LaVon Eblen recaps 25 years of Backyard & Beyond in her final show.  Thank you, Lavon, for bringing information, wit, wisdom and class to KJAN!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – A Sac County woman is charged with felony criminal mischief and livestock neglect after hundred of dead hogs were found at confinement lots in western Iowa.
Thirty-three-year-old Elana Laber of Early was arrested Thursday by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office after deputies located more than 1,000 dead pigs at two hog confinements in rural Sac County. Authorities say the animals had been dead for more than a week when they were discovered, and the pigs did not have access to food and water.

Laber was hired to manage both sites. The owners, Corey AGR Inc., estimate losses at more than $150,000. As of Friday, Laber remained in custody at the Sac County Jail on a $22,000 bond.

Jim Field visits with Ted Robinson about the Atlantic Rotary Club’s Pancake and Sausage Flight Breakfast at the Atlantic Airport on July 4 from 7:00 am – 11:00 am.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (22.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

• 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
• 1 can (6 oz.) crab meat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed
• 3/4 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 6 flour tortillas

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Stir in the crab meat, red pepper, cheese, onions, parsley and cayenne.  Spread 1/3 cupful over one side of each tortilla; roll up tightly.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cut and discard ends of roll-ups.  Cut each into six slices.  Place on baking sheets coated with cooking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve warm.

YIELD:  3 dozen

Jim Field sends out a personal invitation to join the KJAN staff in wishing LaVon Eblen the best tonight during a meet and greet at Produce in the Park from 4:30 to 6:30 in the Atlantic City Park.  Tomorrow, July 1, 2022, LaVon will air her final Backyard & Beyond program.  That will mark exactly 25 years since her first program.  We’ll have some goodies to give away too!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (11.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Tomorrow, July 1, 2022 at 9:45 am, LaVon Eblen will air her final Backyard & Beyond program on KJAN.  To honor Lavon, we will be holding an open house event tonight, Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Produce in the Park from 4:30 – 6:30 in the Atlantic City Park.  Stop by and greet LaVon and pick up some free goodies.  In addition to her contributions at KJAN, LaVon has been a tireless volunteer in the community.  We wish her well and hope you stop by this evening!

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson reports Katie Bateman is the new, Youth Programs Coordinator at the Cass County Extension Office. Olson says Bateman is no stranger to the 4-H program, and that knowledge will serve her well in the role she began in Mid-May. She’s has jumped right in to working with youth, parents, volunteers, and partners across the county, Olson says. The Youth Program Coordinator role is a full-time position, with responsibility for youth outreach programming and 4-H program management in Cass County. Katie’s first month on the job has been a flurry of activity with livestock weigh-in and entries, county fair preparation and summer daycamps and programming.

Katie is a graduate of Atlantic High School and was active in the Cass County 4-H program throughout her early years, serving in leadership roles at the club and county level. She remained involved in college, interning for several years at the Cass County extension office during the summer and helping form a collegiate 4-H club at the University of Northern Iowa, where she graduated with a degree in Leisure Youth and Human Services. Following graduation, she worked as a CYC in the Story County extension office for two years, in addition to other work experience with youth organizations and senior living communities around Iowa. She has also stayed involved as a volunteer in 4-H programs as she has moved across the state. Katie is excited to get back involved with the Cass County 4-H program to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.

Katie Bateman, Cass County Extension Youth Programs Coordinator.

Bateman says “As a Cass County 4-H Alumni and previous 4-H Staff member, I’m excited to be back in Cass County and leading a program I love! I’m looking forward to stepping back into the Cass County 4-H program and getting to work with our youth, volunteers and partners to keep our local program strong and continuing to grow.”

Kate Olson invites you to stop by the Cass County Extension Office at 805 W. 10^th Street in Atlantic and welcome Katie to her new position, or give her a warm welcome as you see her at upcoming programs and around the fair this summer.  She is available to answer questions regarding 4-H and youth programming or share information on resources available through Iowa State University Extension in Cass County.

Katie can be reached by calling the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or by email at kbateman@iastate.edu. For information on upcoming youth and 4-H activities in Cass County, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, follow @CassCoIAExt on Facebook or @casscountyiowa4h on Instagram.

Jim Field visits with Linda Schumacher about the 4th of July celebration in Avoca.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (26.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/Kate Olson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says universities, farmers and communities with projects that could turn agricultural waste into usable products can apply for new federal grants. Vilsack uses the example of manure — separating the water from the solids.  “Why is that important? Because we’re faced in some parts of this country with serious water shortages. We need to reclaim that water,” Vilsack said.

“What do you do with what’s left? Well, you evaporate any additional moisture from that you create a pelletized fertilizer product that you put in a bag and you can sell…You eliminate the need for storage. You eliminate the smell. You create a new product. You create a new job opportunity in rural places.” A total of 10 million dollars is set aside for this U-S-D-A pilot program.

“All of this is designed essentially to create additional revenue streams for farmers, additional job opportunities in rural places, and states like Iowa should be all over this.” Vilsack made the announcement at a family-owned creamery in Ely that sells bottled milk, cheese curds and ice cream made from milk produced by the family’s 150 dairy cows.