Two northeast Iowa dairy farms will be featured on tours
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team is hosting a field day focused on dairy technology on the farm. The Aug. 16 field day will feature two farm visits where attendees can see heifer facilities utilizing activity monitoring systems and the use of a sand separating system.
The first farm visit will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Foresight Farms heifer facility, located at 1574 Big Canoe Road, Decorah. From Big Canoe Road go south on Sattre Ridge Road (gravel). The facility is on the east side of the gravel road. The dairy recently constructed the steel frame monoslope heifer facility and utilize an activity monitoring system on cows and heifers. Owner Dave Wise will be on hand to answer questions about the facilities and equipment.
Learn about opportunities and challenges of carbon credit markets
Renewed interest in carbon markets and carbon credit trading is quickly finding its way to the farm. In an effort to provide updates and answer questions, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will hold a public webinar August 11 from 1-3 p.m.
A group of specialists will discuss the basics of what a carbon market is, how people can participate, the benefits and consequences of participating and the things landowners and tenants should consider.
“Some farmers are already being asked to join marketing agreements,” said Chad Hart, professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist at Iowa State University. “Over the last six to eight months in particular, we have seen a lot of private companies starting to set up their carbon trading mechanisms and some are reaching out to landowners.”
Members of the Kee baseball team stand with the State Runner-Up trophy and banner they were presented after having a late comeback rally end up a bit shy for a 7-5 loss to second-seeded and fourth-rated Council Bluffs St. Albert in the Class 1A State Tournament Championship game played Thursday, July 29 at Merchants Park in Carroll. Having been unranked and awarded a number-four seed heading into their first State Tournament appearance since the 2011 season, the baseball Hawks opened the tournament with a 4-3 opening-round win over fifth-seeded and seventh-rated New London Monday, July 26 before upsetting top-seeded and third-rated Remsen-St. Mary’s, 5-3, in a nine-inning marathon in the semifinal round Wednesday, July 28 for a state of Iowa record 17th trip to a summer State Tournament championship game, where the Hawks had a four-run sixth inning rally end up short of a complete comeback to claim another state of Iowa best eighth State Tournament Runner-Up finish.
On track for success ... Waukon teenager Carson Johanningmeier is pictured at left above on his motocross dirt bike and at right above holding some recent motocross award winnings that are the result of the work he has put in on the dirt track over the years. Johanningmeier is competing this week at the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee. Submitted photos.
Soaring to even greater heights ... Waukon teenager Carson Johanningmeier sails his motorcycle over a pick-up truck and UTV in a jump stunt he performed as part of his enjoyment of riding motorcycles and competing in motocross. Johanningmeier is competing this week at the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee, where he hopes to take another step forward in the pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional motocross racer. Submitted photo.
by Lissa Blake
Waukon teenager Carson Johanningmeier has one goal in mind: to become a professional motocross racer.
He is well on his way to achieving that goal, having recently qualified for the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch - the world’s biggest amateur motocross race - currently taking place this week in Hurricane Mills, TN. Johanningmeier has qualified in both the 250cc and 450cc races for this year’s national grand finale. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the national championship event has been hosted since 1982 at the ranch home of country music legend Loretta Lynn and has served as a career launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross racing, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test to assess the capabilities of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert next Wednesday, August 11, with a back-up date of August 25 in case of an actual weather or other emergency. This is the sixth national Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test and the second national Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) Test.
This time, however, the WEA portion of the test will be directed only to those cellphones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive WEA Test messages. Both the WEA portion and the EAS Test will commence at 1:20 p.m. CST. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Saturday, July 17, during the opening ceremony for the Iowa Department of Public Safety Fire Service Training Bureau State Fire School in Ames, the Fire Service Training Bureau posthumously awarded the late Daniel Howe of Waukon with its Field Programs Instructor of the Year Award. Howe’s wife, Linsey, and their son, Easton, (center of photo) were present at the ceremony to accept the award in Howe’s honor. Presenting the award were John Kraemer (far right), Fire Service Training Bureau Chief, and Al McCune (far left), Fire Service Training Bureau Instructor. The award was given “In recognition of dedication to training fire service professionals across the state,” noting that Howe “made a positive contribution toward fulfilling the mission of the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of the State Fire Marshal.” Submitted photo.
As part of a nationwide tour presented by the Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, Patriot Tour riders John Schumacher and Brad Washburn (left to right in photo above) arrive at Iron Hill Harley-Davidson in Waukon after traveling from Fennimore, WI July 27. This year’s tour began in Las Vegas, NV May 13 with the U.S. flag then traveling to Honolulu, HI and Palmer, AK before a return to Las Vegas and the tour resuming in the contiguous 48 states. Pictured below at right, Patriot Tour rider Quentin Quandahl (left in photo) accepts the transfer of the U.S. flag in a ceremony officiated by Washburn (right). Quandahl and fellow Patriot Tour rider Steve Trumblee next traveled from the Waukon area July 28 to Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson in Waterloo to transfer the flag for the next portion of the tour, which will reach all 50 U.S.
Home gardeners and plant enthusiasts can still receive helpful advice and answers to their questions from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Aaron Steil, newly named consumer horticulture extension specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, is working on a new delivery method that will empower county extension staff to provide answers locally.
Steil began the new position June 14, following the retirement of horticulture specialist Richard Jauron. Steil previously worked as assistant director at Reiman Gardens and taught a horticulture lab course for a decade.
“My hope is to really work to build up resources and trainings for county staff that gives them the information and confidence to answer the gardening questions that come to their county offices,” he said.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center held a “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp July 28-29 for students entering fourth through sixth grades this fall. This two-day camp was a “Shark Tank”-style experience (based on the “Shark Tank” television series) where students learned basic business concepts and vocabulary, created a business plan, discussed customer service and created their own logo and business cards. Students listened to presentations from local businesses including Indi-Com Electric & Surveillance, WW Homestead Dairy and Decker Delish. The students concluded camp by presenting their business ideas to area business leaders who represented the “sharks” that provided feedback on the business ideas. Build Your Own Business Camp is sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and the Allamakee County Community Foundation.
The regular meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, July 19 dealt mainly with the business of preparing for the new school year by reviewing and approving numerous items. Board President Heather Schulte attended by phone, and just two other board members were present, Bobbie Goetzinger and Melanie Mauss. School district staff and administration present included EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Kee Middle and High School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff, and board secretaries Marian Verdon and
Michele Martin. Board members not attending included Tony Becker and Kelli Mudderman.
