Chris Parks speaks with Cass/Adair County Conservation Officer Grant Gelly about all things outdoors. This week they discuss waterfowl and other bird migration, busy hunting season time of year, the TIP program, and some upcoming dates for events.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.0MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Cass County 4-H’ers and their families, volunteers and supporters gathered on Sunday, November 6th to celebrate the 2021-2022 4-H year at the 2022 County Convention. 4-H leaders reaching milestones were recognized for their service. Receiving ten-year recognition were Charity Mundorf of Griswold Clubsters, Melissa Johnson of Grove HOT, and Kristy Pellett of Pymosa. Serving as a leader in Cass County for 35 years in is Jerry McCrory of the Union Leaders 4-H Club.
The 4-H Alumni Award given to a 4-H alumni that has stayed active in supporting the local 4-H program, was presented to Delbert & Lana Westphalen. Delbert and Lana have been an active part of the 4-H program for many years. Delbert has served as a member of Endowment Committee. Lana was a longtime King and Queen Superintendent. Lana was a Club leader for many years and their kids were also active in the program. They have continued to support the 4-H program in countless other ways through the years.
Tom Robinson received the Honorary Member award as a non-4-H’er that offers support and assistance to the local 4-H program. Tom is very supportive as he helps Washington GEM 4-H Club do a radio ad each year. He also volunteers his time at county fair to emcee the Clover Kid Animal Showcase and announce the golf cart races. He is very visible and supportive of 4-H all year long. (Photos below and story info. courtesy Cass County ISU Extension)
Pictured Left to Right: Trista Swain, Brock Henderson, Kristy York (podium) Miraylie Stuart, Claire Pellett, Olivia Olson, Keira Olson, Rio Johnson, Lily Johnson, Maddy Anderson, Parker Brock, and Elizabeth Anderson.
The Distinguished Service Award was presented to the late Cindy Koll and Something for You. Her family accepted the award on her behalf. This award goes to a business, group or organization within the community that has provided outstanding service to the 4-H program. Cindy has been active in supporting Cass County 4-H and the county fair. She was a cashier at the food stand for multiple years. At the store, Something For You, she would always help 4-H members with their fabric selection and would allow them to come back to get assistance with their quilting if needed. Following her passing this 4-H year, her support will be greatly missed.
Members and leaders of all eleven 4-H clubs in Cass County were presented on stage to receive recognition for club activities throughout the year and project awards. Intermediates and Junior 4-H members who completed a record book could also apply for project awards. Leaders review and nominate youth for project awards and overall awards based on their record.
The following juniors and intermediates received awards, listed by club. Members with an asterisk (*) next to their name denotes a member whose overall record book received a star award, a high rating.
Pictured Left to Right, Back Row: Parker Brock, Elizabeth Anderson, Rio Johnson, Brock Henderson, Keira Olson, Lily Johnson. Front Row: Claire Pellett, Trista Swain, Olivia Olson, Miraylie Stuart, and Maddy Anderson.
Bear Grove Blazers: *Catherine DeBord– Beef, Food & Nutrition, Swine, Visual Arts, *Dylen Dreager– Swine, *Keagan Dreager– Swine, *Walker Gary– Mechanics, Photography, Poultry, Visual Arts, *Michael Hocamp, *Mya Hocamp– Pets, *Lynsie Kardell– Meat Goat, Swine, *Macie Kloewer– Rabbit, Visual Arts
*Maggie Kloewer– Rabbit, Visual Arts, *Sophia Retallic– Food & Nutrition, *Basilio Sekap– Rabbit, Poultry, and *Nolan Sunderman– Self-Determined.
