w/Kate Olson.

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Jim Field visits with Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue about a food pantry drive his department is sponsoring featuring elementary students at Washington and Schuler schools.

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—Dec. 5, 2022— The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation has announced five semi-finalists (Including one each from Adair and Pottawattamie County), for their Grow Your Future Award, a competition for farmer entrepreneurs under the age of 35. Now, the public is being asked to narrow the contestant pool. The three finalists with the most votes between Dec. 5 and Dec. 11 will compete for a $7,500 grand prize during a pitch-off at Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Conference on Jan. 28. Second and third place winners receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.

The entrepreneurs competing in the public voting include:

• Jordian Dougherty of Main at Hart in Marshall County who sells pasture-raised chickens, fall pumpkins, gourds, mums and fresh-cut flowers.
• Titan Immel of AgHub Genetics in Adair County who operates a seed conditioning facility which helps companies supply farming customers with the best quality grain and cover crop seeds to plant.
• Annie Palmer of H8R Acres LLC in Warren County who raises purebred Berkshire feeder pigs and Navajo Churro Sheep, which she plans to market to local restaurants.
• Tanner Sanness of Reconnected Farms in Allamakee County who every year grows between 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of organic gourmet mushrooms sold at grocery stores, farmers markets and to local restaurants.
• Matt Vermeersch of Mud Ridge Ranch in Pottawattamie County who raises and sells Scottish Highland cattle with future plans to direct-market beef and also raises goats that target-graze problem vegetation for public and private projects.

“Young agriculturalists are incredibly savvy in putting their unique thumbprint on Iowa agriculture,” says Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau’s farm business development manager. “And as you watch the videos tied to the online voting, you’ll hear they also have big goals. I’m always impressed by not only the diversity of their businesses but the vision they have that will keep Iowa agriculture moving forward.”

To learn more or to vote, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com/growyourfuture.

(Radio Iowa) – The state expert who tracks the deer population in the state says the herd has been healthy this year. The D-N-R’s Tyler Harms says Hemorrhagic Disease has been a problem in the past — but not this year. “The hemorrhagic disease has been pretty low this year so not a main concern of ours — obviously chronic wasting diseases is still a big concern — and we’re continuing our intensive surveillance efforts across the state,” he says. Harms says they’ve held several public information meetings on C-W-D.

“In Jefferson, Iowa, Glenwood Iowa and Decorah, Iowa, all very well attended and very obvious that folks are concerned and passionate and willing to help with the management of this disease,” Harms says. “We did also just have a virtual public meeting, had at about 225 folks attend that meeting as well. So, really grateful to our hunters and our citizens for taking an interest in learning more about what we all can do to slow the spread of that disease.” Harms says they keep track of the disease by asking hunters to donate samples during the season.

“Especially in areas where we’ve detected Chronic Wasting Disease in the wild, to consider providing a tissue sample for testing for chronic wasting disease, it’s a very valuable contribution to helping us monitor,” he says. The first shotgun deer season is underway now and wraps up on December 7th.

Jim Field visits with Richard Longbow about the Audubon Christmas Craft and Art Show at the Audubon Memorial Building on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm featuring 8 area artists with hand-crafted items.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 2, 2022) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Friday, confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County, Iowa.

The virus was found in a commercial turkey flock.

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

December 1:

• Thatcher Hillyard of Cumberland (winner)
• Char Jesperson of Exira
• Gary Riesgaard of Brayton

December 2:

• Tami Madsen of Kimballton (winner)
• Joe Walker of Atlantic
• Janet Nielsen of Atlantic
• Sandi Lauritsen of Audubon

December 3:

• Logan and Collin Evans of Griswold (winner)
• Ashley Mosier of Atlantic

December 4:

• Roger Hansen of Atlantic (winner)
• Clay Van Aernam of Exira

December 5:

• Kenny Mennes of Atlantic (winner)
• Judy Anderson of Atlantic

December 6:

• Darlene Hansen of Exira (winner)
• Rich Robertson of Atlantic
• Pam Auerbach of Atlantic
• Marilyn Carter of Atlantic

