05/02/24: Area Happenings & Accoplishments

Named Extension K-12 Program Coordinator

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach welcomes Morgan Busack as the new O'Brien County K-12 Program Coordinator. Busack will replace Kate Stewart whose last day is May 23.

Originally from Echo, Minn., Busack is a South Dakota State University graduate with a degree in agricultural leadership. She currently resides in Sanborn and looks forward to serving the O'Brien County communities.

"The part of this job that I am most excited about is that I get the opportunity to help kids better understand agriculture," Busack said in a news release. "I get to return to my roots, having grown up on my family's small row crop farm, raising sheep and pigs for 4-H and FFA."

Prior to starting with Extension on April 23, Busack worked in the swine industry for 3-1/2 years.

"I'd like to express my excitement in welcoming Morgan to ISU Extension and Outreach O'Brien County," said Regional Director Greta Giese. "She brings with her a strong passion for agriculture, commitment to lifelong learning, a positive outlook and an excellent work ethic that will surely be an asset to our team."

Busack joins O'Brien County Office Assistant and Agriculture Program Coordinator Marsha Rehder, County Youth Coordinator Michele Wagner and Multi-County Marketing Coordinator Kiley Biedenfeld. In her role, Busack will facilitate in-school programs, summer camps and youth workshops, and assist with 4-H and Clover Kids programming.

Busack can be contacted at the O'Brien County Extension office located at 340 2nd Street SE in Primghar, by calling (712) 957-5045 or emailing [email protected].

NWI fishing report

Area water temperatures are slowly rising to the low to mid-50s. Most area lakes are at or above crest and should continue to rise with forecast rains. Most courtesy docks are in place. The walleye season opens on the Iowa Great Lakes Saturday, May 4.

East Okoboji Lake: The lake level is four inches above crest.

Bluegill, fair. Yellow perch, fair. Sorting will most likely be needed.

Ingham Lake: Walleye, fair. Anglers have been successful morning and afternoon.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The lake is six inches below crest.

Black crappie, fair. Anglers are finding quality-size fish. Bluegill, fair. Yellow perch, good. Sorting may be needed.

West Okoboji Lake: The lake level is four inches above crest.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, good. Pumpkinseed, good. Yellow perch, fair: Sorting may be needed.

CCF charitable trust holds successful fundraiser

The Clay County Fair Charitable Trust last week announced the successful outcome of its 3rd Annual Farm to Fork FUNdraiser, held at the Clay County Fair & Events Center on April 18. The event featured a four-course meal, a quilt raffle, a 50/50 raffle, and live and silent auctions.

The meal consisted of four courses using ingredients sourced from local producers. Attendees enjoyed smoked bacon mac and cheese, chopped salad, glazed pork chop and apple bread pudding.

During the meal, guests enjoyed hearing from Jennifer Twaiten-Kraninger, owner of Little Sioux Stems, who shared her passion for providing locally grown, fresh-cut flowers to the surrounding communities.

In addition to a delicious meal, attendees participated in various fundraising activities, including a quilt raffle, a 50/50 raffle, and live and silent auctions. Their generosity resulted in over $33,000 raised for the Clay County Fair Charitable Trust.

Nominations open for Agriculture Hall of Fame Award

The O'Brien County Agriculture Steering Committee has opened nominations to the 2024 Agriculture Hall of Fame from now until Friday, June 14.

The annual Agriculture Hall of Fame Awards were established in 2001 to recognize outstanding citizens who make significant contributions to the agricultural community of O'Brien County and to encourage participation in the ag sector. Nominations were opened to businesses that make a difference in the county's ag community in 2016.

Any person/business residing in O'Brien County or engaging in ag-related activity in the county is eligible to be nominated for this award. The successful candidate must have demonstrated leadership, stewardship, community service and service to the agricultural industry. Nomination forms are available at O'Brien County Economic Development (OCEDC) or the Farm Bureau office, both in Primghar, and at http://www.obriencounty.com.

The Hall of Fame Award winner will be announced at the O'Brien County Fair just prior to the king and queen coronation ceremony on Monday, July 22, at approximately 7:50 p.m.

The Value Added Ag Steering Committee was formed in 1998 when the O'Brien County Economic Development Corporation identified the need for a coordinated effort to promote value-added agriculture. The committee is comprised of a diverse group of producers, community and agri-business leaders that will search out and assist with the establishment of value-added agriculture to create economic opportunities for residents and to develop marketable products using ag resources in a manner consistent with its quality of life statement.

For additional information on O'Brien County Agriculture Hall of Fame nominations, contact Kiana Johnson, O'Brien County Economic Development, at (712) 957-1313 or e-mail [email protected].

Nominate Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) invites Iowans to nominate their favorite restaurant for the 22nd annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. This highly-anticipated event allows the public to help decide which establishment serves up the most delectable breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in the state.

Nominations opened on Wednesday, April 17, and will run through June 3. During this period, Iowans can submit their top choice for the best breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. Each person is limited to one nomination, and those who nominate the winning restaurant will have a chance to win a $100 prize.

The 2023 competition nearly broke 10,000 nominations. Iowa is the national leader in pork production and the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is a staple in restaurants, diners, and cafes across the state.

To qualify for the contest, hand-breaded tenderloins must be part of the regular menu at an Iowa establishment with consistent year-round hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries and catering businesses are ineligible.

Following the nomination period, IPPA's Restaurant & Foodservice Committee will review the Top 40 restaurants, which include the five establishments with the most nominations from each of IPPA's eight districts. These leading contenders will then be evaluated by a panel of undercover judges who will visit the locations and rank the tenderloins based on pork quality, taste, physical characteristics and overall eating experience.

