Farm News:
 It's Sidney to Sidney for Andrea Rexroth
Andrea Rexroth figured it was fate when a job opening came up in Sidney, Iowa for the Fremont County Extension Program Coordinator. That's because Andrea grew up in Sidney, Nebraska! Rexroth, whose father, Keith, is a dry land wheat farmer out in the panhandle of the Cornhusker state, took the job last October and has been busy meeting people and enhancing lives in the county ever since. Andrea's mother, Nancy, is a consumer science teacher. She also has two older sisters, Valerie and Trisha. Andrea graduated from UNL-Kearney with a Bachelors of Science degree and an emphasis in marketing. She and her family have always had a passion for and have been deeply involved in 4H and she knew if a career opportunity came up in this area she'd be open to it. So when a friend told her of the opportunity in Iowa, she jumped at the chance. With all the changes that have taken place within Iowa State Extension over the past year, Andrea finds herself in a situation where she's employed by the Fremont County Extension Council while at the same time maintains a working relationship with ISU Extension via Regional Director, Alan Ladd. Not one to back away from a challenge, Andrea is embracing her new career and looks forward to working with the youth and people of Fremont County. She says the extension council has really welcomed her and the many volunteers who give of their time so readily in the county have been great as well. For more information on the many progams and events upcoming via Fremont County Extension, give Andrea a call at 712-374-2351. Oh, and by the way, Andrea is planning on visiting Sydney, Australia...someday!
 Hurst Family Knows How to Diversify in Show-Me State
One of the main themes of these articles is people in KMAland who don't rest on their laurels; they're energetic, proactive folks who get after it and make things happen every day of their lives. That's definitely the story with the Hursts of Atchison County, Missouri. Blake and Julie Hurst are not only involved in a vast family farm operation but are also busy with a very successful wholesale greenhouse business; Hurst Greenery of rural Westboro, Missouri. The Hursts have three children and four grandchildren. Their son, Ben, is a first-year Virginia law student and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Another daughter, Ann, is Strategic Development Director for Community Hospital of Fairfax, Missouri. Their oldest daughter, Lee, along with her husband, Ryan, help Blake and Julie raise and sell bedding plants in an operation which encompasses four acres, two of which are under roof. It wasn't always this way of course. Blake and Julie started their business from scratch in 1978 after returning from college, selling a few houseplants to the local HyVee Food Store. From there Hurst Greenery has indeed blossomed into a provider of thousands of plants to well-known companies like Earl May. If you were fortunate enough to take in a Saint Louis Cardinal baseball game last year the flowers you saw adorning Bush Stadium originated from Hurst Greenery. Beyond the greenery business, Blake is also vice-president of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. He also enjoys a good debate, and will be involved in an "Oxford Debate" in New York City this spring with the focus on organic agriculture. How does this busy farmer/entrepreneur make all this happen? Blake says it's as a result of a hugely supportive family, the nucleus being his mom and dad, Charlie and Millie Hurst and his brothers, Kevin and Brooks along with their wives and children. And of course, Julie, whose love for house plants over 30 years-ago has grown into a thriving family business that continues to grow and prosper. As we look forward to spring and spring plantings here in KMAland, we're glad the Hursts went after their dream all those years ago.
 Henson "Thinking Spring", "Thinking Green"
It's not so hard "being green" when you're Mace Henson. Mace is the store manager of the Earl May Garden Center in Shenandoah. Henson moved to the area in 1982, spent some time in Burlington, Iowa and is now back in town with his bride, Robin, dreaming of spring with his customers and fellow employees. Mace has quite a heritage with Earl May, at one point or another all 4 of his brothers have worked for the company, so working amidst the flowers, shrubs and trees is not foreign to him. He appreciates his staff, all the part-time help and also full-time employees Brian Kingsolver and Adam Meek. Mace reminds us now is a good time to jumpstart spring and start thinking about giving plants early germination indoors. Tomatoes, onions and other delicious vegetables can be started from seed under artificial light and heat. He also reminds us it's a good time of year to dream of landscaping and begin putting plans in place for warmer weather; including the planting of trees, replacing those that may have been damaged or destroyed by nature's ice and wind. Looking for a little sunshine and optimism as we continue to make our way through the winter of 2010? Look up Mace Henson at the Earl May Garden Center in Shenandoah.
 Sunderman Loves the M&M's
If you ask Paul Sunderman of rural Bethesda, Iowa what his favorite color is he might just reply, "Prairie Gold." Why prairie gold? Because for many years prairie gold was the established color of Minneapolis Moline tractors, and Paul just happens to have a few on his "Rolling Hills Farm." As a matter of fact, Paul is an avid collector of the warm-colored machinery. The son of Wilbert and Emma Sunderman, Paul grew up north of the Immanuel Lutheran Church Northwest of Clarinda, Iowa and was around when his dad bought a Minneapolis Moline ZT tractor from Del Bumgarden, who at the time was selling the line of tractors in Bethesda. Paul has four children, Stacey, Steve, Craig and Jay and enjoys many grandchildren as well. His son, Steve, farms the ground for Paul while Craig raises cattle in an operation of his own. Paul began collecting "M&M" tractors around 20 years ago and the collection has steadily grown since then. He owns seven "R" tractors including one with a cab that was built in 1939. He is also proud of his "Vista 1000" tractor, one of the larger machines in the group with over 100 HP. Paul is involved in many tractor organizations, including the Tarkio Valley Antique Tractor Association, MMCI and the Prairie Gold Club. He says if you're interested in tractors of the past, especially Minneapolis Molines, don't miss the Minneapolis Moline Collectors Convention in Clarinda's Wibholm Hall March 18-20. For more information, call 712-542-4384. I'd tell you to just look for the guy in the yellow hat, but chances are there's going to be plenty of those at the convention!
