(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Fair opened today (Thursday) with Governor Kim Reynolds and others cutting a ribbon near the entrance gate.
The Governor made some brief remarks welcoming everyone.
Fair Board chair Darwin Gaudian of Primghar says he is looking forward to some good weather.
His close “Best Days Ever”, is the theme of this year’s Iowa State Fair. The fair runs through August 20th. 
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Here’s a reminder from “The Station Where your friends are,” that the Nishna Valley Trails group is holding a Kids Bike Ride Saturday, August 12th, at Schildberg Recreation Area west parking lot, in Atlantic. Check-in, and the start of the ride at the west parking lot, will begin at 10:30-a.m.
Three age groups ride a length of the trail according to age. The event is FREE, and all ages welcome. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on in the downtown area!
The Kids Bike Ride is co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner, in Atlantic. For questions, call Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning, at 712-769-2372. 
Jim Field visits with Doug Leonard about the 65th annual Tournament of Champions golf event at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club this weekend.
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(Des Moines, Iowa) – Atlantic FFA Advisor/Ag Instructor Eric Miller reports even before the Iowa State Fair officially began, members of the Atlantic FFA Chapter were hard at work. On Wednesday (Aug. 9th), the Draft Horse Show kicked off with Colton Becker and his Percheron “Spring” began the day by winning Champion FFA Halter class. Next was FFA Showmanship where Becker also came out on top. Finally in the FFA Cart Class, Becker finished 1st and swept the FFA Draft Horse competition. (All photos are courtesy Eric Miller & Melissa Johnson)
When asked about his outstanding day Becker responded, “My experience at the Iowa State Fair was one to remember. Last time I competed in the FFA horse show it was during covid. During covid the state fair was completely different, this year it was nice to experience the normal. This year I competed in 3 different classes and did well in both. I am thankful for my advisor, family, and friends that all come together and help.”
In the FFA English Equitation Division, Taylor McCreedy had an outstanding day. McCreedy won Champion FFA Horse English Equitation. Taylor also placed first in English Walk/Trot and 3rd in English Pleasure. McCreedy will also compete in Western Classes and the CowGirl Queen contest as the Iowa State Fair continues this week. Becker and McCreedy will also represent Atlantic FFA in the Parade Of Champions on Saturday afternoon.
Colton Becker and “Spring”
Colton Becker and “Spring”
Poultry Group; Left to Right: Rio Johnson, Bethany Anderson, Lily Johnson, Conner Johnson, Walker Gary.
Poultry Group; Left to Right: Rio Johnson, Conner Johnson, Walker Gary, Bethany Anderson.
Taylor McCreedy
In the FFA Poultry Show, Atlantic FFA had an outstanding day winning Supreme Champion Large Chapter Herdsmanship and won the Supreme Champion FFA Poultry Award. FFA members Bethany Anderson, Rio Johnson, Conner Johnson, Lily Johnson and Walker Gary brought a total of 44 birds for the show today. Bethany received 3 Blues & 2 Purples, & was named Champion Modern Game Bantam & Champion Old English Game Bantam. She also received 3rd place Showmanship. After the show Anderson said “The other exhibitors and staff were very nice and helpful. The show was lots of fun and was a great experience, seeing many breeds and varieties of poultry was very educational.”
Rio received 10 Blues on her Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 of her birds placing first in its class. Johnson also said, “Not only did I get to help and teach others about my poultry, but I also got to learn from other exhibitors too. It was really cool seeing how much hard work everyone puts in for the poultry project.” Conner received 7 Blues & 2 Reds on his Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 2 of his birds placing 1st in their class. Lily received 8 Blues & 2 Reds on her Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 of her birds placing 1st in its class. Walker received 6 Blues & 2 Reds on his Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 one of his birds placing 1st in their class.
Atlantic FFA would like to give a special shout out to Melissa Johnson for all of her help! Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “it was an outstanding way to start the Iowa State Fair.” Later this week Atlantic FFA members will have 3 individuals with Breeding Cattle, 2 FFA Pigs, 1 individual showing Rabbits, 4 members showing photography and FFA Farm Crops. To finish out the fair 2 individuals will also show FFA Dairy Goats.
(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R heard public comment Tuesday on a new manure management plan for a large cattle feedlot in Clayton County near the headwaters of Bloody Run Creek trout stream. Supreme Beef’s first plan was reversed by a Polk County judge, and Michael Schmidt with the Iowa Environmental Council questioned the details of the new plan. He says Supreme Beef has given no basis for a manure nutrient concentration figure that he says “are inconsistent and untrustworthy numbers.”
