The free, Cass County Fair rolls on today, in Atlantic. Here’s what’s on the schedule:

• 8-a.m.: Sheep Show (Outdoor Show Ring)
• 10-a.m.: Pet Show (Cass County Community Center)
• Noon: Working Exhibits, Educational Presentations and Extemporaneous Speaking (Cass County Community Center).
• Noon Special at the Foodstand: Lamb or Ham Balls
• 2-p.m.: Dog Show (Outdoor Show Ring).
• 6-p.m.: Tractor Pull (in front of the Grandstand).

Guided tours around the state fairgrounds will be available when the 2015 State Fair begins August 13th. Museums often offer audio tours and now anyone with a smart phone will be able to plug into one of four different audio tours of the Iowa State Fair. “Everyone has their favorites that they visit at the Iowa State Fair and we are challenging people in 2015 to take a tour and find a new path,” says Mindy Williamson, the marketing director for the State Fair.

Each tour has six stops. One is all about the animals on the fairgrounds. Another is a tour for “foodies” who want to sample some of the fair’s gastronomic offerings. “And then we have a special one called ‘Nooks and Crannies’ which are little-known places on our fairgrounds,” Williamson says, “some places for you to stop and see.” The fourth tour highlights the free entertainment available during the fair.

The State Fair has been held at its current location in Des Moines since 1886. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

(Radio Iowa)

Propane prices continued to fall this week, and were down eight cents compared to last month’s price. Iowa Department of Agriculture energy analyst, Harold Hommes, says the cost for a gallon of propane continues to be below one dollar at 93 cents. “Quite a dramatic difference from a year-and-a-half ago — if you remember January and February of ’14 — we were up to four-and-a-half, five dollars for a lot of product,” Hommes. He says the companies that sell propane have too much on hand.

“There’s actually some pretty significant supply problems, as a nation we are at record levels of propane production right now,” Hommes explained. He says inventory levels in the midwest and across the nation are at record levels. Hommes says Canada has major issues with propane supplies.

“Especially up in Alberta, the Edmonton area, where production is so steep they are pricing propane at pretty much no value. If you have a truck and are willing to get it out of there, it essentially has no value,” Hommes says. He says now is the time for Iowans who heat with propane to fill their tanks. For those who buy propane tanks for grilling, Hommes says those prefilled tank prices are NOT impacted much by the drop in price.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor traveled to Blair, Nebraska today (Friday) for a rally with Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts in an effort to get the E-P-A to change its mind about slashing billions of gallons from the amount of renewable fuels required to be used in the U-S. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds made the trip as the deadline for ending comment on the proposed Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) approaches on Monday.

“I’m am proud to say, that in Iowa, our entire congressional delegation, as well our general assembly, joined Governor Branstad and I in calling on the E-P-A to really reverse course in what was see as a flawed proposal to really gut the R-F-S,”Reynolds says. Reynolds says the move would cost Iowa nineteen-point-three billion dollars and 73-thousand jobs. Reynolds and Governor Ricketts encourage residents of both states to speak out on the issue.

“Now it’s time to share your comments in support of a strong R-F-S before Monday’s deadline,” Reynolds says. She says federal officials need to hear from as many people as possible about the importance of ethanol and other renewables.”Together, we believe we will be heard, and the E-P-A will wake up and realize the many benefits of a robust R-F-S,” Reynolds says.

They encourage you to go on-line and make your comments know on the R-F-S.  Reynolds and Ricketts joined Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson to make their comments at the Novozymes company’s enzyme plant in Blair, Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa)

Day number two of the Cass County Fair in Atlantic is underway. Some activities for today include:

• The Beef Weigh-in from 8-to 10-am
• Rabbit Show in the Indoor Show Ring, beginning at 9-a.m.
• Horse Show in the Horse Arena, at 9-a.m.
• 4-H and Commercial exhibits open at 10-a.m.
• The Meat and Dairy Goat Show is at 10:30 in the Outdoor Show Ring
• Noon special at the Foodstand: Chicken and Noodles.
• Livestock Judging, 3-p.m., in the Outdoor Show Ring
• Mutton Busting (Grandstand), at 6:30-p.m.
• Bull Ride (8-p.m.) at the Grandstand.

Other sites or activities to see and/or partake in at the Cass County Fair today through Sunday, include: Doyle Chainsaw artistry at 10-a.m., 3-p.m. and 5-p.m.; and, the Kids Barn Activities in the Commercial Building, from 10-am until 5-pm.

The Cass County Fair runs through July 28th, with no parking or admission fees. Check out the daily schedule and get more information about the Fair at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass And, follow the fair on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theCassCountyFair. Listen for our live broadcasts every day of the fair beginning today (Friday), from 1-until 7-pm, here on KJAN.

Governor Terry Branstad wants Iowa to become the first state to offer a tax credit for transforming the “biochemicals” that are a byproduct of ethanol production. Branstad discussed the issue with former Iowa Governor and current U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vislack yesterday (Thursday) during a meeting in Washington, D.C.

“Secretary Vilsack, his department — the USDA, has done a pretty extensive report and they are putting together some federal programs to encourage and support this as well,” Branstad says. Branstad’s proposed state tax credit would not be for the ethanol production companies that make byproducts like corn oil and dried distillers grain when they make ethanol. Instead, the tax credit would be offered to companies that find new uses for those “biochemical” byproducts.

