(Radio Iowa) – Volunteers are needed in north-central Iowa this weekend to help clean up a stretch of the Boone River. In years past, they’ve hauled out everything from water heaters to wagon wheels. They’ll be clearing out debris from the waterway on Saturday as a group, according to Brian Stroner, with the city of Webster City, who’s organizing the Boone River Clean-up.

“We’re going to be on the river for about four to five hours,” Stroner says. “We’re going to provide food and drink, some T-shirts. We’re also offering a self-guided clean-up to where people can go at their own pace. We’ll have dumpsters available at the 7-B canoe access, also at Briggs Woods.”

Hamilton County Conservation naturalist John Laird said since the first clean up of the river in 2007, volunteers have collected a range of interesting items. “We’ve found all kinds of things,” Laird says. “We’ve found couches, washing machines, washers, dryers, cars, car parts, old safes.”

Hamilton County Conservation Board photo

They had planned to clean a stretch of the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge this weekend, but the plans were called off due to the high water levels. The Boone is one of Iowa’s most scenic rivers.

Learn more about the weekend cleanup at the Hamilton County Conservation Facebook page. Volunteers are to meet at Briggs Woods Shelter #1 at 7:30 AM on Saturday.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s been a dramatic decline in the total number of barns in Iowa over the past century and it’s estimated fewer than 75 in the extremely rare round design remain. Wayne Frost of the Iowa Barn Foundation says most of the round barns in the country were built between 1900 and 1920.  “There was some work in early 1900, some of it at Iowa State and other universities that linked a round barn to maybe being more efficient and less expensive to build,” Frost says.

By 1925, though, Iowa State Extension warned against round barn construction due to the expense of materials and how difficult it was to find carpenters with the skills needed to complete the complicated designs.  “If you look across our landscape, every barn we have is different,” Frost says. “Even every round barn is different. Oftentimes they would have a silo in the center of it.”

2021 photo of a Hardin County Round Barn (Iowa Barn Foundation Facebook post)

Round barns are so rare now that dozens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s a 94-year-old round barn on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars. At this month’s State Fair, the Iowa Barn Foundation is building a small barn inside the Agriculture Building on the fairgrounds to promote their work. The group raises money and awards grants to people who are working to preserve barns on their property.

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Fair is quickly approaching and the anticipation of the annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show is building. The Iowa beef cattle industry is again partnering with the governor in this fundraising event to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Hundreds of fairgoers will attend the August 10 event, featuring youth, industry supporters, local celebrities, and of course, steers. Each steer is exhibited by a local youth representative and a guest celebrity selected by the sponsor of the steer. Twenty-four steers will be shown this year. Along with Gov. Kim Reynolds, we have other notable celebrities showing this year ranging from industry favorites to college. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC).

Exhibitors from western Iowa include Claire Pellett from Atlantic, and her steer “Magic.” They are sponsored by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. The animal will be shown by Celebrity hosts Dr. Dan Grooms & Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard, Dean of Veterinary Medicine at ISU. And, Ryan Brenner of Mapleton, and his steer “McEars” will appear during the event. They are sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. The animal will be shown by celebrity host Stan Nelson, ICPB President.

“The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show showcases the good that can be done by one industry when producers, industry supporters, and community namesakes collaborate,” said Jenna Smith, ICA member services and Governor’s Charity Steer Show co-chair. “The cattle industry is full of people that care and it is an honor to work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, who provide a crucial service to families in need.”

The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been held since 1983 and has raised over $5.1 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa since the show’s inception. Last year the show raised more than $500,000, the third year in a row that the fundraising record has been broken. Funds are raised through online donations, sponsorships, and an auction of steers following the show. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa too.

If you are interested in supporting the Governor’s Charity Steer Show, consider donating online or attending the show/auction to contribute. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is being held in Pioneer Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 10 at 4:30 p.m. For additional information about the Governor’s Charity Steer Show or to donate, visit www.iowagovernorscharitysteershow.com.

2024 Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show Participants

1. Sponsor: Iowa Beef Industry Council & Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
   Celebrity: Kim Reynolds
   Exhibitor: Alexa Fitzgerald | Tipton, IA
   Steer:Ritz
2. Sponsor: Crawford County Cattlemen and Nor-AM Cold Storage
   Celebrity: Gov. Adam Gregg
   Exhibitor:Calli Korner | Schleswig, IA
   Steer: Smokey Bear

3. Sponsor: Davis County Beef Promoters
   Celebrity:Mercedes Northup, TV Personality
   Exhibitor: Layne White | Blakesburg, IA
   Steer: Budder

4. Sponsor: Mahaska County Cattlemen & Friends
   Celebrity:Mike Eisele, President, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
   Exhibitor: Baylen Brink | Oskaloosa, IA
   Steer: Rocco

