MASON CITY, Iowa — Feathers are being ruffled in Mason City over chicken carcasses. According to the Mason City Globe Gazette, local officials aren’t optimistic about stopping cases where homeowners complain about smells of decaying chickens coming from nearby farming operations.

Dan Breyfogle of Mason City has experienced the problem firsthand. He says that in July, two trucks deposited loads of chicken manure and carcasses on a farm property adjacent to his.

The smell was overpowering, and Breyfogle and his wife complained to county officials, public health officials, elected officials and officials from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

DES MOINES, IA (Aug. 2, 2021) — Registration for the “Healthiest State 11th Annual Walk”, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, is now open. On Wednesday, October 6, thousands of Iowans across the state will participate in organized walks at schools, workplaces and in their communities. Registration is free and easy: Visit IowaHealthiestState.com/Walk to sign-up as a household, school, workplace, organization or community to walk for 30 minutes any time on October 6. Jami Haberl, executive director for the Healthiest State Initiative, says “Walking is an accessible form of physical activity that benefits our physical, mental, emotional and social health. Following more than a year of social distancing, we are excited to once again gather with our fellow Iowans to walk and re-connect.”

The 2021 theme “Walk More. Connect More.” highlights the social benefits of walking. Being physically active is one of the most important steps that people of all ages and abilities can take to improve their health and integrating exercise with social activities has been shown to have a positive impact on our overall health.  Jeff Russell, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa and Board President of the Healthiest State Initiative, says  “Delta Dental of Iowa is proud to be the presenting sponsor and longtime supporter of the Healthiest State Annual Walk. We know that social connectedness is a key component to Iowans’ health and walking is the perfect opportunity to connect with our neighbors, colleagues and classmates.”

Studies have shown that walking or exercising with others provides supportive relationships for behavior change. Walking within communities creates more opportunities for social cohesion and personal interactions while increasing safety, reducing pollution and boosting local businesses. Lura McBride, Annual Walk Co-Chair says  “The theme for this year’s walk is perfect.  Walking is a big part of total wellness ­– heart, mind and spirit – and an intentional focus on total wellness as well as getting reconnected with colleagues, friends and family is so important for relationships in our workplaces and communities this year.”

Those who register for the Healthiest State 11th Annual Walk will have access to resources, such as communications templates, social media guide, customizable posters and a month-long walking calendar. The Healthiest State Initiative is also hosting two contests:

School Mascot Challenge: The first 64 schools who register will automatically be entered in the School Mascot Challenge. Fans will be able to vote weekly in the bracket-style competition and the winner will be announced following the Annual Walk on October 6.  The winning mascot will earn their school $1,000 to spend on a health and wellness project.
Community Walk Mini Grant: The Healthiest State Initiative has partnered with the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association to award mini grant(s) to community parks and recreation departments to promote walking in their community and have registered for the Healthiest State 11th Annual Walk. Applications due August 31. See full details and apply here.

Show your excitement for the Healthiest State 11th Annual Walk by posting a photo from your walk (or walks from years past) and use the hashtag #WalkMoreConnectMore or #HSIWalk2021 on social media. For more information and to register a walk, visit IowaHealthiestState.com/Walk.

Healthiest State Month in October

The Healthiest State Annual Walk also acts as a kick-off event for Healthiest State Month celebrating 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! across the state. Iowans are encouraged to keep practicing healthy habits, including physical activity, throughout October. Schools, workplaces, health care clinics, communities and households can download toolkits to help them celebrate Healthiest State Month at IowaHealthiestState.com/HSIMonth.

Today’s (Monday’s) Schedule:

8:00 A.M………………………………………Beef Show
**1 hour after conclusion of morning beef show will be a Beef Fitting Contest
8:00 A.M………………………………………4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
9:00 A.M………………………………………Best of Iowa
11:00 A.M……………………………………..Rotary Watermelon Feed
1:00 P.M……………………………………….Cass County Cattlemen’s Kids Cattle Clinic
2:00 P.M……………………………………….Dairy Cattle Show
4:00 P.M……………………………………….Building Awards
5:45 P.M……………………………………….Parade of Champions
Bucket of Junk/Fundraising Auction
6:30 P.M…………………………………………………..Grand Champion Beef Selection
7:45 P.M……………………………………………… Livestock Released

TUESDAY, August 3
8:00 A.M……………………………………….Livestock Sale
8:00 A.M.–10:00 A.M…………………………Static Exhibits Released

(Radio Iowa) – A regulatory change touted as a less expensive way for retailers to switch to selling gas with a 15 percent blend of ethanol is a key part of the debate over the governor’s proposed ethanol mandate. Early this year, Governor Kim Reynolds called for a state law requiring all Iowa gas stations to sell gas with a 15 percent ethanol blend by 2026. The proposal stalled this spring, but supporters hope to revive it. Monte Shaw is executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Shaw says his group does NOT support a mandate that would force retailers to crack into concrete and replace the underground fuel tank that leads to pumps above. “But there’s a waiver provision in this legislation that would say if you just have to make some minor modifications above ground, we have a state grant program that helps you with that,” Shaw says.