December 7:

• Tambri Paulsen of Anita (winner)
• Chance Will of Anita
• Jan Sorensen of Exira

December 8:

• Clint Paulsen of Anita (winner)
• Madisyn Embry of Anita

December 9:

• Marlene Schwab of Atlantic (winner)
• Carolyn Hartman of Cumberland
• Kristi Simpson of Anita

December 11:

• Mary Christensen of Audubon (winner)
• Jamie Kemp of Atlantic
• Pat Lauritsen of Kimballton

December 12:

• Tracy Hartvigsen of Audubon (winner)
• Meaghan Sager of Atlantic

December 13:

• Maxine Hagen of Atlantic (winner)
• Gary Stetzel of Alantic
• Bob “Doc” Milarch of Atlantic

December 14:

• Beck Benton of Exira (winner)
• Aubrey Waters of Council Bluffs

December 15:

• Brooke Lamp of Atlantic (winner)
• Shirley Winston of Atlantic

December 16:

• Estee Hilsabeck of Elk Horn (winner)

December 17:

• Raelynn Murray of Audubon (winner)
• Lyle Perkins of Atlantic
• Camryn Paulsen of Exira
• Whitney Baxter of Cambridge, Iowa
• Addison DeArment of Atlantic
• Linda Sampson of Exira

December 18:

• Julie McVay of Audubon (winner)
• Jessie Hillyard of Cumberland

December 19:

• Marilyn Paulsen of Audubon (winner)
• Hannah Klocke of Exira

December 20:

• Malena Woodward of Lewis (winner)
• Ellie Rutherford of Atlantic
• Deb Schuler of Atlantic
• Ellie Pelzer of Atlantic

December 21:

• Brenda Zellmer of Atlantic (winner)
• Tabitha Sothman of Cumberland

December 23:

• Cindy Ludwig of Cumberland (winner)
• Keith Feltner of Jefferson
• Brian Jensen of Hamlin
• Maggie Stapley of Lewis

December 24:

• Ashley Van Aernam of Exira (winner)
• Devin Mortensen of Kimballton
• Jessica Olsen of Lewis

December 25:

• Jean Hinners of Elk Horn (winner)
• Tisha Mendenhall of Atlantic
• Collette Muhr of Exira

December 26:

• Sacha McLaren of Atlantic (winner)
• Jessica Paulsen of Ankeny
• Chuck Petersen of Atlantic

December 27:

• Marcia Bourke of Audubon (winner)

December 28:

• Colt Doherty of Atlantic (winner)
• Jim Wiskus of Atlantic
• Gerry Kommes of Exira

December 29:

• Judy Rathman of Atlantic (winner)
• John Jenkins of Exira
• Joan Lauritsen of Harlan
• Rylee Larsen of Cumberland

December 30:

• Brody Klocke of Exira (winner)
• Anna Marie Lowery of Atlantic
• Becky Thompson of Exira
• Johnny Walker of Brayton
• Colleen Riesgaard of Exira
• Helen Rossell of Atlantic

December 31:

• Crista Wiskus of Atlantic (winner)
• Axton Nelson of Audubon
• Sandy Schlotzhauer of Atlantic
• Doris Jensen of Atlantic

Jim Field shares information about the first shotgun deer season in Iowa which begins Saturday, December 3, 2022.

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• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 package (24 oz.) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 medium onion, chopped, or instant onions
• 2 (2.8 oz.) cans French fried onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a heavy skillet, cook beef with pinch of salt until browned, stirring to break into small pieces; drain.  In large bowl mix beef, potatoes, soup, sour cream, cheese and chopped onion.  Spread into 9″ x 13″ baking dish.  Bake 30 minutes.  Top with fried onions.  Bake 15 minutes more, or until bubbly.  Makes 8 servings.

(Susan Christofferson)

Jim Field visits with Tori Gibson of the Anita Town & Country Club about the Anita Christmas Walk Sunday, December 4, 2022.

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