.  Preventing food waste by producing, buying and serving only what is needed is the best way, according to the study, to reduce food waste.  Other methods it identified include donating or upcycling food before it goes bad, feeding it to animals and livestock, composting food scraps or putting them through an anaerobic digestion system and applying the product to the land.  Some of these solutions, according to the report, can be implemented in the near future while others have a longer start-up time, or require changes in state and local policies.

DNR determined in a 2022 study of landfill materials that food waste, comprising unsold food from stores, table scraps, uneaten prepared food, kitchen trimmings and byproducts from food and beverage processing facilities, was the number one material in Iowa landfills. The same study found that 19% of landfill material in Iowa is loose or packaged food waste. Of the average 200 pounds of food per year per person that Iowans dispose of at home, 25% is still packaged. When including commercial food waste into the calculation, Iowans dispose of 300 pounds of food waste, per person, per year. The Iowa rate is lower than the average rate for the U.S., which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates is between 492 to 1,032 pounds per person per year.

EPA also estimates the average family throws away about $3,000 worth of food, or 11% of household food expenditures, annually.  Further, the study said food waste emits air pollutants as it sits in solid waste landfills. The best way to reduce food waste that ends up in landfills is to manage the amount of waste in homes and businesses, according to the study, which suggests also, that at home, residents: eat their leftovers, keep track of the items in their refrigerators and pantries, plan meals, be creative with meals to use what is about to spoil, store food properly and purchase in quantities that can be consumed before they spoil. Restaurants can audit their waste streams and adjust their menus, wholesale orders and portion sizes to reduce food waste.

The study points out that while households and commercial businesses throw out food, 1 in 8 Iowans face food insecurity. Food banks and food pantries often receive donations from grocery stores or wholesalers of food that is about to pass its expiration date, which can be one way of  reducing food waste. The study surveyed six food-rescue organizations in Iowa, including Food Bank of Iowa, which accepted more 26 million pounds of rescue food in 2023 to be distributed across its 55-county region. The surveyed organizations identified that the majority of this food is able to be used and given out at food pantries, though the process presents some barriers. It’s difficult to always provide culturally relevant foods and some stores are reluctant to donate their food for fear of being held liable for accidentally donating spoiled food.

Based on the information gleaned from the study, DNR recommends the state improve education and training strategies around food donation, establish requirements for certain businesses to donate food and increase tax credits available for donating food.  Composting is another strategy for reducing food waste. The study found that in 2024, approximately 2,925 tons of food waste were managed with composting in Iowa.  This means, per the study, that most facilities are operating “well below” permitted limits and that the state’s composting capacity is “not being fully utilized.”  Surveyed facilities cited permitting, contamination due to the inclusion of non-compostable items like glass or plastic, and cost as the major limiting factors to increasing compost capacity.

Solutions presented by the study include: legislative requirements to compost food for certain businesses, partnerships to purchase or rent composting equipment, grants and incentives to pre-process food waste. Once food scraps are composted, the study found that waste facilities generally do not have a hard time selling the compost to homeowners, businesses and farmers that want to apply the nutrient-rich product to their fields and gardens. Similar to composting, anaerobic digestion also breaks down food scraps into a usable product: biogas. According to the study, some Water Resource Recovery Facilities in Iowa pull organic material from wastewater streams and process it via anaerobic digestion. Of the nine sites surveyed by the study, four use the produced biogas onsite for things like heating boilers and electricity generation, while others sold the biogas.

The study suggests greater development, marketing and procurement of the practice at facilities in the state to help manage food waste. The study points out that composting facilities and wastewater facilities with anaerobic digestion are concentrated to areas of higher population in the state, which means some regions don’t have access to these processes. There are only five composting facilities in Iowa and three water resource recovery facilities that accept food waste.DNR noted that residents and businesses can add smaller compost or anaerobic digestion infrastructure on site or in their backyards to help reduce food waste that ends up in a landfill.

Another solution the study suggested is the implementation of a “sharing table” at schools. This practice has been implemented in other states and allows students to put their un-opened packaged food on a table in the cafeteria to be donated, rather than tossing it in the garbage. The study also called for greater education in schools around food waste, and incentives to businesses that implement food reduction efforts.  DNR said it plans to continue to measure food waste in Iowa to “to assess effectiveness of the State’s efforts to reduce food waste.”

The study was funded through an EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant.

(Radio Iowa) – A retired University of Iowa researcher who leads a non-profit group focused on water quality issues is exploring a run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Chris Jones, a Democrat, is the author of The Swine Republic, a collection of essays about agricultural pollution that was published as a book in 2023. “I don’t see any other candidates in either party trying to tackle or embrace these issues that we have in Iowa, you know, with our water and the environment in general,” Jones said. “I think it’s frustrating for people to read about the condition of their environmental day after day after day and politicians won’t address it.” Jones lives near Lansing in the northeast corner of Iowa. He is president of the Driftless Water Defenders, a group formed to focus attention on agricultural runoff into Iowa lakes and streams. Jones says Iowa’s alarming cancer rate — the second highest in the nation and one of only two states where it’s growing — has changed the conversation.

“We know that there’s multiple drivers of disease, right? And so it’s very difficult to pin a disease like cancer onto one thing,” Jones said, “but we also know that we’re sort awash in chemicals here, right? And we know the research is out there that shows nitrate in drinking water is a driver of cancer.” Jones says Iowa’s agriculture sector needs to diversify. “We can’t get the environmental outcomes that we want with only two crops on the landscape. We have two species covering 75% of our land area in Iowa. We’re never going to get good water when that’s the case,” Jones said. “We need a diversity of economy. We’ve got way too much invested in ethanol.” Jones says the ethanol industry produces way too few jobs when compared to the 11-thousand square miles of land planted with corn that’s used to produce ethanol.

“That’s less than one job per square mile on the best land on earth. That’s ridiculous,” Jones said. “We need to think about something different than ethanol. We need to think about something different about CAFOs.” Iowa has at least four-thousand confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, according to the latest E-P-A data. Jones has formed an exploratory committee which allows him to start raising money for a potential campaign. Jones says he’ll decide in January whether to take the next step and run for office. Jones was a research engineer for the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research at the University of Iowa for eight years before his retirement in May of 2023. Jones graduated from Simpson College in 1983 with a degree in chemistry and biology and earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Montana State University.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa hunters have so far reported harvesting more than 22-thousand deer. Pete Hildreth is the Conservation and Recreation Division Administrator at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  “That’s about three percent higher than the higher season,” Hildreth said, “about three percent higher than the five year average.” Clayton County has seen the most activity, as 799 deer have been harvested in that northeast Iowa county.

At the other end of the scale, hunters in Ida County — in northwest Iowa — have harvested just five deer so far this year. Hunting seasons for youth and disabled deer hunters ended October 5th and the early muzzleloader season ran from October 11th through the 19th. The early season for deer hunters using a bow and arrow ends December 5th. And Hildreth points out the first shotgun season starts soon.

“Iowa’s most popular deer season is just around the corner, where roughly 100,000 hunters will take to the timber for our long-awaited gun season which is December 6-10,” Hildreth said, “and then of course our second gun season is December 13-21.” Deer are typically on the move during breeding season, which begins in mid-October and runs through mid-January, however state officials say peak activity occurs during the first three weeks of November.

The fall hunting seasons for wild turkey are also underway and as of this (Thursday) morning hunters have reported harvesting 245 turkeys. Find your county’s tally HERE.

(Atlantic, IA) – Cass County 4-H’ers and their families, volunteers and supporters gathered on Sunday, November 9th to celebrate the 2024-2025 4-H year at the County 4-H Awards Convention. Cass County Youth Coordinator Katelyn Bateman says the 4-H Alumni Award, given to 4-H alumni that have stayed active in supporting the local 4-H program, was presented to Curt Behrends. Curt was recognized by 4-H club members as someone who has supported 4-H in multiple ways. He currently serves as President of Grounds Committee, previously on the Fairboard and is always advocating for the program and allowing clubs to use the facilities free of charge all year round. He has been instrumental in ground improvements to the Fair Food stand and Beef Barn construction. Curt is a servant leader and truly a positive role model for our members to look up to.

Michelle Behrends was recognized as Cass County’s newest Honorary 4-H Member. That’s awarded to a member of the community who was not a Cass County 4-H member but supports and assists the local 4-H program. She has given countless hours to the program not only as a parent, Youth Action Committee member and chairperson, but today serves as co-president of Cass County Master Gardeners and takes immense pride in the garden spaces around the Community Building. Michelle is a huge advocate of 4-H and a leader in the community.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Weirich Welding. Duane, Logan, and the team are incredibly supportive of the Cass County 4-H program and the welding project area specifically. Duane started the Bucket of Junk contest, challenging young people to develop new skills more than 10 years ago. Since then, the business has opened its doors to 4-H and FFA members wanting to learn more about welding. Duane has served on the Cass County Fairboard and knows the demanding work that goes into youth getting exhibits ready for fair. Logan’s family continues to be actively involved in 4-H continuing the family tradition.

The 4-H Clubs stay active in the community completing service projects, recruiting new members, and documenting their year in multiple ways. Youth hold office roles which can complete books throughout the year and turn in for awards. This year nearly all clubs turned in officer books and participated in recruiting and service activities. Top Secretary and Historian Books went to Grant Guys & Gals; Top Treasurer Book and National 4-H Week Display went to Bear Grove Blazers. Top Community Service Award in 2024 went to Grove H.O.T. to complete multiple service projects during the year. The award for encouraging club participation in multiple program areas within 4-H went to Bear Grove Blazers, they received our Banner Club.

4-H leaders reaching milestones were recognized for their service. Receiving five-year recognition was Molly Wise with Pleasant Noble United. Club leaders that completed their first-year volunteering include: Amanda Will with Benton Franklin, Jenae Waters with Washington GEM, Brittney Weirich with Washington GEM, Carolyn Bruck with Washington GEM, Hillary Zellmer with Washington GEM, Darrin Petty as an Independent Member Mentor, Holly Oathoudt as an Independent Member Mentor, Jessica DeLage with Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, and Kristin Alexander with Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids.

There were nineteen third graders that were Clover Kids and graduated into the 4-H. Youth who graduated from Cass County Clover Kids included: Cooper Amdor of Cumberland Clover Kids, Ellie Amos of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Joslynn Baier of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Avery Becker of Cumberland Clover Kids, Nora Brahms of Cumberland Clover Kids, Cassidy Buffington of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Sawyer Chambers of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Evan Euken of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Owen Honeck of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Isabelle Kardell of Bear Grove Blazers Clover Kids, Owen Niemann of Cass County Creators, Jericho Petersen of Bear Grove Blazers Clover Kids, Quade Robinson of Cass County Creators, Milo Sager of Cass County Creators, Molly Schuler of Cumberland Clover Kids, Reece Wheatley of Cumberland Clover Kids, Riley Wheatley of Cumberland Clover Kids, Baylor Wollum of Cumberland Clover Kids, Decker Wyman of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids.

The event concluded with the installation of sixteen senior level 4-H’ers onto the 2025-2026 County 4-H Youth Council. Members are:

Oliver Becker of Union Leaders, Hudson Brock of Grove H.O.T., Karly Byers of Griswold Clubsters, Alyson Dreager of Bear Grove Blazers, Jacquelyn Freund of Washington GEM, Walker Gary of Bear Grove Blazers, Ada Hansen of Grant Guys & Gals, Ryanna Harrison of Griswold Clubsters, Lily Johnson of Grove H.O.T., Josephine Millikan of Griswold Clubsters, Leah Ohms of Union Leaders, Olivia Olson of Pymosa, Callie Rudy of Cowpokes, Colin Rudy of Cowpokes, Miraylie Stuart of Pymosa, and Kayedance Sturm of Cowpokes.

Members and leaders of all 4-H clubs in Cass County were recognized for club activities, and project awards completed throughout the year. Intermediate and Junior 4-H members who completed a record book received project awards based on leaders’ recommendation. Record books are rated on organization, appearance, goals and learning, spelling, and grammar. These project records should be well organized, neat, and show evidence of solid Citizenship, Communication, and Leadership activities to receive awards. High School record books are reviewed again for platinum, gold, silver, or bronze level awards.

Bear Grove Blazers members and awards include:

Abel Brockman: First Year 4-H Member

Brayden Carlson:

Catherine DeBord: Star Intermediate Record Book, Clothing, Food & Nutrition, Home Improvement, Music, Rabbit, Swine

Alyson Dreager: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Dog (Silver), Food & Nutrition (Silver), Photography (Silver), Sewing & Needle Art (Silver), Sheep, (Silver), Swine (Gold)

Dylen Dreager: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Home Improvement (Platinum), Poultry (Platinum)

Keagen Dreager: Swine, Woodworking

Walker Gary: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Poultry (Platinum), Visual Art (Gold), County Level Award – Citizenship

Michael Hocamp: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum)

Mya Hocamp: Food & Nutrition, Visual Art

Jamie Jacobsen: Completed a Record Book

Maggie Jacobsen: Completed a Record Book

Hunter Kardell: Star Junior Record Book, Mechanics

Lynsie Kardell: Star Intermediate Record Book, Goat, Photography, Sewing & Needle Art, Swine

Macie Kloewer: Rabbit

Maggie Kloewer: Food & Nutrition

Conner Mumm:

David Retallic: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Food & Nutrition (Silver), Rabbit (Silver), Swine (Bronze), 4-H Graduate, Fairboard Record Book Completion Gift

Ethan Retallic: Star Junior Record Book, Beef, Food & Nutrition, Photography, Rabbit, Sewing & Needle Art, Swine, Visual Art, First Year 4-H Member

Sophia Retallic: Sewing & Needle Art, Visual Art

Nolan Sunderman:

Parker Walter: First Year 4-H Member

Carter Witzman: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), 4-H Graduate, Fairboard Record Book Completion Gift

Benton Franklin members and awards include:

Ada Nichols: 4-H Graduate

Jett Nichols:

Braxton Scholl:

Faithlynn Scholl:

Madeline Schuler:

Blayre Steffen:

Brookelyn Steffen:

Brylee Steffen:

Brielle Wessling: First Year 4-H Member

Kylee Wessling:

Brant Will: 4-H Graduate

Caden Will:

Kyser Will:

Landrie Will:

Morgan Will:

Cowpokes members and awards include:

AJ Barber:

Micayla Betts:

Gavin Dougherty:

Jase Frederiksen:

Hayden Hansen: Star Junior Record Book, Horse & Pony, First Year 4-H Member

Shelby Hansen: Star Junior Record Book, Horse & Pony

Alex Jespersen:

Cadence Kennedy:

Cassidy Kennedy:

Clara Kennedy:

Kenadie Krause:

Gage Richter: First Year 4-H Member

Jenner Richter: First Year 4-H Member

Jovie Richter: First Year 4-H Member

Callie Rudy: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Horse & Pony (Gold)

Colin Rudy: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Swine (Bronze)

Julienne Schutt:

Garret Stetzel:

Kaylee Stetzel: 4-H Graduate

Kayedance Sturm: Overall Senior Record Book (Silver), Horse & Pony (Bronze)

Grant Guys & Gals members and awards include:

Ethan Akers: First Year 4-H Member

Avery Bower: First Year 4-H Member

Macy Burg: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Home Improvement (Platinum), Photography (Platinum), Sewing & Needle Art (Platinum)

Brayden Dawson: Beef, Swine

Hayden Dennis:

Colby Euken: Star Junior Record Book, Beef, Clothing, Communication, Photography, Swine, Vet Science, Woodworking

George Fountas:

Ashton Hagen:

Graham Hagen:

Tiana Hagen:

Ada Hansen: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Food & Nutrition (Platinum), County Level Award – Achievement

Isaac Hansen: Star Intermediate Record Book, Beef, Clothing, Communication, Food & Nutrition

Mack Hansen: Star Junior Record Book, Beef, Clothing, Photography, Self-Determined, Sewing & Needle Art, Vet Science

Myah Honeck:

Marcus Jarosik:

Jenna Jensen:

Kace Kinney:

Keeley Kinney:

Kambry Langfelt: Beef

Cooper Metheny:

Emma Meyer:

Gavin Meyer:

Kennedy Meyer:

Remington Stokley:

Haidyn Suhr:

Landon Tibken:

Logan Tibken:

Dexten Westfall Thomas:

Ayden Yeager:

Griswold Clubsters members and awards include:

Breken Amos: Meat Goat, First Year 4-H Member

Laena Amos: Star Junior Record Book, Meat Goat, First Year 4-H Member

Raylea Amos: Star Intermediate Record Book, Beef

Adalyn Buffington: First Year 4-H Member

Blaine Buffington:

Karly Byers: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Horse & Pony (Gold), Meat Goat (Gold)

Bristol Chambers: Star Junior Record Book, Visual Art

Adaline Gade:

Ella Gade:

Rayla Harrison:

Ryanna Harrison: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Meat Goat (Platinum)

Ryleigh Harrison: 4-H Graduate

Josephine Millikan: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Civic Engagement (Silver), Clothing (Platinum), Food & Nutrition (Platinum), Home Improvement (Gold), Sewing & Needle Art (Platinum), Visual Art (Gold)

Easton Orstad:

Emily Orstad:

Logan Orstad:

BrookLynne Peterson: 4-H Graduate

Cooper Scholl:

Tanner Scholl:

Mark Shaw:

Grayson Smith:

Natalyn Smith: First Year 4-H Member

Nollan Smith:

Grove H.O.T. members and awards include:

Hudson Brock: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Civic Engagement (Gold), Communications (Platinum), Leadership (Silver), Music (Platinum), Poultry (Silver)

D’artagnan Hansen: Overall Senior Record Book (Silver), Poultry (Gold), First Year 4-H Member

Conner Johnson: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Civic Engagement (Silver), Food & Nutrition (Gold), Poultry (Gold), 4-H Graduate, Fairboard Record Book Completion Gift

Lily Johnson: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Civic Engagement (Gold), Clothing (Gold), Diary Goat (Gold), Food & Nutrition (Gold), Meat Goat (Gold), Poultry (Gold), Woodworking (Gold), County Level Award – Learning through Livestock

Paislee Klever: Overall Senior Record Book (Bronze),

Zander Pieken: 4-H Graduate

Madeline Richter: 4-H Graduate

Claire Schroder:

Pleasant Noble United members and awards include:

Conlan Amos: Star Intermediate Record Book, Poultry

Gunner Amos:

Zoey Amos: Overall Senior Record Book (Silver)

Alayna Preston:

Emma Ritter:

Gage Ritter:

Kailey Swain: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), 4-H Graduate, Fairboard Record Book Completion Gift

Hunter Wise:

Pymosa members and awards include:

Lilly Casey:

Jersey Green: First Year 4-H Member

Kord Gross: First Year 4-H Member

Adelyn Hansen: Completed a Record Book, First Year 4-H Member

Gavin Hansen: Completed a Record Book, First Year 4-H Member

Kenadie Krause:

Ma’lia Krause: First Year 4-H Member

John McCurdy:

Lucy McCurdy:

Margaret McCurdy:

Amelia Olsen:

Jack Olsen: First Year 4-H Member

Norah Olsen: First Year 4-H Member

Olivia Olson: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Leadership (Gold), Photography (Gold), County Level Award – Leadership

Oakley Skow: Star Junior Record Book, Dog, Food & Nutrition, Photography, Poultry

Miraylie Stuart: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Beef (Platinum)

Teague Stuart: Completed a Record Book

Adalynn Williams: Completed a Record Book, First Year 4-H Member

Brynlee Williams: Completed a Record Book

Union Leaders members and awards include:

Oliver Becker: Star Intermediate Record Book, Clothing, Food & Nutrition, Health, Meat Goat

Reilly Becker: Overall Senior Record Book (Bronze)

Sadie Becker:

Sawyer Becker:

Bay Erickson: Star Intermediate Record Book, Clothing, Food & Nutrition, Photography, Rabbit, Visual Art

Gage Erickson: Star Junior Record Book, Clothing, Food & Nutrition, Outdoor Adventures, Photography

Kohen Erickson: First Year 4-H Member

Clay Feese:

Joshua Feese:

Logan Frederiksen: First Year 4-H Member

Avery Lee: Star Junior Record Book, Food & Nutrition, Visual Art

Bryson Lee: Food & Nutrition, Woodworking

Hunter Miller:

Eden Ohms: Poultry

Jase Ohms: Poultry, Sewing & Needle Art, Sheep, Vet Science, First Year 4-H Member

Leah Ohms: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Beef (Gold), Photography (Gold), Poultry (Platinum), Sewing & Needle Art (Gold), Sheep (Platinum), Vet Science (Gold)

Washington GEM members and awards include:

Colton Anderson:

Maddy Anderson: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold), Swine (Silver), County Level Award – Danforth I Dare You

Natalie Boose: Rabbits, Visual Art

Bentley Bruck:

Tate Cappel:

Tenley Cappel:

Landrey DeVore:

Jacquelyn Freund: Overall Senior Record Book (Platinum), Home Improvement (Gold), Beef (Gold), Clothing (Gold),

Macy Freund: Star Junior Record Book, Clothing, Food & Nutrition

Annette Hoffmann: Completed a Record Book, First Year 4-H Member

Calon Huddleson: Completed a Record Book, First Year 4-H Member

Emma Kay: First Year 4-H Member

Madison Kay:

Morgan Kirchner: Star Junior Record Book, Poultry, Self-Determined, Sewing & Needle Art

Brinley Knudsen:

Faith Larsen:

Gracelyn Larsen: Completed Record Book

Lana Leyh: First Year 4-H Member

Lexi Leyh:

Paige Marnin: First Year 4-H Member

Lane Robinson:

Quincy Robinson:

Mckinley Sandbothe: First Year 4-H Member

Callen Waters: Swine, Woodworking, First Year 4-H Member

Gentry Waters: Star Junior Record Book, Clothing, Swine, Visual Art

Olivia Weirich: Pets, Visual Art, First Year 4-H Member

Cade Wickard: First Year 4-H Member

Paxton Wickard:

Zach Zellmer: Overall Senior Record Book (Gold)

Independent 4-H Members

Grant Petty: Overall Senior Record Book (Silver)

Jake Wailes: Completed Record Book

Joaquin Wailes: Completed Record Book, 4-H Graduate

Leighton Wailes: Completed Record Book

Ashley Skow, Certified Professional Photographer and owner of Ashley Skow Photography in Atlantic, Iowa, generously volunteered her time and professional services to photograph the 4-H County Convention. The portraits capture highlight the dedication, leadership, and achievements of local 4-H members and volunteers within our community. We extend our sincere thanks to Ashley Skow Photography for donating her time and talent to help showcase the achievements of our 4-H youth and volunteers.

For more information about joining the Cass County 4-H program any time of the year as a 4-H member or adult volunteer, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, call 712-243-1132, or email kbateman@iastate.edu to contact the Cass County Extension office.

(Atlantic, IA) – Officials with the Cass County Extension office are once again hosting continuing instructional courses (CICs) for local commercial pesticide applicators, but they want to remind anyone who has yet to attend the training, that all CIC training must be completed by the end of December to keep a license current. To avoid conflicts with year-end scheduling, Cass County Extension is requiring that all training dates be scheduled by Wednesday, December 17^th.

Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson says ‘Year end is a busy time for all, but we don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to attend their annual required training, as time to meet those annual requirements is getting short. We do offer trainings on a first-come, first-serve basis, and our hours will be slightly different during the holidays, so we’d like to remind folks to call and get their classes scheduled before our year-end calendar fills up.”

According to Olson, reshow dates can occur after December 17^th, as scheduling allows, but they must be on the calendar before then to be honored. To ensure a spot on the training schedule, applicators needing to complete CIC for the year are asked to call as soon as possible if they have a preferred training date, but no later than Wednesday, December 17^th at 4:30 PM. Applicators calling after this date will NOT be placed on the training schedule.

Training dates can be scheduled locally by calling the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or by emailing Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. For more information on the Commercial Pesticide Applicator program or the CIC classes, please visit www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/.

(Radio Iowa) – Renewable Fuels Association C-E-O Geoff Cooper says the E-P-A in the past week has given more small oil refineries a pass when it comes to adding ethanol to gasoline. “Adding another 14 small refinery exemptions to what is already a massive pile of exemptions that have been granted in the last couple of months,” Cooper says. The Trump Administration has reviewed a backlog of requests dating back to the Biden Administration and so far this year has granted exemptions to 160 small refineries.

“Essentially what this decision does is it just adds more uncertainty, more confusion in the renewable fuel and agricultural and agricultural markets,” Cooper said, “and that’s certainly not something we need to see today.” The Renewable Fuel Standard requires that billions of gallons of ethanol and other biofuels be blended into fuel each year. Small refiners may seek exemptions, however, if they show the blending requirement would be a big financial hit the operation.

The E-P-A has another 15 requests under review. Iowa is the nation’s top ethanol-producing state, with 42 plants that use corn to make ethanol and two that use plant material to make ethanol.

AMES, Iowa – Nov. 12, 2025 – Today, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $3,127,377 for nine State Recreational Trails Program projects. Among the projects and approved funding, was $285,000 for the Wabash Trace/Rapp Park Connector Trail (in Page County), and $500,000 for the Great American Rail Trail: Weston to Underwood (Pottawattamie County Conservation Board).

The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. This funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.

The other projects and approved funding amounts are listed below.

• Clay County Connection Phase 3 (Dickinson County) : $295,000
• Grant Wood Trail Connection to Cedar Valley Nature Trail
  (Cedar Rapids) : $200,000
• Great Western Trail Rehabilitation Phase 2 (Warren County Conservation Board) : $543,200
• Heritage Trail Bridge 30 Replacement (Dubuque County Conservation Board) : $170,250
• Neal Smith Trail Reconstruction and Birdland Park Connection
  (Des Moines) : $200,000
• Prairie Restoration Trail (Laurens) : $433,927
• Waukee Regional Trail Connection and Safety Improvements Project (Waukee) : $500,000.

(Ames, Iowa) –  The Ames, Iowa-based Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) is hosting an upcoming community event in Clarinda next week. The IFU will hold a Farmers Union Community Happy Hour in Clarinda. The event takes place at The Ice House (1515 S 16th St.) on Tuesday, November 18th, from 6-until 7:30-p.m. Officials say “This is a relaxed gathering open to all Southwest Iowa residents – not just farmers or Clarinda residents. We are there to listen to local residents and there will be a short program (15 minutes or so) for folks  to learn about IFU’s work across Iowa supporting family farms, local food systems, and rural communities.”

Enjoy drinks and appetizers – the first round is on the Iowa Farmers Union! More information is available at info@iowafarmersunion.org

Make your reservation to attend here: bit.ly/ClarindaHappyHour

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park in Atlantic is hosting Harvest Market November 24th, from 3-until 6-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022). Harvest Market is held just three days before Thanksgiving so shoppers can stock up on local foods, decorations, and gifts to enjoy at holiday celebrations. This year, Harvest Market is placing a special emphasis on ensuring everyone can enjoy good food this holiday season. Market visitors who show proof of SNAP or WIC participation will receive food coupons to spend at the Harvest Market. $25 in coupons will be distributed per qualifying individual (max $50 per family). Coupons can be spent on all food items (excluding food trucks) and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

As of November 11th, Produce in the Park had received $1500 in funding for the Harvest Market food coupons initiative, with $500 contributions from three local organizations: Cass County Local Food Policy Council, Corn 4 a Cause, and Produce in the Park itself. Produce in the Park continues to welcome additional coupon sponsors. Organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring can contact Market Manager Ciara Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com.

In addition to distributing food coupons, Produce in the Park has invited various local organizations addressing food insecurity to join the market to share information about their programs and how community members can access and support them. As of November 11, participants include Cass County Grow Another Row, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council, Atlantic’s Free Community Thanksgiving, Atlantic’s new Gathering community dinner series, and Atlantic Food Pantry’s “Scrooge” contestants BJ Hart and Dave York.

Harvest Market vendors will be selling a wide selection of local foods and handmade craft products. Fresh fall produce will include fresh greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, arugula), potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, onions, garlic, carrots, and bok choi. Other food offerings include local meats (chicken, pork, beef), farm-fresh eggs, honey, jellies, jams, salad and BBQ sauces, salsa, freeze-dried snacks, and baked goods like rolls, sourdough bread, cookies, cupcakes, kringle, and pies.

Craft vendors will be selling a variety of handmade goods such as candles and wax melts, holiday decorations, potted plants, jewelry, crocheted stuffed animals, and bath and body products such as soaps, sugar scrubs, and beard oils. Harvest Market will offer two food trucks: Karam’s Grill and Pho Wheels & Sushi. Karam’s Grill will serve Mediterranean food such as gyros, falafel, chicken shawarma, and baklava. Pho Wheels & Sushi will offer fresh sushi–preoders are highly recommended, and a link to preorder sushi is available in the Harvest Market Facebook event. And, kids can enjoy face painting and glitter tattoos.

All are welcome at Produce in the Park farmers markets, and admission is free. The market accepts SNAP/EBT and Double Up Food Bucks for all qualifying food items. Harvest Market is the second of five markets in Produce in the Park’s Holiday Market Series. Additional farmers markets in the 2025-2026 series include Christmas Market (December 20), Sweetheart Market (February 14, 2026), and Spring Celebration Market (April 4, 2026).

Produce in the Park farmers markets are made possible by support from the City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Gregg Young Chevrolet of Atlantic, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Produce in the Park continues to accept applications for vendors and sponsors for their 2025-2026 Holiday Market Series. For details and applications, see www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

For the latest market updates, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark or Instagram at www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/, or sign up for the Produce in the Park email newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.