The Top 5 picks will be unveiled during National Pork Month in October. The winning restaurant will receive a $500 cash prize, a plaque to proudly display in their business, and statewide publicity. The runner-up will be awarded $250 and a plaque from IPPA.

Iowans have shown tremendous enthusiasm for this contest, as evidenced by the more than 9,000 nominations for 774 different restaurants received in 2023. The winning restaurants from the past five years include: Cliff's Place in Manning (2023), Lid's Bar & Grill in Waukon (2022), Victoria Station in Harlan (2021), PrairieMoon On Main in Prairieburg (2020), and The Pub at the Pinicon in New Hampton (2019).

For a complete list of past winners dating back to 2003, please visit the IPPA website. The Iowa Pork Producers Association also invites food lovers to conquer the Iowa Tenderloin Trail and win a free T-shirt.

Over 40 units of blood collected

Forty-three units of blood were collected during the Hartley community blood drive held on April 24. The amount collected will save and potentially sustain the lives of 129 people in need.

LifeServe Blood Center recognizes the donors who achieved milestone donations at the drive: Steve Prins, eight gallons; Kyle McCarter and Joyce Tewes, three gallons; Sandra Mohni, two gallons; and Jose Ramirez, one gallon. Together, these five individuals have donated 136 pints of blood which potentially have sustained the lives of over 400 people.

The next Hartley blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, from 12:30-5:30 p.m.

DNR crews achieve walleye egg collection goals

Walleyes spawn once a year using water temperature and photoperiod (length of day) as cues to spawn. DNR crews captured 3,318 adult female walleyes at East Okoboji, Rathbun, Spirit, Clear, and Storm lakes, as well as the Mississippi River.

Rathbun and Storm lakes began netting operations on April 4, while Clear, East Okoboji, and Spirit lakes started gill netting for walleyes on April 8. The last night of netting was April 10, but the spawning of fish continued as "green" females ripened in the hatchery until egg quotas were met.

"We entered this year's walleye broodstock collection and spawning season with a little uneasiness due to the mild winter and unseasonably warm weather in the middle of March," said Jay Rudacille, DNR Warm and Coolwater Fish Culture supervisor, in a news release. "But the 2024 season turned out to be exceptional with a quick season and overall efficient operation. Enough female walleyes were collected to meet our lofty egg quota in 14 combined nights of netting across operations at four locations across Iowa."

Along with some walleye adults that stay at the hatchery all year long, netting crews collected enough walleyes to produce 701 quarts at Rathbun Fish Hatchery. Crews at East Okoboji and Spirit lakes collected females that produced 549 quarts of walleye eggs now incubating at Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. Storm Lake crews spawned enough females to produce 448 quarts of walleye eggs, while efforts at Clear Lake produced 191 quarts of eggs. The Clear and Storm Lake satellite hatcheries transferred their eggs to the Rathbun and Spirit Lake Fish hatcheries to be incubated and hatched.

"Our goal was to collect 1,738 quarts of walleye eggs to produce nearly 155 million walleye fry (newly hatched fish) that we can stock in Iowa lakes or raise to a larger size in hatcheries before being released," Rudacille said. "In total, 1,889 quarts of walleye eggs are currently hatching or are being incubated."

"Walleye populations in our 'broodstock lakes' are very strong thanks to our district fisheries management teams who manage these lakes, as well as the walleye culture and stocking program of our three DNR coolwater hatcheries," Rudacille said. "Mississippi River walleye populations are absolutely phenomenal. Naturally reproducing and self-sustaining, this population is not dependent on annual stockings like the walleye populations in Iowa's lakes and reservoirs."

Producing 155 million walleye fry is a team effort with most DNR fisheries employees intimately involved.

Iowa is one of the top producers of walleye fry in the United States, surpassed only by Minnesota in annual production. While some walleye eggs have already hatched, hatchery staff will keep a watchful eye over the remainder of the eggs during the 12-21 day incubation period. Walleye fry will be stocked into 35 public bodies of water and eight watershed rearing ponds. While the majority of walleyes are stocked as fry, some are cultured in Iowa DNR hatcheries and stocked at different sizes. More than 1.1 million two-inch walleyes are expected to be stocked into lakes, rivers, and streams across the state this summer. Nearly 330,000 6- to 9-inch fingerlings will be stocked in lakes later this fall.

With little natural reproduction in most Iowa lakes and rivers, Iowa's walleye populations rely heavily upon stockings. Walleyes are stocked throughout Iowa into natural lakes, interior rivers, flood control reservoirs and selected larger man-made lakes.

Consumers will have unstopped access to E15

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) last week applauded the EPA for its announcement of continued access throughout the summer months for E15. Using existing authority, this announcement gives consumers ongoing access to E15, a clean-burning, homegrown, lower-cost fuel choice at the pump.

"ICGA along with the National Corn Growers Association and other partners have worked with the Administration to ensure that homegrown, cleaner-burning E15 is accessible during the busy summer driving season," said Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove and President of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. "We appreciate EPA's timely action to save consumers up to 20 cents per gallon while also creating market access for Iowa's corn farmers as the top ethanol and corn producing state."

E15, also commonly marketed as Unleaded 88 at the pump, is approved for use in 2001 or newer vehicles accounting for over 95 percent of vehicles on the road today. Iowa is the top corn and ethanol producing state so access to the fuel market is vital for Iowa's corn farmers.