 Beavers Enjoying "Semi-retirement" in Shenandoah, Iowa
When Tom Beavers was growing up on the farm near Villisca, Iowa in the 40's and 50's he always figured he'd be farming the family ground after high school and college. After a farming accident severely injured his leg when he was nineteen, a new life path would lead him into a career in broadcasting. Beavers, a 1955 graduate of Villisca High School, married Pat (Murphy) Beavers of Coin, Iowa in 1959. After graduating from Iowa State in 1959, he was eventually offered a job at KMA radio in Shenandoah, Iowa, where he began as an associate farm director in 1960. Tom and Pat raised two children, Brian and Amy, and now have four grandchildren; Brielle, Avery, Alex and Max. After working for awhile in the banking industry, Tom came back to KMA in the 80's and eventually became Farm Director, a position he "somewhat" retired from in 1999. Pat, meanwhile, became a teacher in those early years after graduating from the Teacher's College in Maryville, Missouri and taught for 34 years in various school systems around Iowa, including Shenandoah. Tom is proud of his Southwest Iowa farming heritage which dates way back to 1853 in the Villisca area. He still helps his sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Carl Stephens, farm the "home place", especially during spring planting and harvest seasons. Dean Adkins of KMA is happy Tom still works those "part-time" hours at the radio station so he can take some time off and do other fun things like work county fairs, take vacations and attend area sporting events etc. Still active in many organizations, including the Southwest Iowa Pioneers, you'll be apt to see Tom and Pat at many events in KMAland. There you'll be greeted with an enthusiastic smile and knowing Tom, a good story or two!
FARM NEWS:
CHICAGO (AP) _ Agriculture futures advanced Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery jumped 10.75 cents to $4.84 a bushel, while March corn climbed 4.5 cents to $3.56 a bushel and oats for March delivery rose 4.75 cents to $2.31 a bushel. March soybeans surged 16 cents to $9.295 a bushel.
Meanwhile, beef and pork futures also traded higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
February live cattle inched up 0.25 cents to 87.67 cents a pound; March feeder cattle added 0.9 cent to 99.22 cents a pound; February lean hogs edged 0.87 cent higher to 67.57 cents a pound; and February pork bellies gained 1 cent to 81 cents a pound.
University of MO Extension will conduct a series of informational meetings on direct marketing of your farm products at the new administrative building in Maryville on Thurs. Feb. 4th & 11th with each session beginning at 7pm. Pre-registration is recommended by Friday, Jan. 15. Cost is $50 for 4 sessions or $15 for each.
Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in Glenwood. Sessions are scheduled every week for six weeks, beginning on February 2 and concluding on March 9. Participants will meet at Holy Rosary Church in Glenwood from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Classes consist of six, 2 ½ hour sessions held once a week. For more information, or to register, contact the ISU/Mills County Extension Office at 712-624-8616.
Cass County Extension will be offering the following Commercial Pesticide Applicator Courses for recertification: Wednesday, February 10, Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Plant Disease Management and on Wednesday, February 24 Seed Treatment. Call Cass County Extension for locations and times.
Private Pesticide Applicators meetings in Fremont County have been scheduled for Feb. 15th at 7 pm at the Fremont Mills High School. Pre-registrations are required. For more information or to register, please call 712-374-2351.
Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification will be held at Adair City Hall on Wed. Feb. 17th at 6:30pm.
The next regular meeting of the Page County Soil & Water Conservation District will be on Thursday, February 18th at 7:30 am at the District Office in Clarinda. For more information, please call 712-542-5484.
Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification will be held at Orient Methodist Church on Tues. Mar. 2nd at 1:30pm.
The 44th Annual Farm and Ranch Machinery show "Triumph of Agriculture Exposition" will be held on March 3rd and 4th between 9 am and 5 pm at the QWest Center in Omaha. For additional information, please contact Bob Mancuso, Director of Exhibits at 402-346-8003.
Women in Southwest Iowa are invited to attend the fourth annual "Boots to Heels Conference to Celebrate Rural Women" to be held in Atlantic on Saturday, March 6 from 8am until 3pm. Conference participants will be able to select from 11 unique topics of interest during 4 workshop sessions. Registrations postmarked prior to Friday, Feb. 19 are only $30 and $35 after that date. For more information visit www.extension.iastate.edu/shelby.
Cass County Extension will be offering Commercial Pesticide Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicator Courses for recertification on Wednesday, March 3 and on Wednesday, March 10 the course will be for Certified Handlers. Call Cass County Extension for locations and times.
Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification will be held at Armstrong Research Farm in Lewis on Tues. Mar. 16th at 9:30am.
The Adams County Hunter Ed Class will be on March 18th and 19th between 5:30 and 9 pm at the Corning Junior High and March 20th between 8 and 11 am at the Corning Gun Club. Must attend all classes and complete the workbook. Registration is required by calling 641-322-3111. There is no cost and adults are welcome.
Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association Ag Committee is collecting donations for a Shenandoah sponsored Livestock sign that displays champion and reserve champions at the Page County Fair. For more information, please call the chamber at 712-246-3455.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts wants to remind all landowners that they can sign up for state cost share funds at any time of the year.
Dollars are available to assist with care of your well. The DNR provides these funds to assist with well testing, closure, & reconstruction. Water test kits and applications are available at your County Public Health Offices.
© Associated Press and KMA Radio. For individual information purposes only.
Questions or comments welcome.
1.800.234.5622
|