“A lot of times, these are $8,000-$10,000.” And Shaw says already existing regulations from the state fire marshal allow pumps dispensing gas with 10 percent ethanol to switch to E-15. Mark Cobb of Brighton owns nine gas stations in eastern Iowa and is installing new pumps to offer E-15 to his customers at all locations. He says it costs far more than the 10-thousand dollars Shaw mentioned. “I’d have been thrilled if I could have brought E15 into my stations for that kind of money,” Cobb says. “…I have to have insurance on my system…They require that I have a dispenser that is UL listed for E15, which requires a replacement.”

Cobb, who is an investor in a biodiesel plant, too, says he’s not opposed to efforts to promote the sale o “However, I’m not a big fan of a mandate or being forced to sell something that maybe consumers aren’t ready to accept yet,” Cobb says. And Cobb says premium gasoline that has NO ethanol in it must be used in some vehicles on the road today in order to maintain the warranty. Iowa Corn Promotion Board vice president Kelly Niewenhaus, a farmer from Primghar, says he’s optimistic the two sides can find common ground in 2022.  “I’m not a fan of mandates either,” Niewenhaus says, “but we need to grow this industry and since Iowa is the largest corn producing state in the United States, the largest ethanol and biodiesel producing state in the United States, we need to send a message to the rest of the country that we support our industries and what we do for our economy in the state of Iowa.”

The three men made their comments on this weekend’s “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S. Three months ago, Governor Reynolds said she’d ask representatives of ag groups and gasoline retailers to meet this summer and fall, to try to come up with a compromise Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard. There’s been no public announcement that a working group has been formed or is meeting.

(Radio Iowa) – A rare bird has been spotted in northern Iowa. Erich Gilbert, assistant manager at the Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Titonka, says there’s a partial albino among the Canada geese that have settled in for the past few weeks.”It looks almost like a ghost or a hologram,” he says. It’s the time of year for Canadian geese to molt — lose their feathers. Albino birds are rarely found in the wild.  “They say that birders — someone who is a bird watcher — is likely to see this maybe a couple of times in their lifetime, but it may be a cardinal, it may be a sparrow, it may be any kind of bird,” Gilbert says. “It is quite rare, but if you’re a bird watcher, you’re likely to see one at some point.”

Gilbert says the albino goose is visible from the county highway passes along the south end of the refuge. Gilbert can see sandhill cranes in a shallow area right across from his office. “They nested here for the third year in a row,” Gilbert says. “Three years ago they nested here for the first time in at least 100 years, probably more than that.”  The drought has made the refuge more attractive to birds.

“Most birds actually like water that’s knee deep or less and some of them actually like water that’s like a half inch deep or even a mud flat, so those shallow water depths aren’t a great problem for birds…but eventually we are looking forward to the rain returning,” Gilbert says. “Hopefully what’ll happen is we’ll get some rain here late summer or early fall and we’ll get things filled back up here for the fall.”

Automobiles may start driving on the tour route through the refuge on August 1st. It’s open to the public from sunrise until sunset through September 20th. The driving route starts at the Refuge Headquarters, which is six miles east of Bancroft. Gilbert says there are all sorts of birds, including ducks, trumpeter swans, great blue herons and pelicans, at the refuge and the best time to see them is in the early morning or evening hours, when the temperatures are cooler and the birds are most active.

Saturday’s schedule

8:00 A.M………………………………………..Sheep Show
8:00 A.M……………………………………….4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
8:30 A.M………………………………………Herd Dog Trials
10:00 A.M……………………………………..Pet Show
11:00 A.M……………………………………..Meat Goat/Dairy Goat Show
12:00 P.M………………………………………Working Exhibits, Ed. Pres., Extemp. Speaking
3:00 P.M………………………………………Livestock Judging Contest
4:00 P.M……………………………………….Youth Water Fights
6:00 P.M……………………………………….Tractor Pulls

Sunday’s Schedule
7:30 A.M………………………………………..Swine Show
8:30 A.M………………………………………Tractor Ride
10:00 A.M…………………………………………Poultry Show
10:00 A.M……………………………………..4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
12:00 P.M–4:00 P.M……………………………Decorator’s Showcase
12:00 P.M.–3:00 P.M…………………………..Tractor Display
2:30 P.M. ……………………………………..Pedal Tractor Pull
3:00 P.M.–3:30 P.M……………………………Feeder Calf Weigh–in
4:30 P.M………………………………………County Fair Church Service
5:30 P.M………………………………………Cow/Calf Show
6:00 P.M………………………………………Feeder Calf Show
6:30 P.M……………………………………….Horse Fun Show
7:00 PM……………………………………….Golf Cart Races

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Liz Denney about her work at the Cass County Fair Food Stand. Liz runs the Cass County Fair Food Stand and with the help of a team of volunteers, Liz provides food for the many people attending the Fair this year.

Liz has run the food stand for 24 years and is also a member of the Cass County Fair board. Even with all the work Liz does for the Fair, she also runs her own salon, called Simply Hair. Liz says her favorite part of working with the Fair is the people, getting to see everyone, and always putting the needs of the 4-H and FFA exhibitors first.

