The 41st Annual Carstens Farm Days is this Saturday and Sunday, September 9th and 10th.  The Carstens 1880 Farmstead provides a look back in time to life on the farm in the late 1800’s.

Each year, the show focuses on a different tractor manufacturer.  Board member Terry Torneten say’s this year it’s Farmall.

All tractor colors are welcome.  Torneten says there will be lots of steam and gas demonstrations, crafts, a quilt show and of course plenty of food.  But, he says the highlight is the daily parade.

Breakfast is available each morning and they have a healthy crop of farm-grown potatoes for sale.  Admission is $10 per day for those nine years old and up.  And, the farm is easy to find.

All proceeds help to maintain the farmstead project.

Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum says carbon capture technology can spark what he calls “the golden age of agriculture.”

Burgum is the governor of North Dakota and the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would ship carbon from Midwest ethanol plants to underground storage in Burgum’s state.

Burgum says the Biden Administration is hurting the U-S economy with a crazy level of spending in support of the electric vehicle industry.

Experts say over seven billion barrels of oil could be pumped from the Bakken (BAWK-en) oil fields in Burgum’s home state and Burgum says it’s time for the U-S to focus on liquid fuels.

Burgum campaigned in southwest Iowa yesterday (Tuesday) and toured the Great Plains plant in Shenandoah. The company is involved in a joint venture with United Airlines and a pipeline operator to develop an ethanol-based aviation fuel. Burgum’s campaign is hosting events in Harlan and Denison today (Wednesday).

w/Kate Olson.

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Today:  Widespread haze after 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight:  Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 49. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 80. North northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday:  Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday:  A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board hearing for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline has entered its third week. Summit’s chief operating officer is on the witness stand. James Powell is in charge of design, construction and operation of the pipeline. He says Summit’s project is about ensuring ethanol plants that connect to the pipeline make a profit.

Brian Jordy, a lawyer for pipeline opponents, suggested the Utilities Board is being asked to pick pipeline investors as winners and property owners who don’t want the pipeline on their land will be the losers. Powell responded.

Powell says the company has rerouted its proposed pipeline 15-hundred times in Iowa.

Under questioning, Powell said he does not know the slate of investors in Summit Carbon Solutions. However, Powell did tell attorney Brian Jordy the pipeline company is a spin off of Summit Ag Group, which is owned by Bruce Rastetter, an entrepreneur who’s made investments in the pork and biofuels industries.

Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking eminent domain authority so unwilling landowners would be forced to grant the company permanent access to more than 900 parcels, or sections of property. Landowners opposed to the project testified during the first two weeks of the Utilities Board hearing, which is being held in Fort Dodge.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board hearing for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline has entered its third week — and the company has a list of 15 witnesses scheduled to testify. Property owners who object to having the pipeline run through their land testified during the first two weeks of the hearing. The company’s witnesses are scheduled to testify this week. Summit is seeking eminent domain authority so unwilling landowners would be forced to grant the company permanent access to more than 900 parcels, or sections of property. The route for the proposed Summit pipeline stretches about 680 miles through Iowa and would carry carbon from ethanol plants in five states to underground storage in North Dakota.

Today’s (Tuesday’s) first witness is James Powell, the chief operating officer of Summit Carbon Solutions. Powell previously worked for a company that owned and managed pipelines. The second witness is Summit’s chief commercial officer, who has experience in the biofuels industry.

(Radio Iowa) – The annual D-N-R roadside survey showed pheasant numbers were up 15 percent this year thanks to a mild winter and dry spring. Wildlife research biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says they weren’t the only species that benefited. “Partridge in particular were up quite a bit, significantly just like pheasants, some pretty good numbers we saw up in northwestern or central,” he says. Bogenschutz says quail and cottontail also benefited. He says their numbers this year were basically unchanged from last year. Bogenschutz says quail and cottontail have been seeing declines.

“For quail, they’re down a little bit from the ten year about 23 percent. And cottontails about the same thing — 20 percent,” he says. “So both are kind of just a whisker lower than the ten-year average, but you know pretty close, so should be pretty decent hunting this fall.” He says it seems like cottontails and quail are not so dependent on the dryer springs as pheasants are for their numbers.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Produce in the Park is a weekly farmers market and community gathering held every Thursday evening from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Atlantic City Park, now – October 12th. Organizers say this week, Sarah Selders will be providing live music and two fan favorite food trucks, Pim’s Thai and Zipp’s Pizza, will be on site from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Numerous vendors will be in attendance offering a variety of products including baked goods, produce, sweet treats and crafts.

This week you can look forward to the following vendors:

Aubrey’s Bows: new fall bows

Aubreys Bows

Bridgewater Farms: wide assortment of produce
Brun Ko Farms: radishes, peppers, sweet snacking peppers, 5, 10 & 20 lb boxes of heirloom slicing tomatoes, onions, garlic & jalapenos

Brun Ko Farms produce

Cake’s, Cookies & Confections: assorted pastries & desserts
CJ Treats: baked goods & candles, soaps, body scrubs & oil diffusers
CK3 Farms: wide assortment of produce including watermelon
Harrisdale Farmstead: assortment of produce
Holaday Baking Company: assortment of baked goods & concession items
Imagine Garden Gifts: unique garden gifts including antique, vintage, and repurposed planters.
Kringleman: assorted Danish pastries
Neighborhood Bakehouse: sourdough, baguettes, sandwich bread & mini chocolate baguettes
Noble Provisions: homegrown ribeyes, beef snacks (jerky, summer sausage, beef sticks), beef brats, patties, pork brats, Italian sausage, & ground pork
Piper’s Brae: assorted produce, jams/jellies, syrups & eggs
Sue’s Country Garden: assortment of plants, produce, baked goods & jams/jellies
Ter-Bear Honey: home raised raw packaged honey
The 11th Acre: wide assortment of produce, baked goods, cottage foods & crafts

Featured kids activities include bounce houses, provided by Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Visiting organizations include Zion Recovery, our September Market Sponsor, Cass County Cats and the Atlantic Public Library. Yard games will also be on hand, provided by Atlantic Parks & Recreation.

