Ag News

FARM NEWS:

State Conservation Officer's Work Much More Than Just Enforcement

When it comes to the great outdoors, enforcing the "law of the land" is just one part of the career of a State of Iowa Conservation Officer.  Deb Howe, State Conservation Officer with the State of Iowa Department of Natural Resources, serves the Page and Montgomery County areas. 

Howe says confiscating weapons from those who break hunting laws (like the weapons you see in the photo to the left) is one aspect of what she has to do on a daily basis, but opportunities for safety education through various planned programs and summer camps is another part of her job in which she finds great satisfaction. 

State conservation officers also partner with neighboring states and are very connected with local law enforcement agencies, ensuring hunting laws are obeyed to the fullest extent so the outdoor experience can be enjoyed by everyone in a safe, legal environment.

Howe says she also stays busy conducting surveys, providing tagging opportunities for those who trap bobcats and otters along with offering special permits for those who are involved in trading.  Howe does take poaching very seriously, as she encourages anyone who suspects poaching to call 800-532-2020.  

She says much training is involved to become a state conservation officer and the competition to enter the career is great, but now that she's been in the area for five years she still thoroughly enjoys what she does and looks forward every day to working with the people of Page and Montgomery Counties who share her love of the great outdoors.

York Working Hard to Conserve the Soil He Loves

When Dave York talks about the number of terraces that have been installed in Cass and Audubon Counties in Iowa over the last couple of years his eyes light up like a little kid surveying presents under the Christmas tree. 

York, a 1989 Farragut High School graduate and also an alumni of Iowa State University, is District Conservationist for both southwest Iowa counties.  After taking a serious look at Vet School and a degree in Agriculture education, Dave decided to direct his attention to the area of soil conservation with a lot of support and encouragement at the time from his mom, Janell McIntyre.  His wife, Kristy, also works for the Natural Resources Conservation Service as an area program specialist.  Dave and Kristy have two children, Katie and Bryan.  They enjoy spending a lot of time with their kids, most recently at area swimming events.

Dave has worked all over the state of Iowa since he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Studies at ISU, in towns like Williamsburg, Red Oak, Muscatine, Davenport, Carroll and Creston.  He's been in his present position in Atlantic for the last four years. 

One of the main messages Dave is doing his best to pass along to producers and landowners these days is the importance of maintaining strong conservation practices in the face of higher commodity prices.  With the potential for larger profits comes the temptation to put ground more vulnerable to erosion into production.  Dave says programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program, Conservation Reserve Program and the Environment Quality Incentives Program are positive alternatives that allow farmers/landowners to practice good conservation while at the same time being offered some incentives to continue to do the right thing for the land they love.

If you'd like to talk with Dave about the many conservation opportunities available through the NRCS like terraces and no-till, feel free to give him a call in Atlantic at 712-243-3180.

McGrew Brothers Take Conservation Seriously on Farms Near Emerson, Iowa

Many of the stories we find on this page revolve around passion.  Passion for something that is near and dear to the hearts of  producers and landowners in KMAland.

Steve McGrew, like the brothers and nephew he farms with near Emerson, Iowa, is passionate about conservation.  McGrew and his wife, Nancy, live on a farm south of Emerson and enjoy spending time with their children; Nicholas, Monica and Stephanie.  The couple remains very active in various farm organizations and Steve even finds time to enjoy Nancy's beautiful stained glass work that is displayed around their country home. 

After employing many conservation practices over the years including the building of terraces and the implementation of no-till, McGrew is now involved in the Conservation Stewardship Program which rewards farmers who are already heavily invested in proactive conservation practices and encourages them to do even more. 

These improvement "bundles" include but are not limited to the areas of crop rotation, cover crop, pasture improvement, brush management, prescribed burning and prescribed grazing.

Steve's grandfather was a proponent of conservation practices many years ago and the mindset remains instilled in Steve and his family today.  Through programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program, quality ground can stay that way and actually be enhanced for the future generations that will depend on it to help feed an ever-growing world population. 

If you'd like to learn more about the CSP, give your District Conservationist a call.  In Mills County, where the McGrew Brothers farm, talk to Brian Gross as 712-624-8606.

Turner and Brockman Working Hard and Having Fun in Brokaw FFA

There's just not much you don't get by being a part of FFA.  You learn a lot and you have a good time, just ask Chance Turner (right in photo) and Scott Brockman (left in photo) of the Brokaw FFA Chapter in Clarinda. 