Anne Quist, Grace Garrett, Krysta Hanson, Marcus Daugherty, Mike Cook, Donnie Drennan, Dolly Bergmann, Dr.Keith Leonard, Liz Denny, Lucas Mosier, Kelsey Beschorner, Alden Harriman, Colt Doherty, Ruth Sears. (Photo submitted)

The food stand is always looking for food donations and volunteers. The food stand is open from 6:30 A.M to 10:00 P.M. There are many events that the Fair is putting on this year, including bull riding, a king and queen contest, tractor pulls, blindfolded golf cart race, and many different animals shows.

For more information about the Cass County Fair visit their Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/CassCoFairIA

The 2021 Cass County Fair rolls on in Atlantic. Here’s a list of today’s scheduled activities:

8:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M …………………………Beef Weigh–In
8:00 A.M…………………………………………..Rabbit Show
9:00 A.M………………………………………. Horse Show
10:00 A.M……………………………………….4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
11:00 A.M………………………………………..Dog Show
3:30 P.M…………………………………………Clover Kids Animal Show
5:30 P.M…………………………………………Share–the–Fun/Style Show
6:30 P.M………………………………………….Mutton Busting
8:00 P.M…………………………………………Bull Ride

Remember, there is no charge to park, and no entrance fee, so come on out to the Cass County Fair and be sure to stop at the Fair Food Stand. It’s open from 6:30-a.m. until 10-p.m. each day through Monday, and from 6:30-until 10:30-a.m., on Tuesday.

From left to right: Prince and Mr. Congeniality Garrett Reynolds, King Craig Alan Becker, Queen Emily Plagman, Princess Caroline Pellett

The 2021 Cass County Fair got into full swing on Thursday night with the King and Queen contest held in front of the community garden at the fairgrounds. Emily Plagman was crowned 2021 Cass County Fair Queen and Craig Alan Becker was crowned King. The candidates went through a round of judging prior to fair with a meal and interviews. Then on Thursday night they were introduced to the crowd, asked about their involvement and future plans, and asked a surprise question written by their peers.

A total of 3 King candidates and 9 Queen candidates participated. Mr. Congeniality was awarded to Garrett Reynolds and he was also named Prince. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Taylor McCreedy. Princess went to Caroline Pellett.

King Craig Becker is a member of the Benton Franklin 4H club and Atlantic FFA. He is the son of John and Abby Becker. Queen Emily Plagman is also a member of the Benton Franklin 4H club and the CAM FFA. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristi Plagman.

The Little Miss and Mister contest was held just prior to the King and Queen contest. Youngsters 5-8 years old can enter the contest and winners are chosen by a drawing. The 2021 Little Miss went to Adalyn Hanson and Little Mister went to Ethan Retallic.

2021 Little Mister Ethan Retallic and 2021 Little Miss Adalyn Hanson with 2019 Prince Mitchell Williamson, 2019 King Nathan Behrends, and 2019 Queen Haley Becker

(Radio Iowa) – Two Iowans spoke at a Senate hearing on cattle markets Wednesday. Jon Schaben, the owner of Dunlap Livestock Auction, says something needs to be done to help independent producers. “With an increasing prevalence of extreme market shifts and the limited ability of producers to mitigate market risks in the cattle industry, it is imperative that we uplift the concerns of those in the production sector for this Senate Judiciary Committee hearing,” Schaben says.

“Simply put, the beef supply chain begins with and relies upon thousands of independent cattle producers.” He says the money those producers receive has declined dramatically. “In 20015, 51-and-a-half percent of the consumer dollars spent on beef returned to producers. In 2020, that figure dropped to 37 percent. That’s been a steady decline from what the producers are getting from what the retail dollar is,” Schaben said. He says the large meatpackers controlling the industry is a concern.

“Cattle producers work hard to manage inputs, mitigate risks, and raise cattle that ultimately provide the high-quality beef demanded by meatpackers, retailers, and consumers,” according to Schaben. The greatest fear of independent cattle producers is to lose their livelihoods to meat-packing efficiency, an example of vertical integration. We’ve witnessed vertical integration in the swine and poultry industries — so we know what that path is like.” Shane Miller of Sioux City is the group president of Fresh Meats at Tyson Foods. He had a different view of what is going on with beef prices.

“The present divide between live cattle and boxed beef prices is not the result of a consolidated industry, lack of competition or the cash markets,” according to Miller. “The concentration of ownership within the meat processing industry is virtually unchanged over the last 30 years. Instead, the present spread between live cattle and beef prices has everything to do with supply and demand.” He says the shutdown of plants caused by the pandemic made the situation worse.

“This led to an oversupply of live cattle and an undersupply of beef — all while demand for beef products is at an all-time high,” Miller said. “So, it should not surprise any of us that as a result, the price for live cattle fell, while the price for beef rose.” Miller says Tyson provides several options to producers.

“Producers decide for themselves how to best market and sell their cattle. With Tyson they have a variety of options available — whether that be negotiated cash market, forward contracting, or tailored alternative marketing agreements — or A-M-A’s,” he said. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is on the Judiciary Committee and says had strong reservations about consolidation within agriculture and the livestock industry for more than 20 years.