In the mid-19th century leading up to the Westward Expansion, people traveled by covered wagon to attend the first Iowa State Fair in 1854 on a six-acre tract in Fairfield. Today, more than a million visitors stroll the historic state fairgrounds in Des Moines to soak in the sights, sounds ...
The knight has seen better days. I wouldn’t doubt the full-size suit of armor was at the entrance when Traer Pizza Palace opened under that name. After all, there was a theme to be had, and the building lacks turrets or a moat. Somewhere along the line, perhaps during the few years’ ...
August is here and we are in the home stretch of summer. July has been very eventful for the Tama County Board of Supervisors. We appointed three new members to the Board of Adjustment and one new member to the Zoning Commission. I welcome the new members who’ve been appointed and am ...
Sweet corn is being eaten in droves. The State Fair is right around the corner. That means it’s only a matter of weeks before kids head back to school. The start of a school year brings the promise of learning, exploring new ideas, and ways of thinking about the world around you. And yet I ...
It’s been a couple months since I’ve written one of these, and I appreciate everyone’s patience. Things have been busy, and while that’s not an excuse, I know how important it is to stay in touch with the people we serve. When I took office, I said I would keep the public in the loop, ...
Last week, the cornhead was moved to its final resting place before it is sold. While traveling the country roads to the destination, it was a trip down memory lane. Whether it was driving by formerly Dengler farmed fields or familiar farmsteads which laid on the path to my Grandma Pohlman’s ...
Across Iowa, independent grocery stores keep their small towns vibrant. They support and strengthen rural economies and contribute to healthy communities. For many generations, Logan Super Foods has served the citizens of Logan, Iowa. As the town’s main grocery source, the store has ...
Rural economic development comes in many forms, however, in Iowa, wind energy is a dominant presence and Adair County is a great example of that. Adair County contributes to Iowa’s status as the second highest producing state of wind energy, hosting more than 500 turbines, or 8% of all ...
Since retiring from farming, I have reflected on it more than needed. While there are parts I could have done better, it also showed me how hard it is for a younger generation to gain a foothold in today’s farming world. It is no secret that farmers are an older bunch, and consolidation keeps ...
Over the past decade since my fellow Iowans sent me to Washington to make the big spenders squeal, I’ve been exposing waste, fraud, and abuse almost too insane to believe. Recently, I was proud to see some of that work deliver a win for Iowa taxpayers. Both the Senate and House passed the ...