All vendors accept cash, with many accepting credit cards and Venmo. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps) with all fresh produce vendors accepting Double Up Food Bucks–coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce.

For updates and information on Produce in the Park or how to sign up to participate, visit www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. ‘Like’ or ‘follow’ Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

Produce in the Park is sponsored by: First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cass Health, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Gregg Young of Atlantic, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – The northwest Iowa event billed as the world’s largest county fair starts on Saturday. This is Jerome Hertel’s first year as manager of the Clay County Fair in Spencer. “This fair is pretty much similar, I guess, to the Alaska State Fair where I came from,” Hertel says. “It’s a 501c non-profit fair, which is like much like the Alaska State Fair; about the same attendance — 300,000 people; about the same number of buildings.”

Hertel’s first day on the job in Spencer was April 17th. Hertel says once the fair starts this weekend, it will give him a chance to learn about the fair’s culture. “Who are the people that attend this fair? What are those traditions that are here at the Clay County Fair?” Hertel asks. “This fair is a resource for the community. It’s a reflection of the community, so what is it reflecting, you know, in the community and what’s its position in the community?” Hertel says he’s not looking to make any big changes.

“This fair’s not broke, so if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” Hertel says. “It’s got a great reputation in the industry as being the world’s greatest county fair, so I just want to continue that tradition.” Hertel says the staff and volunteers are paddling like crazy to get done before opening day.

The Clay County Fair starts this Saturday, the 9th, and ends on Sunday, September 17th. Hertel was general manager of the Alaska State Fair for nine years — and he grew up in Parker, South Dakota, across the street from the oldest county fair in South Dakota.

Shelby, Iowa – Iowa farm history will be showcased September 9 and 10 at Carstens Farm during the 41st Annual Carstens Farm Days. This farm show showcases threshing, sawmill operations, crafters and vendors, a quilt show and of course, tractors. The Farm Days show has something for everyone throughout the weekend.

Horse, steam and gas power: Come see steam engines powering antique threshing machines, antique cars, trucks and machinery, a parade, crafts, and entertainment.  Over two hundred restored antique tractors will be on display.  The original Carstens farm buildings will be open for tours. The buildings will be alive with demonstrations that will bring back memories for older visitors and teach valuable history lessons to young people.

Food for all: A Friday evening pulled pork sandwich dinner will be hosted by the Friends of the Shelby Stone Arch Trail Committee. Proceeds of the Friday evening dinner will go to the trail committee.  The dinner will be served from 5:00 – 7:30 pm.  All good days begin with a good breakfast and to start Farm Days off right, a great breakfast is planned at 6:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Snacks and lunch options provided by the Hodges Smokehouse Catering of Minden will be available. Various non-profit local groups will be offering refreshments and delicious desserts all weekend.  Homemade ice cream will be in plentiful supply during Farm Days. Serving Benny’s Ice Cream will be Carstens board member Ben Ausdemore and his wife Katie. This is a treat visitors won’t want to miss!

On Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. enjoy Staley’s Chicken for a delicious dinner at the farm. The dinner will be $15 for adults and $10 for kids age 8 and under. Dinner proceeds will go toward on-going maintenance at Carstens 1880 Farmstead.

Farmall Tractors and Equipment To Be Featured: Farmall equipment of all types will be featured during Farm Days.  Farmall tractor and implement owners are invited to bring their exhibits to display throughout the weekend.  Horsepower-testing, sawmill operations and field demonstrations will occupy tractor exhibitors all day. Over 250 pieces of vintage equipment were on display during the 2022 Farm Days show. Visitors will enjoy watching most of the restored tractors as they go through the parade each afternoon at 2 p.m.

Quilt Show: A colorful display of quilts, wall hangings, wearable art and other types of quilting projects will be featured in the special event building at the farm. Many talented quilters from around the area will allow their works of art to be displayed for all to enjoy. Even if you have never displayed a quilt before, consider joining the fun and bringing a quilt to display.  Exhibitors are asked to deliver their quilts on Friday, September 8. For details about the quilt show or to inquire about adding your quilt to the collection, please call Jan Hursey at 712-544-2662.

Crafts, plants and treats galore: In case visitors run out of vintage tractors and other pieces of equipment to look at, there will be over fifty crafters and vendors on hand. A wide array of crafts, plants, vintage and antique items will be available.  From unique wooden creations to home raised honey, there will be something for everyone.

A very healthy crop of farm-grown potatoes will also be available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale of potatoes will help make improvements to the farmstead.

Sunday Worship: On Sunday morning a non-denominational worship service will take place at 9:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of the Carstens home. Worship will be led by the United Lutheran Church, Shelby. Everyone is welcome to join in the worship service.

Admission:   Admission is $10 per day for everyone nine years and older.

Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc., a non-profit group of local volunteers, oversees an 80-acre working farm museum exhibit located between Minden and Shelby, Iowa in Pottawattamie County.  The farmstead is the home of Carstens Farm Days, which is held the first weekend after Labor Day each September.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  For more information visit the web site: www.carstensfarm.com