10/06/22: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

2022-23 Community Calendars available

New Community Calendars for 2022-23 were distributed to local businesses last Friday. They are available free of charge thanks to participating sponsors listed on the calendar.

H-M-S menus

Thursday, Oct. 6: Breakfast – Pancake/sausage bites, fruit, juice; Lunch – Scalloped potatoes/ham, roll, broccoli, cucumbers (9-12), bread (9-12), pineapple.

Friday, Oct. 7: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Hamburger/bun, chips, cucumbers, baby carrots, green beans, pears.

Monday, Oct. 10: Breakfast – Cereal, pop tart (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, applesauce cup, roll (9-12).

Tuesday, Oct. 11: Breakfast – Egg/cheese biscuit, fruit, juice; Lunch – Turkey/cheese bun, sun chips, baked beans, celery/carrots, oranges.

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Nachos/lettuce, tomatoes (9-12), red peppers, grapes, crackers (9-12).

Thursday, Oct. 13: Breakfast – Waffles, sausage (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Mandarin orange chicken/rice, broccoli/cauliflower, bread (9-12), pineapple.

Friday, Oct. 14: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Mr. Rib/bun, fries, corn, peaches.

Milk is served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar offered daily.

Paige Dagel receives IPPA scholarship

Twenty-five college and university students returned to school this fall with $39,000 in scholarships to help support their interest in pork industry careers. The scholarships were provided by the Iowa Pork Foundation; the family of the late Jim Ledger, a Washington County pig farmer; the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA); and the Iowa Purebred Swine Council (IPSC).

Iowa Pork Foundation scholarships were awarded to 10 incoming first-year students and eight returning students. Recipients must be Iowa residents who maintain a 2.5 grade point average and major in an agriculture-related field with an emphasis on swine production.

Among the returning students who were awarded $2,000 scholarships was Paige Dagel, of Sanborn. The 2020 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School is attending Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

Economic briefing presented at Sanborn meeting

One hundred economic development, community and business leaders were briefed by top Midwest economist Dr. Ernie Goss at the 12th Annual Northwest Iowa Development (NWID) Partner Meeting in Sanborn on Sept. 22.

The briefing focused on the outlook of several current challenges and highlighted a few positive signs to watch. Goss is an economist from Creighton University who specializes in the economic analysis of the Midwest economy.

He told the crowd gathered at the Yesterday Memories & Vander Haag’s Antique Truck Museum that problems in the housing, labor and energy markets are serious and are contributing to negative economic growth. However, he balanced his outlook by stating that inflation overall is slowing and manufacturing has remained strong in Iowa.

Prior to Goss’ economic briefing, NWID presented awards recognizing business and organizational innovation and outstanding economic and local leadership. John C. and John M. Vander Haag, of Sanborn, received the Support Award. The Vander Haags have been active in building 53 new housing units in Sanborn, and developing and supporting the Yesterday Memories & Vander Haag’s Antique Truck Museum.

Economic development, community and regional leaders from the four-county NWID region attended the meeting. In an annual report highlight video, NWID featured the current BIG Challenge (Build, Innovate, Grow) program as an example of a regional collaborative effort carried out in partnership with partners in the Siouxland area.

New field agronomist serves northwest Iowa

Leah Ten Napel is the new field agronomist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in northwest Iowa.

A native of LeMars, Ten Napel most recently was an agronomist with Central Valley Ag Co-op in Hinton. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and seed science.

Ten Napel knew when she graduated that she wanted to return to northwest Iowa and work with farmers in her community. In the new position she will advise farmers in nine counties and looks forward to meeting new people across her region.

“I’ve gotten to know producers from Plymouth County pretty well, and now I am looking forward to meeting growers throughout northwest Iowa,” said Ten Napel in a news release.

She has gotten to know other field agronomists including Joel DeJong, who previously held the same position before retiring.

“We are really excited to have Leah join us and for her eagerness to serve as a field agronomist for northwest Iowa,” said Rebecca Vittetoe, Extension field agronomist in southeast Iowa. “As a native from northwest Iowa and with her previous work experience in ag retail, Leah already has good relationships and she’ll be able to continue to build relationships to help serve farmers and ag retailers across her region.”

Ten Napel and her husband, Derek, live on an acreage they recently purchased from his grandparents. They raise sheep and also run a trucking business.

Ten Napel is based at the Plymouth County Extension Office and can be reached at [email protected] or (712) 541-3493.