“This is something that we both think could be really beneficial for Iowa,” Branstad says. “There’s opportunity for us to get some federal assistance…Secretary Vilsack is really knowledgable about this and that’s an area where I see we have an opportunity to kind of team up and work together on.” Vilsack gave Branstad the report the U-S-D-A released last week about biochemical production and Branstad read it on his way to West Virginia, where the National Governors Association is holding its summer meeting.

Next summer, in 2016, the National Governors Association will meet in Des Moines and Branstad has invited Vilsack to be there for the event. Vilsack was Iowa’s governor in 2005, the last time Iowa hosted the summer meeting of the nation’s governors.

(Radio Iowa)

The 2015 Cass County Fair got into full swing with the crowning of this years King and Queen on Thursday night in  front of the memory garden at the Cass County Community Center.  A large crowd gathered to see 9 candidates vie for Queen and 2 candidates compete for King.

(Left to right) Blake Miller,Emily McDermott, Alyssa Dean, Tyler Steele (Jim Field Photo)

4 Queen candidates were chosen from the previous judging to be interviewed in front of the crowd.  Those finalists were Haley Carlson, Alyssa Dean, Emily McDermott, and Tierney Sothman.  The two king candidates Tyler Steele and Blake Miller were also interviewed for final judging.

After final deliberations by the judges Alyssa Dean was crowned the 2015 Cass County Fair Queen and Tyler Steele was crowned King. Dean is the Daughter of Tim and Corissa Dean and is a member of the Cowpokes 4-H club and Griswold FFA.  Steele is the Son of Doug and Lynette Steele and is a member of the Grant Guys & Gals 4-H club and CAM FFA.

Also receiving awards were Emily McDermott as Princess, Tierney Sothman as Ms. Congeniality, and Blake Miller as Prince and Mr. Congeniality.

The remaining queen candidates were Jessica Aupperle, Katie Aupperle, Mandi Backhaus, Sydney Steffen, and Brookelyn Wahlert. Judging was done by Ronna Herzberg and Shelley Velman.

Also part of the event was the induction of Mary Ottmar into the Cass County 4-H hall of fame.  She was lured to the event under the guise of helping judge the King and Queen contest and then was surprised with the award.  Mary’s son Adam sweetened the surprise by flying in for the ceremony when she thought he was home in California.

The Cass County Fair continues through Tuesday, July 28th.  Listen for live coverage everyday on KJAN.

While final preparations for the 2015 Cass County Fair began Wednesday, here in Atlantic, many other activities are set for today. The schedule includes: weigh-in’s for the swine and rabbit check-in this morning; 4-H static exhibit judging and the Clover Kids showcase, will also take place this morning, along with the Meat Goat weigh-in and Dairy check-in. A Food Sale will get underway at 10-a.m. as well, at the Community Center next to the Fairgrounds.

The Food Stand is open from 6:30-a.m. until 10-p.m. each day of the Fair. Specials this Noon at the Food Stand include Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork and Ham sandwiches. Hot beef is sold nightly at the Food Stand beginning at 5-p.m., with Hot Pork sold only after 5-p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

This evening, the horse, poultry and sheep weigh-in’s will take place. The big event kicking-off the Fair, is the King and Queen Contest at 7:30-p.m., followed by Senior Recognition, at 8-p.m.  The nine Queen candidates include:

Jessica Aupperle-Wiota CAM FFA, Grant Guys & Gals; Sydney Steffen-Griswold Griswold FFA, Griswold Clubsters; Tierney Sothman – Cumberland CAM FFA, Union Leaders; Emily McDermott-Atlantic Atlantic FFA, Pymosa; Brooklyn Wahlert -Anita CAM FFA, Grant Guys & Gals; Mandi Backhaus-Griswold Griswold FFA, Griswold Clubsters; Alyssa Dean-Griswold Griswold FFA, Cass County Cowpokes; Haley Carlson-Atlantic Atlantic FFA, Pymosa; Katie Aupperle -Wiota CAM FFA, Benton Franklin

Your two King candidates this year are: Tyler Steele-Anita CAM FFA, Grant Guys & Gals; & Blake Miller-Atlantic CAM FFA, Grant Guys & Gals.

The Cass County Fair runs through July 28th, with no parking or admission fees. Check out the daily schedule and get more information about the Fair at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass And, follow the fair on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theCassCountyFair. Listen for our live broadcasts every day of the fair beginning on Friday, from 1-until 7-pm, here on KJAN.

w/ Kate Olson

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Iowa communities with a population of 5,000 or more, have the opportunity to learn more about tree care, identification and inventory through a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The two-year grant program currently provides training and assistance to Atlantic, Fairfield, Grinnell, Marion, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine, Oskaloosa and Pleasant Hill, and is now accepting applications for 10 additional communities in 2016.

Grant communities receive intensive training by a team from the DNR and members of the Iowa Arborists Association. Training covers tree identification, health, inventory, planting, corrective pruning and maintenance, benefits of urban trees, ordinances and community outreach.

Through the cooperative effort between the Iowa DNR and the U.S. Forest Service, each selected community will have a complete street tree inventory, canopy cover analysis, and an urban tree management plan with goals and methods to increase its tree canopy.

Grant applications and instructions are available online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/Forestry/UrbanForestry.aspx. The deadline to apply is September 1st.