5. Sponsor: Iowa Farm Bureau
   Celebrity:Brent Johnson, President, Iowa Farm Bureau
   Exhibitor: Lilly McClure | Dallas Center, IA
   Steer: Buddy

6. Sponsor: Dee Zee, Inc. (The Quality Truck Accessory People)
   Celebrity:Megan Hindman, Clinical Assistant Professor at ISU College of Vet Med and Iowa State Fair Vet
   Exhibitor: Blayne Beaty | Russell, IA
   Steer: Jimmy

7. Sponsor: Iowa Bankers Association
   Celebrity:Jeff Angelo, iHeart Radio Personality/WHO Radio
   Exhibitor: Emma Norman | Searsboro, IA
   Steer: Whopper

9. Sponsor: Volunteer Boards of Iowa Ronald McDonald House Charities
   Celebrity:Kale & Falisha Nelson, Family utilized the Siouxland House
   Exhibitor: Lily Schulenberg | Aurelia, IA
   Steer: Ned
10. Sponsor: Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s
    Celebrity:Cole The CornStar from CornStar Farms, YouTube & Social Media Influencer
    Exhibitor: Izzie Birker | Garrison, IA
    Steer: Sir-Loin
11. Sponsor: Central Iowa Ronald McDonald Houses and Des Moines Area Independent Owner Operators
    Celebrity:David Robers, Owner J&D Restaurants, DBA McDonald’s
    Exhibitor: Kaylynn Murty | Tama, IA
    Steer: Mulligan

11. Sponsor: Siouxland Ronald McDonald House and Siouxland Area McDonald’s Operators
    Celebrity:Colin Newell, Former Iowa State University Lineman & Current Farm Bureau Representative
    Exhibitor: Jacob Ringkob | Moville, IA
    Steer: McMister

17. Sponsor: Friends of Floyd County
    Celebrity: Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
    Exhibitor: Brennan Ruzicka | Marble Rock, IA
    Steer: Peaches
18. Sponsor: Monroe County Cattlemen & Supporters
    Celebrity: Mark McCully, CEO, American Angus Association
    Exhibitor: Cheyenne Houk | Blakesburg, IA
    Steer: The Business
19. Sponsor: Iowa County Beef Supporters
    Celebrity:Dawn Driscoll, Iowa State Senator
    Exhibitor: Georgia Klingner | Williamsburg, IA
    Steer: DJ Boots
20. Sponsor: Foster and Evelyn Barkema Charitable Trust and Friends of Franklin County Cattlemen
    Celebrity:Chip Flory, Host of AgriTalk
    Exhibitor: Lucy Wibholm | Dows, IA
    Steer: Ronnie
21. Sponsor: Iowa Junior Hereford Association
    Celebrity:Audi Crooks, All Big 12 Center for Iowa State University Women’s Basketball
    Exhibitor: Lainey Harre | Gilman, IA
    Steer: Hilton Storm
22. Sponsor: Benton County Cattlemen and Local Supporters
    Celebrity: Tim O’Connell, 3X World Champion Bareback Rider
    Exhibitor:Reagan Burmeister | Rowley, IA
    Steer: French Fry

18. Sponsor: Iowa Corn Promotion Board
    Celebrity:Stan Nelson, Iowa Corn Promotion Board President
    Exhibitor: Ryan Brenner | Mapleton, IA
    Steer: McEars

19. Sponsor: Johnson County Cattlemen and Reeve Farms
    Celebrity: Levi Paulsen, Former University of Iowa Lineman
    Exhibitor:Olivia Allen | Tiffin, IA
    Steer: Willy

20. Sponsor: Jackson County Cattlemen and Friends of Jackson County
    Celebrity: Brenna Bird, Iowa Attorney General
    Exhibitor: Addysen Felderman | Bellevue, IA
    Steer:Maverick

22. Sponsor: Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
    Celebrity: Dan Grooms, Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University
    Exhibitor:Claire Pellett | Atlantic, IA
    Steer: Magic
23. Sponsor: District 20 Cattlemen’s Associations
    Celebrity: David Carr, 2X NCAA Champion Wrestler and Associate Director of the Cardinal & Gold Collective
    Exhibitor:Kate Totemeier | Columbus Junction, IA
    Steer: ZZ

23. Sponsor: Iowa Premium, A National Beef Company
    Celebrity: Tom Gavin, Father of Brogan Gavin
    Exhibitor:Brogan Gavin | Lansing, IA
    Steer: Johny 

24. Sponsor: ServiTech, Inc.
    Celebrity:Ryan Hassebrook, ServiTech President & CEO
    Exhibitor: Addy Schaa | Kamrar, IA
    Steer: Cooper