Turner and Brockman have been involved in many activities this academic year, including growing poinsettias in the agriculture department green house last fall, raising four different varieties and eventually selling them to local community members at home sporting events.  They also donated many beautiful poinsettias to area churches and nursing homes.

 The Brokaw FFA chapter, led by Andy Johnson, is also getting ready for leadership contests held in February. Members will be competing in the areas of:  Conduct of Meetings, Creed Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, Job Interview, Ag Sales, Radio Broadcasting and more.  Members will have the opportunity to move on to district competition in March.  Brockman has also been deeply involved in the Supervised Agriculture Experience where he took 1^st place last year in the swine placement category.

The Brokaw FFA Chapter also provides a free recycling service to community members the first Saturday of each month, reaching out to 92 homes in the Clarinda area.  The group picks up paper, cardboard, tin, plastic and glass directly from resident's homes, something they've been doing now for 9 years.  Turner, Brockman and the rest of the FFA members don't mind donating the extra time as they know it's not only good for them but great for the community as well.

It is yet another example of caring, motivated and ambitious young people doing kind things for others while at the same time helping themselves through FFA members like Chance Turner and Scott Brockman of the Brokaw FFA Chapter in Clarinda.

Love

of Grandchildren, Animals and the Great Outdoors for Ed and Shirley Hughes of Atchison County, Missouri

Shirley Hughes will tell you she's always been somewhat of a "Tomboy" and even though the years have continued to fly by on the farm south of Hamburg, Iowa across the border into Missouri, she'll also tell you the "Tomboy" in her is still very much alive and well! 

Shirley was raised on the farm just East of Highway 275 and is a graduate of Rock Port High School.  She met her husband, Ed, on a blind date a "few years back" and now after 54 years of marriage they enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren, three great grandchildren and the many animals that also reside at the farm.  A predominately Charolais cow-calf herd, geese, some miniature horses and a few dogs keep the couple busy when their grandkids aren't making their way to the farm to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma.

Ed was raised in the Fairfax, Missouri area where he and his family raised tobacco. As tobacco farming migrated further south into the areas of Kentucky and Virginia, Ed still remembers the hard work and determination it took to raise a quality tobacco crop.  As a matter of fact, Ed says a few tobacco barns can still be spotted in areas of Atchison County, Missouri where tobacco leaves used to be hung to dry many years ago.  Ed still keeps busy raising and selling hay and doing some custom-bailing for his good neighbors as well. 

Ed taught school for many years at West Nodaway School and  was a longtime football coach .  The teaching genes have also stayed in the Hughes family as Ed and Shirley's daughter is a teacher in St. Joseph, Missouri and a grandson is currently student teaching in the Millard school district in Omaha.

Shirley doesn't mind a bit getting up early to tend to her animals, never really a chore but something she's enjoyed doing all of her life.  As the grandkids gather to spend time on the homeplace with their grandparents, Shirley and Ed will tell you life is very good on the farm nestled in the rolling Loess Hills of Atchison County, Missouri.

Have an idea for an "out & about"?  Contact Dean Adkins at dadkins@kmaland.com!

Things Are Hoppin' For Davis-Rodgers FFA Chapter in Shenandoah

Young people love being involved in KMAland FFA chapters and the reasons for the affection vary as much as the kids themselves. 

Drew Neilsen, (right in photo) Emma Christensen, (middle in photo) and Trevor Johnson, (left in photo) are a few of the many members of Lindsey Peterson's Davis-Rodgers FFA Chapter in Shenandoah.  Numerous character-building activities have dotted the calendar since the school year commenced, giving the FFA members positive experiences to draw upon as they make important decisions for their futures. 

A few of those activities have included the Missouri Agriculture Field Day, Fall Fruit Sales, work at the Bricker Botanical Center, Adopt-A-Family and the collecting of shoes for those in need through the Souls-For-Souls project.

Things don't slow down much either as the Davis-Rodgers FFA students look forward to many activities this semester.  The members will be looking forward to fun, social events such as roller-skating and an upcoming ski trip to Mount Crescent in western Iowa.  Important FFA competitions are also on the nearby horizon as they'll be practicing for sub-districts in February while preparing for National FFA Week in February as well.

As the Davis-Rodgers FFA students will tell you, a young person doesn't have to live on a farm to benefit from the leadership and confidence building skills gained from being involved in FFA.  If you have any questions, Drew, Emma, Trevor or any FFA chapter member will let you know FFA is definitely worth looking into and ultimately being a part of. 

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