Iowa chapters of the Sierra Club and Trout Unlimited successfully challenged the initial manure management plan in court arguing the state agency used “illogical interpretations and applications” in its approval.
(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Barn Foundation has hosted a barn raising on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in hopes of raising fairgoers’ awareness of what it takes to preserve barns. A 16 foot tall barn now stands in the center of the Ag Building on the fairgrounds. Iowa Barn Foundation board member Dwight Hughes says the project has several goals. “We’re looking for memberships to spread the word and create sparks of interest,” Hughes says.
The Iowa Barn Foundation has raised over two million dollars in the past 25 years, providing grants that have helped preserve nearly 300 Iowa barns — but Hughes says the number of grant applications far exceeds their current capacity to help. “So this is in effect a way to try to bring awareness and locate that needle in the haystack which turns out to be people who are willing to part with their hardearned money,” Hughes says, “to help foster the preservation and the saving of the heritage barns in Iowa.”
In 1920, there were about 300-thousand barns in Iowa, but fewer than a third are still standing. “The major element that was on every farmstead and that was a farm that housed the feed and the animals to support the family,” Hughes says. Half of the siding on the model barn at the State Fair is 140 year old red barn boards. “And half covered with new painted barn boards, with new windows and old windows,” Hughes says, “to show people the difference between restored and preserved and how important it might be on their farmstead or their grandpa’s or their great grandpas or whatever.”
Hughes, who lives in Cedar Rapids, says barns were a critical element in all parts of his family’s history. “As a matter of fact, my grandpa grew up in Wales in what was called a long barn,” Hughes says. “Half of it was for animals. Half of it was for family.”
In addition to its first-ever barn raising at the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Barn Foundation will host its annual barn tour next month. On the weekend of September 16th and 17th, 72 barns will be part of the All-State Barn Tour and open to visitors.
(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says recently discovered Eurasian watermilfoil is growing throughout the canals near Miller’s Bay and The Harbor canals on West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County. Brittle naiad was also found in the Triboji lagoon. No Eurasian watermilfoil or brittle naiad was found in the main lake of West Okoboji or the other lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes chain. “We are developing a management plan and working with local stakeholders and communities to develop a plan of action for the coming weeks,” said Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist for the Iowa DNR. “We’re getting permits in place in case the community and DNR decide that a herbicide treatment of the canals and lagoon is the best option.”
The DNR is asking boaters and other users in these areas to be extra vigilant to help prevent the spread of these invasive aquatic plants elsewhere in West Okoboji or the other lakes in this chain. “It is critical to clean all vegetation from boats and equipment before moving out of the canals and lagoon into the main lake to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil and brittle naiad into West Okoboji Lake,” said Kim Bogenschutz, the DNR’s aquatic invasive species program coordinator.
The Iowa DNR Aquatic Plant Management team monitors the vegetation in the Iowa Great Lakes each year. The monitoring has been especially important this summer. East Okoboji, Upper Gar, Minnewashta, and Lower Gar Lakes were aggressively treated with herbicide to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil discovered in those lakes late last summer. The DNR worked closely with lake associations, cities, Dickinson County, and other organizations to develop and fund that treatment plan. Surveys conducted this week found no Eurasian watermilfoil growing in East Okoboji or the three lower chain lakes.
EurasianWatermilfoil
Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive rooted aquatic plant native to parts of Europe and Asia, can spread quickly and outcompete beneficial native plants. It reproduces by fragmentation, which means small pieces of it grow into new plants and form thick beds. Iowa’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program has been a national leader in control efforts to stop Eurasian watermilfoil for the past 30 years. “Iowa DNR has successfully eradicated the plant in many lakes throughout the state. The size and complexity of the Iowa Great Lakes present real challenges for management,” explains Hawkins. “Lakes with healthy, diverse native aquatic plant communities may be less susceptible to an infestation that takes over the native plant community.”
“Boaters and anglers can unintentionally spread Eurasian watermilfoil, brittle naiad, and other aquatic invasive species if they do not take the proper precautions before going between lakes and after each time out on the water,” said Bogenschutz.
Clean, Drain, Dry is a simple three step process that boaters need to follow every time they move from one body of water to another.
It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, in Iowa. Boaters must also drain all water from boats and equipment before leaving a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport.
Find more information about aquatic invasive species and a list of infested waters in the 2023 Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet or on the DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/ais.
Jim Field visits with Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce intern Paige Jensen about AtlanticFest this weekend.
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