Jim Field visits with Christian Connett of the band, “Cover That.” They will perform your favorite classic rock songs at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield Friday, November 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Get tickets at warrenculturalcenter.com.
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(Radio Iowa) – Iowa deer hunters are often asked to donate venison to help feed the hungry, but they’re also urged to donate deer hides for use in the Veterans Leather Program. Lisa Widick, state spokeswoman for the Iowa Elks, says the state’s Elks lodges collected more than four-thousand deer hides for the program this past hunting season. The hides were trucked to a tannery in Missouri, then the finished leather is sent back to Iowa — and the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. “They use the leather as craft program and turn around and make moccasins, backpacks, gun cases, oh my gosh, all kinds of things,” Widick says. “It’s amazing to see, utterly amazing.”
The leatherworking program is used as therapy for recovering veterans, but she says it’s entirely reliant on the charity of Iowa’s deer hunters. “We talk to hunters and ask them, ‘What do you do with your deer hides?’ and most of them say, ‘We throw them in the ditch. Why would we want them?’ Or they’ll take them to Tyson and trade them for a free pair of gloves,” Widick says. “That’s all good and fine. I get it. People need free gloves, too, but look at what your deer hide can do for a veteran.”
Hunters who would like to donate hides should contact the nearest Iowa Elks lodge, and there’s a website (www.elks.org/lodges) where you can locate all 31 of them in the state. “Every time we mention the word ‘veterans,’ people’s ears perk up. It means a little bit more than just talking about a deer hide and that it’s going to make a pair of leather gloves for a guy in a wheelchair or a pair of moccasins you can buy to wear,” Widick says. “It’s about veterans and keeping them busy and helping them somewhat rehab and be able to have a little bit of production in their life.”
A wide range of veteran-made products, including leather goods, ceramics and beadwork, are available to the public through the Iowa Veterans Home Gift Shop.
On the web at: https://ivh.iowa.gov/about/gift-shop
Jim Field visits with baseball card and memorabilia collector John Liepa who will present a program focusing on the 222 Major Leaguers and 7 Hall of Famers from Iowa. His program will be Sunday at 1:30 at the American Legion Memorial Building in Atlantic.
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(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa trapping season is underway, and a D-N-R expert says the prospects are good. Furbearer biologist, Vince Evelsizer, says there shouldn’t be any trouble finding furs. “Most of our species of furbearers and Iowa are doing well, the populations are either stable, or increasing slightly,” Evelsizer says. “Examples of that would be things like coons and beavers, even red fox, that sort of thing.” Evelsizer says the only two species that they’re concerned about are foxes and muskrats — which have seen declining populations. He says making a profit from trapping is a little less certain.
“It does look like there continues to be a relatively weak, wild fur market going into this fall and winter. However, some species like bobcats, and beavers, have increased a little bit in value,” he says. Evelsizer says the price of the furs is influenced by several things. “In general, it has to do with the garment industry, and where supply and demand issues are. Right now, for example, in the past six, eight years, especially China and Russia, were two countries that were the bigger for buyers,”Evelsizer says, “and relations with those two countries in the U-S has been tense past few years, and that can affect trade on things like wild furs.” He says there’s been around 14 to 15-thousand licensed fur harvesters the past few years.
“When the fur market is weak, it does tend to lead to a lower harvest or effort from our harvesters,” Evelsizer says. “But that being said, there’s still a lot of fur harvesters that go out and do it. You know, your regardless of the fair market value, they go and do it because they love trapping or they love predator hunting or they love running their coon dogs.” Evelsizer says some trappers aren’t concerned about the fur price.” Some folks are interested in the meat, you know, things like a beaver, for example, can be actually very good eating,” he says.
Trappers don’t have to sell their furs this year — Evelsizer says they can keep them for one year and see if prices go up before they have to sell. He says there is one more beginning trapper event for the year this Saturday in St. Charles. It’s for beginner trappers of all ages and you can sign up on the Iowa D-N-R ‘s website to register.
Jim Field visits with Cass County Youth Coordinator Katie Bateman about the “4-H Find Out Night” this evening from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Cass County Community Center.
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(Radio Iowa) – The corn harvest is heading down the final stretch. The U-S-D-A report finds 95 percent of the corn had been combined by Sunday. That is eight days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the average. Farmers in northeast and south-central Iowa have the most work left — with more than 10 percent of their corn still in the fields. The report found the soybean harvest was virtually complete at 97 percent two weeks ago.
ATLANTIC, IA (November 14, 2022) – Harvest Market 2022 is now accepting preorders. For information and to preorder for Harvest Market 2022, visit www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com. Shoppers will pick up preorders and have the chance
to shop Harvest Market in-person at the Cass County Community Center on Monday, November 21 from 3-7 pm.
Market Manager Brigham Hoege says while almost all vendors will offer in-person shopping, two favorite baked goods vendors are only selling preordered products: Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts and Claire’s Cinnamon Rolls. Miss NiNi is selling gourmet cheesecakes, pies, flourless chocolate tortes, and Raspberry Danish Butter Cookies. Claire is selling frosted cinnamon rolls and caramel pecan rolls.
Claire Pellett is selling her customer-favorite frosted cinnamon rolls at Harvest Market 2022 by preorder only
Most Harvest Market vendors offer both in-person shopping and preordering. However, preordering is recommended for customers who want to plan on a particular food item or gift, as some products may sell out.
Harvest Market is held the Monday before Thanksgiving, so shoppers can pick up premium local produce, meats, baked goods, and other local foods to enjoy at holiday celebrations. The market also offers handmade craft products, including seasonal candles and soaps, beauty products, holiday decorations, and gifts.
Harvest Market 2022 vendors include: Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Sue’s Country Garden, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, Claire’s Cinnamon Rolls, Noble Provisions, The Kringle Man, Hygge Cottage, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Midwest Candles by Brit, Johnna Joy Designs, Piper’s Brae Farm, Wud Bi Tek, JD Crafters, Matilda Dawn Creations, Atlantic Atlas Cinema,
Frosting Inc., Spirits of the Faire, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Harrisdale Farmstead, Donna’s Jewelry, Rolling Acres Farm, Corn 4 a Cause, Holaday Baking, Unicorn Clouds, and Smudge. Pim’s Thai Food Truck will be parked outside the Community Center selling dinner to go.
Harvest Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, Deter Motor Co., First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Cass County Farm Bureau, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Harvest Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. 
Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Harvest Market and other holiday farmers markets (Christmas Market Dec. 22, Sweetheart Market Feb. 11, and Spring Celebration Market April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.
Jim Field visits with author Linda McCann, who has written several books on Iowa History. Linda will be giving free programs on Prohibition and Prisoners of War at three area libraries:
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