Benton Franklin: *Brookelyn Steffen– Beef, Food & Nutrition, Swine, and *Brylee Steffen– Beef, Food & Nutrition, Sewing & Needle Arts, Swine, Visual Arts
Cowpokes: *Kayedance Sturm– Horse and Pony
Grant Guys and Gals: *Kinsey Burg– Food & Nutrition. Photography, Visual Arts, *Macy Burg– Citizenship & Civic Engagement, Photography, Woodworking, *Ada Hansen– Beef, Clothing & Fashion, Food & Nutrition, *Isaac Hansen– Beef, Citizenship, Food & Nutrition, Visual Arts, *Jenna Jensen– Beef, Food & Nutrition, Health, Outdoor Adventures, Swine, *Emma Meyer- Sheep, *Kennedy Meyer- Sheep, *Leah Ohms- Beef, Child Development, Sheep, Sewing & Needle Arts, Photography, Visual Arts, and *Kylee Wessling- Clothing & Fashion, Photography, Rabbit, Woodworking
Griswold Clubsters: *Raylea Amos- Beef, Clothing, Visual Arts, and *Josie Millikan– Family & Consumer, Management, Personal Development
Grove HOT: *Lily Johnson– Clothing & Fashion, Goat, Photography, Poultry, Sewing & Needle Arts, Claire Schroder– Poultry, Rabbit, Sewing & Needle Arts, Sheep
Pleasant Noble United: *Conlan Amos- Visual Arts
Pymosa: *Olivia Olson- Woodworking, and *Miraylie Stuart- Beef
Union Leaders: *Oliver Becker– Goat, Photography, Poultry, Sewing & Needle Arts, *Bay Erickson- Clothing, Food & Nutrition, Home Improvement, and *Bryson Lee- Food & Nutrition, Photography
Washington GEM: *Colton Anderson, *Maddy Anderson, *Jacquie Freund– Horticulture, *Grant Petty, and *Quincy Robinson
Senior project awards were also presented. High school members turn in their record book at the club level to be reviewed then leaders nominate youth’s project records to be reviewed again at the county level. These project records should be well organized, neat, and show evidence of solid Citizenship, Communication, and Leadership. Points received determines if platinum, gold, silver, or bronze award is given. Senior project awards are listed by clubs.
Bear Grove Blazers: Elizabeth Anderson – platinum for Photography; Carter Witzman – platinum for Swine; Bryan York – platinum for Food & Nutrition, Home Improvement, Horticulture, Photography, Sewing & Needle Arts, and Visual Arts
Benton Franklin: Brock Henderson – gold for Beef
Grove HOT: Parker Brock – gold for Food & Nutrition and silver for Communications; Conner Johnson – gold for Photography and Poultry; Rio Johnson – platinum for Clothing & Fashion, Communications, Dog, Food & Nutrition, Home Improvement, Pets, Photography, Poultry, Sewing & Needle Arts, and Visual Arts
Pleasant Noble United: Kaily Swain – platinum for Rabbit and Swine; and Trista Swain – platinum for Goat, Rabbit, and Swine
Pymosa: Keira Olson – platinum for Leadership; Claire Pellett – platinum for Beef and Food & Nutrition, gold for Dog and Home Improvement
Union Leaders: Rachel Becker – gold for Beef and Goat
All Seniors who complete record books are reviewed at the club level as well as the county level. Records are rated on organization, orderly, neat appearance, as well as for spelling and grammar. Points received determines if platinum, gold, silver, or bronze is awarded for overall record keeping award winners by club:
Bear Grove Blazers: Elizabeth Anderson – platinum, Mia Kloewer – gold, David Retallic – platinum, Carter Witzman – platinum, Bryan York – platinum
Benton Franklin: Brock Henderson – platinum
Grove HOT: Parker Brock – gold, Conner Johnson – gold, Rio Johnson – platinum
Pleasant Noble United: Kailey Swain – platinum, Trista Swain – platinum
Pymosa: Dayna Dreager – gold, Keira Olson – platinum, Callee Pellett – gold, Carter Pellett – platinum, Claire Pellett – platinum
Union Leaders: Rachel Becker – platinum, Sydney Becker – silver, Tristan Becker -silver
Bryan York of Bear Grove Blazers received an award for the overall senior record book.
Senior 4-H’ers could also apply for County-Level awards, which required a special application and information regarding their overall 4-H experiences. Those were awarded as follows: Maddy Anderson received Merit Award, Elizabeth Anderson received Achievement Award, Trista Swain received Citizenship Award, Rio Johnson received Leadership Award, Brock Henderson received Learning through Leadership Award, Bryan York received the Danforth “I Dare You” Award.
Members who were participated in activities were asked to stand to be recognized. Members stood who served on a county committee, attended State 4-H Conference, applied for State Project Awards, participated in Club Volleyball, attended the multi-county Speak Out for Agriculture bus trip, attended Officer training or a county workshop along. Members also stood if they participated in a summer or winter camp, or exhibited at the Iowa State Fair this past year.
The 2022 County Fair Herdsmanship Winners were announced. Each club received a certificate and $25 for their club per species they won. Cowpokes won Horse Herdsmanship. Grove HOT won Poultry Herdsmanship. Pleasant Noble United won Goat Herdsmanship. Pymosa won Rabbit and Beef Herdsmanship. Washington GEM won Sheep and Swine Herdsmanship.
Bear Grove Blazers was recognized for the top window display during National 4-H Week, top community service project, and as the Banner Club winner this past 4-H program year.
Top Officer Books were reviewed and announced. Top Secretary Book was from Pymosa 4-H club, Top Treasurer Book was Pleasant Noble United and Top Historian’s book was Washington GEM.
The afternoon concluded with the installation of eleven senior level 4-H’ers onto the 2022-2023 4-H Youth Council. Members are, Elizabeth Anderson of Bear Grove Blazers, Maddy Anderson of Washington GEM, Parker Brock of Grove HOT, Brock Henderson of Benton Franklin, Lily Johnson of Grove HOT, Rio Johnson of Grove HOT, Keira Olson of Pymosa, Olivia Olson of Pymosa, Claire Pellett of Pymosa, Miraylie Stuart of Pymosa, and Trista Swain of Pleasant Noble United.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County 4-H is hosting a Find Out Night for the community and current 4-H or Clover Kid members to learn more about what the program does! On Tuesday, November 15th from 5:30pm-7:30pm you can come and go as you please through the Cass County Community Building, 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic to learn more about 4-H! This event is free, and you don’t need to RSVP.
A short program overview will be presented at 6:00pm and 7:00pm. Throughout the event you will be able to stop at different tables to learn more and ask questions. Information will be provided on why 4-H is free in Cass County, the basics of what 4-H is, including what it stands for and the motto, project areas to get involved with, along with various programs, activities, and workshops we offer to the youth. 
This is a no-pressure event to learn more about opportunities for youth K-12 in the community to get involved in. Get all of your questions answered about 4-H and Clover Kids in Cass County and find a club that best suits you! For more information about 4-H visit our website, www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or call the office 712-243-1132.
Jim Field visits with Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes on this Veteran’s Day to discuss the services they offer.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.4MB)
Subscribe: RSS
AMES, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and no-till field day Tuesday, November 29 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Caviness Farm near Greenfield. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with no-tillage additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events. This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops to maintain yields during the transition to a higher residue system of no-tillage and cover crops.
Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner Randy Caviness purchased his first no-till planter in 1985 and was admittedly skeptical that it would work. However, he stuck with it and his soil test results have shown increases in soil organic matter and soil health. “Many people talk about building up their soil, but then they don’t do anything about it. No-till actually does something about it. The more you leave the soil alone, the better it does. Some people think that if they till every four or five years, that they will get the benefits of no-till. No-till should be called never-till,” noted Caviness.
When asked about the economics of no-till, Caviness responded, “We want to show that you can be profitable and you can save the soil. Quality soil has got to be the bottom line. People need to think about their soil and do a better job for future generations. You can’t just think or say that you are doing a better job, you need to actually do a better job.” Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and resources available to help farmers and landowners make a successful transition to a cover crop and no-till system. Iowa NRCS staff Hillary Olson, State Soil Health Specialist, and Ruth Blomquist, SW Iowa Soil Health Specialist, will lead attendees through soil health demonstration and discussion opportunities for technical and financial assistance. (Listen for Jim Fields’ interview with Liz Ripley on the “Heartbeat Today” page found under the “Programs” tab at kjan.com.)
The field day will be held at the Caviness Farm, 2476 260th Street, Greenfield, IA 50849 and will be held rain or shine. The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Add the chicken, chicken broth, tomatoes, onion and chili powder to the slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6 hours.
Remove the chicken and shred. Put it back in the slow cooker. Add the beans, corn and cilantro.
Cook on high for 30 minutes.
Serve with avocado, cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.
YIELD: 6 to 8 servings
Jim Field visits with Iowa Learning Farms Conservation and Cover Crop Specialist Liz Riply about a Cover Crop and No-Till Field Day on Tuesday, November 29 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Randy Caviness Farm at 2476 260th Street near Greenfield. RSVP to 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (25.6MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Jim Field visits with Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Program Director Kelsey Beschorner about Christmas season events in Atlantic.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (25.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
DES MOINES, Iowa (November 7, 2022) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today (Monday) on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. This week’s report covers the period of Oct. 31st to Nov. 6th.
“Soybean harvest is nearing completion with corn close behind and farmers are also busy with other fall field work as conditions allow,” said Secretary Naig. “Portions of the state received nearly a month’s worth of badly needed moisture last week. Looking ahead, we will see a few more days of warm and dry conditions before a weather pattern change ushers in colder air.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Warm and dry conditions early in the week helped accelerate row crop harvest, which remained ahead of average with 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 6, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, anhydrous application, baling stalks, seeding cover crops, and applying manure.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 17 percent very short, 37 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent very short, 39 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.
Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 89 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain remained 17 percent.
Soybean harvest was virtually complete at 97 percent, 8 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average.
Livestock were mostly doing well, with some reports of calves being treated for pneumonia.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS