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Michael Streif
West Union
Next Generation
SepIember 25, 2013
C-2 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
I
ts hard to take the farm out of
the boy, especially when time
spent in the countryside of
northeast Iowa continues to
provide the growing young man
with some of his favorite experi-
ences.
Since he was a toddler, Mi-
chael Streif has enjoyed helping
mix feed or riding a tractor along-
side his father, Todd.
Whether sitting in a combine
or doing other feldwork, I en-
joyed doing anything that allowed
me to be out on the farm, smiled
the now 16-year-old. Actually,
one of my favorite memories was
when my dad was employed with
Bushmans Custom Farming, and
I would be allowed to go see him
packing silage in the Cedar Rap-
ids area. Sometimes I wouldnt see
him for a week, and being able to
go down and spend time with him
was a lot of fun.
Michael said it was around the
time he was in the second or third
grade that he became actively in-
volved with farming alongside his
dad and grandfather Mike Streif.
Tose early duties mainly included
mowing and calf chores.
In later years he would help
merge hay during baling time and
run the grain cart. By eighth grade,
he and his cousin Tyler Nydegger
(now an Iowa State University
freshman) would help milk dairy
cows on weekends at Streif Farms,
located just southeast of West
Union. Currently, the two cousins
Embracing a family tradition
By Mike Van Sickle
mvansickle@thefayettecountyunion.com
FAMILY TRADITION
Continued on C-3
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eentt
Michael Streif
West Union
John & M
egan Schroeder
Castalia
Collin & Ben Jensen
West Union
With the lifelong support of family members, including (back, l-r) his grandfather Mike Streif, father Todd Streif, great-grandfather Dale Halverson,
and grandfather Kent Halverson, Michael Streif is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to farm full-time. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-3
are in their second year of farming
their own 18 acres of cropland in
rural Wadena.
Each year I have been given
the opportunity to take on another
job, more responsibilities, said
Michael, explaining that he now
helps at planting, spraying, and
combining time.
Te son of Todd and Heidi
While talking with his great-grandfather Dale Halverson (left) and grandfather Kent Halverson, Michael Streif
sits aboard the Oliver 880 tractor he restored just last year. The Oliver was originally owned by Dale. (Mike
Van Sickle photo)
Among Michael Streifs his rst duties on the Streif Dairy Farm was calf
chores. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
(Halverson) Streif, Michael gives a
great amount of credit to his dad,
grandpa Mike, grandpa Kent Halv-
erson, and great-grandfather Dale
Halverson for instilling a strong
work ethic in him.
Each of my parents and
grandparents have worked very
hard for what they have, and they
have stressed those beliefs in me,
said the grandson with admira-
tion.
Dad has taught me pretty
much everything about crop pro-
duction, including what chemi-
cals and fertilizers to use, he ex-
plained. Grandpa Mike takes a
great amount of pride in how he
maintains the well-kept appear-
ance of the entire farm. He takes
great pride in what he has and
what he works for.
At the same time, Great-
Grandpa Halverson has taught me
that working hard will get you a
long ways in life, Michael added.
And Grandpa Halverson has al-
ways told me to do what you need
to do and that he will always be
proud of me.
Although he is confdent he
will someday become a farmer,
the North Fayette Valley junior
noted that each of his mentors has
stressed his need to go to college,
in case of needing an alternate
career in the future. One thing re-
mains for certain: Te degree he
seeks will defnitely be ag-related.
I like being outdoors, and it
(farming) is defnitely rewarding.
Its especially gratifying when you
work so hard and experience a
good harvest or raise a good live-
stock herd, he explained.
For other young people con-
templating a farming career, Mi-
chael shared, I believe a person
will really have to want to do it in
order to be successful. You have to
be reliable, committed to agricul-
ture, and need to care for it.
You will defnitely need the
support of family and friends, and
FAMILY TRADITION Continued
FAMILY TRADITION
Continued on C-4
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C-4 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
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if the opportunity is there, take it,
he stressed.
Growing up under the wings
of a supportive family himself, the
aspiring farmer acknowledges an
ever-growing admiration for ag
producers of the past, today, and
the future.

Michael Streif looks forward to following in the footsteps of his father, Todd (right), and grandfather Mike in
becoming an Iowa farmer. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
By the eighth grade, Michael Streif (pictured)
and his cousin Tyler Nydegger would help
milk dairy cows on weekends at Streif Dairy
Farm near West Union. Michael and Tyler
now both farm together approximately 18
acres of cropland in rural Wadena. (Mike Van
Sickle photo)

FAMILY TRADITION Continued
From the driveway of his familys
home, Michael Streif has a close-
up view of his grandfather Mike
Streifs dairy herd and farm just
southeast of West Union. (Mike Van
Sickle photo)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-5
For a safe harvest, be extra careful and
stay alert for hazards. .
Keep an eye out for overhead power
lines and electrical equipment on and
under the ground.
Be especially careful with tall equipment
such as combines and grain augers.
We want you to have a safe & productive harvest.
rst!
Look Up, Look Down, Look Up, Look Down, Look Up, Look Down,
Look O Look Out!

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Bill Northey recognized Century
and Heritage Farm families during
a ceremony at the 2013 Iowa State
Fair. To qualify, a Century Farm
family must have owned at least
40 acres for 100 years or more.
Meanwhile, a Heritage Farm fam-
ily must have owned the property
for 150 years or more.
Tis year 365 Century Farms
and 67 Heritage Farms were recog-
nized at the annual ceremonies.
Qualifying Fayette County
farms included Heritage Farm re-
cipients Margaret l. Foxwell, and
Paul D. and Mary A. Foxwell.
Century Farm recipients from
Fayette County were Harold
and Linda Bowman, Dean and
Nancy Franzen, Lenius Country
and Home/Loyce Bunn, Barbara
Oldenburg, Dale Schrader, and
Larry D. Scott.
It is a great pleasure and dis-
tinct honor to help recognize these
farm families that have owned the
same farm for 100 or 150 years. It
is a testament to the values of land
stewardship, hard work, patience,
dedication and perseverance that
are found in Iowas farm families,
said Northey.
Te program acknowledges
the deep roots of Iowa agriculture
and the special bond that exists be-
tween Iowa families and the land
they farm, he added. Te Iowa
State Fair is a celebration of Iowa
and Iowa agriculture, so its a great
place to recognize the Century
Farm and Heritage Farm recipi-
ents.
Te Iowa Department of
Agriculture and Land Stewardship
has partnered with the Iowa Farm
Bureau Federation since 1976 to
2013 Fayette County Heritage/Century Farm recipients
Dean and Nancy Franzen, rural Fort Atkinson Century Farm recipi-
ents (Courtesy photo)
Craig Hill, president
of the Iowa Farm
Bureau Federation,
congratulated Barbara
Oldenburg on her rural
West Union farm be-
ing named a Century
Farm. (Courtesy photo)
recognize families that have owned
and worked a farm for 100 years or
more. Including this years recipi-
ents, 17,851 farms from across the
state have been recognized.
Te Heritage Farm program
was started in 2006, on the 30th
anniversary of the Century Farm
program, and now 650 farms have
been recognized.
Craig Hill, president of the Iowa
Farm Bureau Federation, and Joe
Heinrich, vice president of the
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation,
joined Northey in recognizing this
years award recipients.

More Century Farm


photos on Page C-6
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C-6 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
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Loyce Bunn,
rural Westgate
Century Farm
recipients
(Courtesy photo)
Craig Hill (left),
president of the
Iowa Farm Bureau
Federation, con-
gratulated Dale
Schrader of
Schrader Family
Farms, rural
Maynard during cer-
emonies at the Iowa
State Fair. (Courtesy
photo)
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey (right) was among those
who recognized Larry D. Scott of rural West Union on being a 2013
Century Farm recipient. Margaret l. Foxwell, and Paul D. & Mary A.
Foxwell of rural Elgin were recognized as 2013 Heritage Farm recipi-
ents, but were unable to attend the ceremony at the Iowa State Fair.
(Courtesy photo)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-7
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N
eil and Julie Lansing
of West Union were
among the inductees
into the 2013 Iowa 4-H
Hall of Fame during the recent
Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
All honorees were selected by
their local counties for their out-
standing service and dedication
to 4-H. Inductees or their surviv-
ing family members were present-
ed a certifcate by the Iowa 4-H
Foundation as they were intro-
duced on stage.
Counties select inductees for
their exceptional work in contrib-
uting to the lives of 4-H members
and the overall 4-H program. Many
inductees serve(d) as club leaders,
youth mentors, fair superinten-
dents or fair board members, Iowa
State University Extension county
council members, county youth
council members, fair judges, f-
nancial supporters, chaperones or
ISU Extension staf members.
All inductees have demonstrated
dedication, encouragement, com-
mitment and guidance to Iowas
4-Hers through the years.
Neil and Julie Lansing have each
been lifelong supporters of the
Fayette County 4-H program. All
six Lansing children have been
very active in 4-H, and fve of them
served on or are currently serving
on the Iowa State 4-H Council.
Neil and Julie continue to en-
courage their grandchildren to be
4-H members. One currently is a
member, another is a Clover Kid,
while the remaining two wait pa-
tiently to reach 4-H age.
Neil graduated from high school
and immediately became a 4-H
Lansings inducted into Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
leader with encouragement from
a former leader of the Eldorado
Eagles 4-H Club. Julie didnt grow
up in 4-H, but it didnt take long
for her to join. Ten years later she
became the leader of the Diligent
Doverettes 4-H Club. Later, the
club name was changed to Diligent
Dovers.
Each summer Neil and Julie
serve as camp cooks and project
assistants at Pinebluf 4-H Camp
near Decorah. Serving in this vol-
unteer position allows them to re-
connect with former 4-H members
who are bringing their children to
camp.
Over the years the couple have
assisted fve county youth coor-
dinators and served as advisors
for the Fayette County 4-H Youth
Council. Each month Neil and
Julie meet with the members to
encourage countywide leadership
and citizenship projects.
In addition, Neil and Julie were
advisors for the Northeast Iowa
Area 4-H Council until it disband-
ed in 2008.
Neil has served on the Fayette
County Extension Council from
1984-1987 and from 1991 to pres-
ent. He also represents Fayette
County on the Region 4 Regional
Council. He has also served 16
years on the Fayette County Youth
Committee.
Being a lifelong dairy farmers
in the county, Neil has assisted at
Iowa 4-H Foundation executive director Kris Fish Kuhlmann (left) congratulated Julie and Neil Lansing of West
Union on being inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during recent ceremonies at the Iowa State Fair in
Des Moines. (Photo submitted)
4-H HALL OF FAME
Continued on C-8
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C-8 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Wheres
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We are proud to
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Stop in for our
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Iowas Dairy Story at Northeast
Iowa Community College in
Calmar, educating youth about the
cows digestive system and provid-
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visit the facility.
Te Lansing family is involved
not only in 4-H, but also in their
community and church, where
they are in charge of Sunday night
cards and Neil is active in Knights
of Columbus.
Te Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was
initiated in 2002 to help commem-
orate the 100th anniversary of 4-H
Grassroots representatives
from the Iowa Corn Growers
Association (ICGA) reinstated
expiring policies and debated or
adopted new policies at the ICGA
annual meeting and policy confer-
ence in Des Moines on Aug. 24.
Tis policy meeting is the fnal
step in setting Iowa corn grower
policy for the coming year, said
Roger Zylstra, a corn farmer from
Lynnville and the newly elected
ICGA president. We had good
debate on upcoming policy and
current events. It was good to hear
diferent perspectives from dif-
ferent areas of the state as well as
from diferent farming situations.
I think it is important to see that
corn growers from across the state
LANGS
DAIRY EQUIPMENT INC.
510 Montgomery Street,
Decorah (563) 382-8722
Thank You
to all our area
customers.
Heres to another
great year!
John and Megan Schroeder, Hannah & Bristol
Corngrowers set new legislative policies
are engaged in policy decisions
that afect their operations.
Te annual policy conference is
the year-end event in the ICGAs
annual policy development pro-
cess, which includes a member
survey, regional roundtable dis-
cussions across the state and the
policy conference. Iowa policies
relating to national issues and
adopted at this meeting are then
brought forward to the National
Corn Growers Association winter
meetings at Commodity Classic.
A few of the key resolutions ap-
proved were:
By a unanimous vote, the
group voted to support the Iowa
Corn Promotion Board recom-
mendation to increase the Iowa
Code limit (cap) for the Iowa corn
checkof, which would not increase
the checkof rate a farmer pays, but
rather make it possible for farmers
to hold a referendum, if necessary,
at some point in the future. Timing
of any corn checkof rate decision
should be decided by farmers,
through farmer referendum, and
as recommended by the farmer-
elected representatives of the Iowa
Corn Promotion Board.
Corn delegates voted to con-
tinue support for conservation
compliance being tied to tradition-
al farm programs. However, the
group determined that if conser-
vation compliance should be tied
to crop insurance in the future,
certain protections should include:
1) If there is a violation, it should
only afected the premium subsidy
from the government, not eligibil-
ity for crop insurance;
2) Enforcement only occurs af-
ter all rights to appeal are fnalized;
3) A grace period should be giv-
en to come back into compliance,
and when back into compliance,
the farmer is eligible for full crop
insurance policy;
4) Enforcement should not be
applied retroactively to prior crop
years (example: claw back provi-
sion proposed by Congress to re-
quire repaying government premi-
ums for prior crop years);
5) Natural Resources
Conservation Service/Farm
Service Agency should continues
to handle both spot checks and ap-
peals, not the Risk Management
Agency or other government agen-
cy.
6) If a penalty occurs, the penal-
ty should only be applicable to the
farm with the violation on it, not a
farmers total acres.
Delegates voted to support
the Iowa Nutrient Reduction
Strategy as proposed by the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and
Land Stewardship and funded by
the legislature in 2013. ICGA shall
support and advocate for contin-
ued funding of the Iowa Nutrient
Reduction Strategy.
In the area of the Farm Bill, the
group voted to support the tradi-
tional rural/urban coalition ap-
proach to farm and nutrition leg-
islation.
Corn farmers who attended
the annual policy meeting also
had a chance to hear from Iowa
Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill
Northey.
4-H HALL OF FAME
Continued
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John & Megan Schroeder family
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-9
Returning to his farming roots
By Mike Van Sickle
mvansickle@thefayettecountyunion.com
Collin Jensen (left) and son Ben closely examine an ear of corn in preparation for the fall harvest. A 1996 North Fayette graduate, Ben returned
to his familys rural West Union homestead last year to farm in partnership with his father. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
FARMING ROOTS
Continued on C-12
I
t was just a matter of time be-
fore Ben Jensen felt he would
return to his farming roots.
With the help of his father,
Collin, and support of his wife,
Lisa, that opportunity arose a cou-
ple years ago.
Te elder Jensen explained that
he previously asked each of his
four adult children, Aimee (Bryan
Larson), Jennifer (Jef Bunn),
Rhett (Amy), and Ben, whether
they had an interest in forming a
partnership on the family farm, lo-
cated northwest of West Union.
I knew that the day would come
at some point where I couldnt run
the daily farming operations, and
it was becoming a growing con-
cern to me, said Collin, who now
lives with his wife, Jennifer, north
of the Jensen homestead.
Te heritage part of things has
always been very important to me,
he added, noting that the Jensen
farm has been in the familys name
for over 130 years.
Each of the kids took a long
time in thinking about things be-
fore making a decision, which is
a good thing, the proud father
continued. Tey all understood
todays challenges in agriculture.
Farming is not the way it used to
be. It is now strictly a business.
From the beginning, my idea
was to share in the workload, and
at the same time he gains the expe-
rience in operating the farm, ex-
plained the 65-year-old. Tat way,
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205 North Vine Street
West Union, Iowa 52175
(563) 422-6072
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200 Mill Street
Clermont, Iowa 52135
(563) 423-5267
315 West Chestnut Street
Harpers Ferry, Iowa 52146
(563) 586-2166
600 Boyson Rd. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319) 378-8100
Helping our family farmers...
reach their highest yield.
We salute all of the farmers of Northeast Iowa especially, Michael Streif,
John & Megan SchroFder, Collin & Ben Jensen and Eric and Fern Unrun!
Mike Streif - Streif Dairy, West Union
Collin & Ben Jensen John & Megan Schroeder
& family
R
Serving northern Iowa & southern
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Arlington
(563) 633-3415
Lamont
(563) 924 -2171
Randalia
(563) 428-4411
Maynard
(563) 637-2285
Sumner
(563) 578-3214
Winthrop
(319) 935-3336
Elgin
(563) 426-5566
Clermont
(563) 423-5293
Scott Strempke loading feed in Sumner
Art Messler displays paint in the hardware
store in clermont
Bill Hayes assists a customer in Elgin
Chad Halverson operates the
scale in Randalia
Mike Trenkamp loads his
semi in Maynard
Duane Horm Arlington
Team Leader
Bob Odegard with his feed
truck in Elgin
Team Leader Chris Bausch in Clermont Wendell Kueker assists a customer in the Sumner ofce
Charlie Hamilton checks the market in Winthrop.
State of the art feed mill at our Elgin location
Site in Oelwein
Viafelds Agronomy and Precision Ag Team met last week for one of their feld days west of West Union.
Pictured are John Swehla, Brian Dirksen, Kennon Gumm, Lonny Johansen, Nathan ONeill and Gary Benson.
Clete Christianson flls up his LP Truck at
Valley C Stores diesel pumps
Randy Loftsgard operates the
feed mill in Elgin
Kent Appler assists a customer
in Clermont
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-11
C-10 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
C-12 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
FARMING ROOTS
Continued
FARMING ROOTS
Continued on C-13
for whatever reason, if I get sick
or something, someone is able to
take over the workload. Tat was
always a concern of mine.
Ben explained that he always
wanted to farm, it was just a matter
of when he could once again make
it a part of his life.
For roughly two years, I had
previously tried to help Dad on the
farm, he noted. But at the time I
had another full-time job, and it
took too much to balance my time
with a growing family.
With the more recent ofer by
his father, Ben and his wife, Lisa,
carefully weighed their options
before agreeing to move with their
children Nathan, 9, Haley, 7, and
Alaina, 1-1/2, to the Jensen home
place approximately one year ago.
A 1996 North Fayette gradu-
ate, Ben had attended Universal
Technical Institute (UTI) in
Chicago, where he participated in
the auto diesel mechanic program.
Afer graduating from UTI, Ben
was employed in his feld of study,
including eight years in the ser-
vice department of Nuss Truck &
Equipment in Rochester, Minn. At
the same time, Lisa was enjoying
her work as a nurse at Mayo Clinic.
While noting that the conve-
niences ofered by the larger com-
munity was a point of discussion,
Ben admitted that his wifes em-
ployment at Mayo was among the
toughest decisions the couple had
to make in regard to moving to ru-
ral West Union.
I believe things are starting
to grow on Lisa. She is enjoying
home-schooling our children, and
she is discovering people seem to
be a lot friendlier in the smaller
communities, said Ben.
For me, I always knew that if
the opportunity arose, I wanted
to return to farming, he added. I
always wanted to raise my kids on
the farm. It is not much diferent
from when I grew up; not many
kids are given that opportunity.
Were a close-knit family and
with us, since our children are
home-schooled, my kids get to
see me throughout each day, Ben
continued. I also enjoy working
outdoors and the nature aspect of
things, Just the opportunity for my
kids to be able to safely run and
play outdoors and explore things
is important to me. As they grow
old, they will start working on the
farm and fnding out that life isnt
just fun and games.
Some of the young producers fa-
vorite memories are playing on the
family farm with his older brother
and helping with the chores, espe-
cially working with the calves.
In addition to producing crops,
Collin noted that when Ben and
his siblings were growing up, he
and his late wife, Joan, raised ap-
proximately 150 stock cows and
approximately 120 sows. As the
hog industry transitioned to large
confnement facilities, Collin got
out of the business. Similarly, as
the children moved of the farm,
he phased out the cattle operation.
Today, the newly founded father
and son team manage approxi-
mately 2,500 acres of corn/soybean
production, and conservation pro-
gramming.
Collin reported that he dab-
United-Suckow Dairy Supply, LLC
563-422-5355
210 N. Industrial Parkway, West Union
563-864-7414
Hwys. 18 & 52 S., Postville
Whether you have a robot
or a standard parlor, we can
handle your needs!
Salute to Michael Strief and all of our
Northeast Iowa Farmers!
Mike Streif - Streifs Dairy, West Union
Mike Streif - Streifs Dairy, West Union
Thanks
Michael for
choosing us!
Ben and Lisa Jensen re-
turned to northeast Iowa last
year to raise their children (l-
r) Alaina, Nathan, and Haley
on the Jensen family farm,
located just northwest of
West Union. (Mike Van Sickle
photo)
Little Alaina Jensen ap-
pears anxious to follow
in her daddys footsteps
and carry on the Jensen
farming tradition. (Mike Van
Sickle photo)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-13
We know health insurance.

James Mitchell Phil James


107 E State St
Fayette
563-425-3333 107 E State St
Sales Associate
for Jim Mitchell
Fayette
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Ben (left) and Collin Jensen stand alongside a new dryer system, which
is one the latest updates to the Jensen homestead, located just north-
west of West Union. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
Collin and Ben Jensen (l-r) of rural West Union both agree that among the biggest changes in agriculture
over the past couple decades is the advancement of electronics in farm implements. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
FARMING ROOTS Continued
bled in no-tilling in the 80s be-
fore converting fully to the conser-
vation practice in the 90s.
Dad is extremely knowledge-
able. He basically taught me every-
thing I know about farming, said
Ben. In addition to keeping up
on the advancements in electron-
ics and machinery, he certainly
educated me on the importance of
conservation practices.
We no-till, and it is really a
great way to farm. It saves passes
across a feld, which, in turn, saves
on time and use of equipment,
Ben added. It also saves on the
amount of topsoil lost to runof.
When asked what has been the
biggest change in farming since
Ben grew up on the farm, Collin
interjected, Me.
Yeah, the old mans attitude.
Its mellowed over the years, Ben
laughed, before adding, Actually,
I would have to say that among
the biggest changes is the amount
of electronics involved and simply
how big everything has gotten.
All the equipment has gotten so
big and too sophisticated to even
try to teach the younger kids how
to safely and appropriately operate
them, explained the now 35-year-
old. Also when I was growing up,
we had livestock and chores to do
every day. Unfortunately, now-
days if you dont go big (with live-
stock production), you cant make
enough money. If I add livestock to
the operation, it would solely be as
a hobby.
Noting the increase in the aver-
age age of the American farmer,
Ben commented that todays farm-
er seems to be the same generation
of producers from two decades
ago.
Tere are not many younger
producers, and it needs to happen.
Its especially important to small
communities like West Union,
stressed Collin. Agriculture has
such an impact on all businesses,
from the grocery stores to the au-
tomobile dealerships. We have too
many tax dollars going out of the
county. With the move to larger
farm corporations, there is less
trade in the county.
To get into farming, a young
producer needs someones sup-
port. You have to have someone
help you get your foot in the door,
said Ben. In addition to my fam-
ily, Im fortunate to have a couple
of friends (in agriculture) that I
bounce diferent things of of at
times.
Farming is a great way of life.
You can live of the land, work at
your own pace, and there is some-
thing to do at all times, he closed.
Te family farm is certainly im-
portant to small communities, and
it would be great see the family tra-
ditions can go on and on. It is def-
nitely what I hope happens here.






C-14 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Our future depends on what is done today.
Clean water is vital to our future!
FREE
ESTIMATES!
Erickson Pump Service, Inc.
563-245-1698 or 563-245-1684
800-269-1698
Elkader, IA
State-Licensed Well Contractor
Goulds Pumps
Need a Tune-Up...
while the harvest season is in full swing?
Car & Truck Repair
Towing Service
Complete Engine Repair
& Transmission Service
Tune-Ups
AND Much More!
EINCKS SERVICE
1229 St. Hwy. 150 , Festina
(563) 534-7218
Ben Jensen used one of last weeks rainfalls to catch up on some
of his to-do list items. Always having something to do is one reason
the 35-year-old returned to his farming roots last year. (Mike Van Sickle
photo)
Like all area farmers, Collin and Ben Jensen (l-r) are itching to get into the elds during the upcoming fall
harvest. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
210 W. Main Street
Hawkeye, IA 52147
Bus:
PROUD
to work with our area
FARMERS... t(SBJO#JOT
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like Collin & Ben Jensen!
Dillon Law, PC
Patrick B. Dillon
(563) 578-1850
209 E. 1st Street, Sumner
patdillon,30674law.com - www.30674law.com
FSA/USDA/NRCS APPEALS
Agricultural Law - Tax Preparation - Estate Planning
Thank you to all the area farmers... We wish you the best this harvest season!
Book your seed this Fall for
the BEST PRICES!
Schroeder Feed & Seed
663-427-6310 Bawkeye, IA
Designed to make more
out of every drop
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-15
563-382-3619 or
800-319-3619
Serving NE Iowa, Wisconsin
and Southern Minnesota
1815 State Hwy. 9 E., Decorah, IA
Shop 24/7 www.decorahchev.com
When you are on the farm you need
to know that your truck can haul...
and to know that you need Roger Craig!
Stop in today and
see what we have on
the lot for you!
Proud to salute our area farmers!
Maynard Savings Bank
Since 1895 MAYNARD AND HAZLETON, IOWA
363-637-2289 - Maynard, IA 319-636-2431 - Hazleton, IA
Professional
Ag Service
We are dedicated to helping today's producers
with their growing needs. We oer a wide variety
of agricultural loans for operating expenses or
purchaseing livestock, equipment, or real estate!
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By Jason Johnson, USDA-NRCS
Public Afairs specialist
If you are an Iowa farmer located
in one of Iowas three landscape con-
servation initiative areas, you may
be eligible to receive higher payment
rates to install conservation practices
included in your conservation plan,
such as cover crops, terraces, grassed
waterways or nutrient management.
In anticipation of a new Farm
Bill, USDAs Natural Resources
Conservation Service recently an-
nounced that Friday, Oct. 4, is the frst
signup cutof deadline to fund conser-
vation programs in Iowa for fscal year
2014.
Since 2009, NRCS has addressed
priority natural resource concerns by
delivering targeted conservation to the
most vulnerable lands through land-
scape conservation initiatives.
Iowas three landscape initiatives
include:
Drifless Area Landscape
Conservation Initiative (DALCI)
Focuses on reducing erosion and sedi-
ment delivery to surface waters, along
with improving fsh and wildlife habi-
tats in all or parts of 12 northeast Iowa
counties.
Objectives of DALCI include in-
creasing perennial cover on working
lands, increasing diversity in wood-
USDA landscape initiatives offer higher payments
land areas, improving bird and polli-
nator habitat, and restoring cold water
trout streams and adjacent riparian
areas in the region.
Since October 2012, NRCS has
provided $406,785 in conservation
technical and fnancial assistance to
landowners, covering nearly 1,600
acres through 22 contracts.
Mississippi River Basin Health
Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)
Focuses on improving water quality
and wildlife habitat in the Mississippi
River Basin. Trough 18 Iowa projects,
landowners in selected watersheds
throughout Iowa may be eligible to in-
stall conservation practices that avoid,
control and trap nutrient runof; im-
prove wildlife habitat; yet maintain
agricultural productivity.
Tese could include cover crops,
rotational grazing systems, nutrient
management, wetlands or bioreactors.
Each project has its own conservation
practice list.
NRCS provided Iowans more
than $6 million since last October,
covering 33,500 acres through 188
contracts through MRBI.
Northern Plains Migratory
Bird Habitat Initiative (NPMBHI)
Focuses on providing food and critical
habitat populations for migratory bird
populations by assisting agricultural
producers in con-
serving and restor-
ing grasslands and
farmed wetlands.
NRCS pro-
vided more than
$125,000 during
fscal year 2013
through seven con-
tracts to grow cover
crops on 2,861
acres in Iowas
Prairie Pothole re-
gion. NRCS also
purchased 11 wet-
land easements in
north-central Iowa
covering 830 acres
totaling $4.8 mil-
lion.
More informa-
tion about Iowas
landscape conser-
vation initiatives
is available on the
Iowa NRCS web-
site at www.ia.nrcs.
usda.gov or by
visiting your local
NRCS of ce.
Postville Farmers
Postville Farmers Postville Farmers
Co-Op Society
Co-Op Society Co-Op Society
(563) 864-7234
We want to earn YOUR business
Better Yields from better soil
Its time to fertilize
We offer custom application
for all your P and K
needs this spring!
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Tank you, Collin
and Ben Jensen for
choosing us to protect
you and your farm!
Insurance Agency
563-427-3419
20798 Q Ave., Hawkeye, IA
Nuss
Proud to salute our
area farmers!
PROUD OF OUR LOCAL FARMERS!
Citizens Savings Bank
563-427-3255 - Hawkeye, Iowa - csb@netins.net
See us for all your fnancial needs:
Debit Cards - Credit Cards - Savings Plans - Loans - IRAs - Checking
C-16 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Arlington Division - Jerry Johnson, Manager
3281 40th Street, Arlington 563-933-4521
Proud to
support our
area farmers!
See us for your prescription
& health-care needs!
You wor k har d t o keep t hem heal t hy,
and we wor k har d t o keep you heal t hy. . .
Accurate, fast prescription service
We have the experience,
knowledge and dedication
you deserve.

Fayette Toll-Free 800-246-0024
READY TO MOVE SOME DIRT!
Leslie Lauer & Sons
Excavating & Grading
West Union 422-5430
Serving this area since 1948!
Farm/Home/
Business
Give us a call to schedule
your 2014 projects!
340 Tower Park Drive, P.O. Box 2396, Waterloo, IA 50701-2396 319.234.1949
Make the Most of Your Farmland Investment
Hertz combines decades of experience with the latest in
technology to yield the best results for your land.
Our clients quickly recognize that communication and
mutually agreed upon objectives are the basis for success.
When the times right to discuss professional farm management,
appraisal, land valuation or real estate services, Hertz is ready
to work with you to achieve your goals. www.Hertz.ag
Practical Farmers of Iowa is now
accepting applications for the 2014-2015
Savings Incentive Program. Te two-year
program pairs beginning and aspir-
ing farmers with experienced mentors;
ofers participants the chance to save
money and receive matching funds while
learning how to build a proftable farm;
and seeks to support the next generation
through guidance and a frm knowledge
base on which to build their farm busi-
nesses.
Applications will be accepted now
through October 4, 2013. To access an
application online, visit www.practi-
calfarmers.org, or call the PFI of ce
at (515) 232-5661 to request a copy
through the mail.
Up to 25 beginning farmers will be
admitted to this fourth round of pro-
gramming. Tose admitted will be part
of the Class of 2015, and are selected by
a committee of PFI members using a
scoring system that rewards a noticeable
commitment to developing applicants
independent farming goals. Selections
will be made in early November. To date,
about 60 people have been or are cur-
rently active in the program.
Te Savings Incentive Program
works by encouraging enrollees to save
up to $100 per month for two years.
Afer 24 months and completion of all
program requirements, participants will
earn a dollar-for-dollar match on money
saved up to $2,400, for a possible $4,800
to use toward the purchase of a farm as-
set.
As part of the program, participants
will be paired with a mentor, with whom
they must meet in-person at least three
times in the frst year. Participants must
also:
Open and manage a savings account
with Practical Farmers partner bank.
Create or fne-tune a business or
whole-farm plan.
Attend at least four PFI events per year
(online, on-farm or in person). PFI
events include online trainings, feld
days, conferences, workshops and more.
Conduct quarterly reviews via
email, phone or in-person with PFI staf
to check on progress toward goals and
program requirements.
Complete all forms and requested
information on time.
Requirements are modifed this year
to consider those not yet farming on
their own.
To be eligible for the Savings Incen-
tive Program, applicants must either be
currently farming on their own and have
farmed for fve or fewer years, or have
some experience working for a farm
business.
Tis includes, but is not limited to:
internships, apprenticeships, working
as an hourly or salaried employee or
working on the family farm. Applicants
must also reside in Iowa or farm in the
state (out-of-state residents are eligible,
so long as they are farming in Iowa),
and be members of Practical Farmers
of Iowa (candidates can join at www.
practicalfarmers.org or by calling (515)
232-5661).
For additional information about the
Savings Incentive Program or application
process, contact Marc Strobbe, PFI farm
viability coordinator, at (515) 232-5661
or marc@practicalfarmers.org.
Mentoring ofered by
Practical Farmers
Redi-Mix Inc.
(800) 765-1490
Serving all of
NE Iowa
Thank you, farmers!
Croell Redi-Mix has been a producer of quality
concrete since 1968. We strive to be the best at what
we do and never forget that our valued customers
come rst In addition to the Redi-Mix, our product
line includes concrete block, brick, masonry supplies,
landscaping block, pavers septic tanks, and more!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-17
119 E. Water St., Decorah, IA (563) 382-9695
Norwegian Mutual
I N S U R A N C E A S S O C .
PROUD TO SALUTE THE
FAMILY
FARMER
Farmers Need Special Business Protection.
We work hard to show you just how helpful we are.
Were proud of the fact we represent Norwegian Mutual
Insurance Association, because we know its good!
WELL PROVE IT.
See your nearest agent:
A&J Petersburg Agency,
Decorah, (563) 382-3627
agency@ajpetersburg.com
Michael Insurance Agency,
West Union, (563) 422-6081
michaelinsurance@qwestofce.net
Kerndt Brothers Agency,
Lansing, (563) 538-4207
sriha@kerndtbrothers.com
Kelly & Miller Agency,
Fayette, (563) 425-4569
kellymillerins@iowatelecom.net
Don Anderson Agency,
Cresco, (563) 883-8012
donanderson@harmonytel.net
Bushman Insurance,
Ossian, (563) 562-9207
agency@bushmaninsurance.com
CIA Insurance Agency,
Cresco, (563) 547-2382
clainfo@clains.biz
Hintz-Ziegler-Miller Agency,
Oelwein, (319) 283-1555
lyle@hzml.com
Leslie White Agency
Clermont, (563) 423-5913
insure@acegroup.cc
NMI Agency
Decorah, (563) 382-9695
jimclarke@qwestofce.net
C
oming into Fredericksburg
from the west, you are
greeted with a small vine-
yard lush with purple
Marechal Foch grapes and green
La Crescent grapes.
It was six years ago that Sherry
Mattke and Dick Miller decided to
grow grapes for wine. Wine grapes
are diferent from eating grapes in
that they are much smaller, and as
the grapes ripen, they begin a fer-
menting process.
I just thought Id do it, and it hap-
pened, said Sherry Mattke about
why the couple began growing
grapes.
She (Mattke) pretty much
takes care of this thing, joked
Miller, formerly of West Union. I
do the spraying and the mowing,
thats about it.
Te couple began their aver-
age-sized vineyard with 300 in-
dividual La Crescent grape plants
and 700 Marechal Foch grape
plants.
La Crescents are fairly small,
round, yellow-amber grapes with
a waxy bloom when ripe. In ad-
dition to ripening very early, the
Marechal Foch is one of the har-
diest French hybrids. Te black
grapes are small in size.
Before building their vine-
yard, the Fredericksburg couple
knew little about growing grapes.
While they have read about
grapes, as well as spoken with the
owners of Engelbrecht Winery in
From vine to wine
Dick Miller and Sherry Mattke enjoy a delicious glass of red wine produced with Marechal Foch grapes
grown in the couples Fredericksburg vineyard.
By Amber Hovey
Contributing Writer
Fredericksburg, Mattke will admit,
We kind of winged it.
Upkeep on the grapes includes
tying the vines to trellises in order
to support the weight of the grape
bunches and spraying the grapes
with an organic mixture.
Tey need a lot of spraying
because they are very particular,
Mattke explained.
In the spring, about two years
ago, we lost a pile of them because
we had three freezes, recalled
Miller. Now they came out with a
spray that tightens up the buds to
protect them from freezing.
We also trim the leaves back
so that sunlight gets to the grapes,
continued Mattke, but then the
birds see them.
I have to fght the birds, she
laughed. Tey are very defensive
because there are a lot of nests in
the plants.
We know when they are ripe,
because the birds are here, chuck-
led Miller.
September is approximately
when Mattke and Miller hand-pick
the grapes.
Last year, she, I and an
84-year-old man picked all the
grapes, recalled Miller. We
picked 5,325 pounds of grapes.
VINE TO WINE
Continued on C-18
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C-18 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
HOME & FARM CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS
Ossian Lumber Company
203 E. Main,
Ossian
563-532-9165
Kevin Wenthold, Ossian
36x48 Machine Shed
Bodensteiner Implement, Clermont
25x80 Addition
Thank you to all our area farmers and business persons for
choosing Ossian Lumber for your construction projects!
Mark
Zweibohmer,
Postville
40x80
Machine Shed
We will probably have more
this year, added Mattke.
Afer picking is completed, the
grapes are taken to Engelbrecht
Family Winery on the east side of
Fredericksburg, where the grapes
are transformed into delicious
wines.
Te grapes are 3 percent
alcohol right of the vine, noted
Miller.
Te retired couple are even
looking into possibly selling their
grapes to other nearby wineries.
However, expansion of their vine-
yard is not in the future, agreed the
couple.
We dont have that many
friends, joked Mattke, referring to
the number of bottles of wine they
receive from their vineyard.
I dont know if we will ever
see a proft, but its fun, closed
Mattke.


Sherry Mattke of Fredericksburg harvests grapes from her and Dick
Millers vineyard every September. Last year, the couple harvested
5,325 pounds of grapes.
Dick Miller checks to see if the grapes in his and girlfriend Sherry Mattkes vineyard are ready to harvest.
The couples vineyard is located on the west edge of Fredericksburg.
VINE TO WINE Continued
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM C-19
Dick Miller and Sherry Mattke of Fredericksburg hold up one of each kind of grape variety,
La Crescent (green) and Marechal Foch (purple), they have planted in their vineyard on the
edge of town.
Grown on Sherry Mattke and Dick Millers Fredericksburg vineyard are La
Crescent and Marechal Foch grapes. La Crescent grapes (pictured) are used in
white wines, and Marechal Foch grapes are used in red wines.
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Locally Owned & Operated
Ryan & Amy
Christensen, Owners
Sims TV & Electronics
563-382-CELL (2355)
112 Winnebago St. Downtown Decorah
Sims TV Too
1014 S. Mill St. Suite 8 Decorah
563-382-1300
Sims TV & Electronics
121 N. vine West Union
563-422-5751
3 Locations
Helping You...
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Brett Tapper
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Mark Moser
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C-20 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-1
Summer Hours (Apr-Oct)
Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Winter Hours (Nov-Mar)
Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
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312 West Water Street Decorah
563.382.4666 www.oneotacoop.com
Water Street Caf
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T
he aroma of livestock
manure and fresh-cut
hay flls the crisp, cool
air of the serene Castalia
countryside as John and Megan
Schroeder begin the 7 a.m. chore
of milking.
Te dairy cows shuf e in their
stalls, preoccupied with the hay
and grain thrown in front of them.
Te Schroeders nine BouMat-
ic Companion milkers hum as they
draw milk from the cows bursting
udders. Bought within the last two
years, the new milkers have a tie-
stall detacher and provide a digital
read-out of milk fow, weight, tem-
perature, and warnings. Te frst
nine cows are fnished, and then
begins the next nine, and so forth
until all 75 dairy cows are drained.
On particular morning,
5-year-old Hannah is helping to
shovel manure down the middle
aisle of the milking barn and bot-
tle-feeding the some 50 calves.
Ten there is 8-month-old,
blue-eyed Bristol sitting quietly in
her stroller with a red Sippy cup
and her dolly.
For John Schroeder, farming
has been his life since he was born.
Today, he and his wife, Megan,
farm 460 acres with his brother,
Chad, and his parents, Doyle and
Bonnie.
I never thought about doing
anything else, admitted John. I
have always wanted to farm.
Megan Matt of Clermont and
John Schroeder were high school
sweethearts before getting married
in 2004.
Te young Valley grads moved
to what they call the upper farm
in 2002. Johns parents live on the
farm across the road and down a
hill, which is where the main dairy
operation takes place.
Te upper farm has been in the
Schroeder name for close to a cen-
tury while the lower farm has been
in the family since the 1940s.
Before marrying John, Megan
grew up in Clermont, and while
her grandparents farmed, she had
never milked.
I was scared (my frst time
milking). I thought I was going to
get kicked, recalled Megan.
Today, the couple are full-time
farmers and milk every day at 7
a.m. and 7 p.m.
Every other day approximately
7,500 pounds of milk is picked up
Living the tradition of the family farm
By Amber Hovey
Contributing Writer
Farming has been a way of life for generations of the Schroeder family of rural Castalia. Following in the
footsteps of Doyle and Bonnie Schroeder are son John, his wife, Megan, and their daughters, Hannah, 5,
and Bristol, 8 months.
by a milk truck and hauled to Wap-
sie Creamery in Independence.
Aside from dairy cattle and
calves, the Schroeder family have
steers and chickens. Tey also har-
vest hay and corn.
For Megan, her favorite part
of farming is being in the feld; for
John, farming lets him be his own
boss.
I rely on myself to get stuf
done, said John, and its not very
stressful.
It can be sometimes, though,
interjected Megan. We never
know what we are going to make
for money, making it hard to know
what we can and cannot aford.
With family farms dwindling
in numbers, it is important to re-
member that they still exist and
younger generations are still farm-
ing.
When asked about what can be
done to motivate younger genera-
tions to get involved in agriculture,
the couples response was the need
for more ways to get started, in-
cluding more grants.
Tere are some grants out
there, but not enough, said John.
Farming is an expensive opera-
tion.
However, if you ever visit the
Schroeder farm, the challenges of
todays farmer are overcome by
the passion, drive, and hard work
the Schroeder family put forth to
make a quality life of their own.
You can also count on the
company of the energetic Hannah.
She will tell you that her favorite
part of farming is milking and that
she plans to show cattle at the fair
when she is old enough and. oh,
dont forget her desire for a horse.
In Megans eyes, the fearless
5-year-old is defnitely her fathers
child.
I heard stories of when he
(John) used to climb the silos when
he was younger, laughed Megan.
Tey (Johns family) would
be, like, Where is John? and they
would look up, and there he was.
His grandma went up afer
him once, smiled Megan.
Farming has been a way of life
for generations of the Schroeder
family, and John and Megan plan
to continue that tradition.
LIVING THE TRADITION
Continued on D-2
D-2 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
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We (John, Megan, and Johns brother, Chad) will be taking it over
(from his parents) in the next year or so, said John.
As for the future, the Schroeders dont have any plans to change what
they are doing or how they are doing it. Teyre happy with life just as it
is.
LIVING THE TRADITION Continued
The Schroeder dairy farm overlooks the rolling green hills of rural Castalia. John and Megan Schroeder farm
460 acres with his brother, Chad, and their parents, Doyle and Bonnie Schroeder.
Eight-month-old Bristol Schroeder drinks her milk-lled Sippy cup as
her parents, John and Megan, of rural Castalia go to work milking cows
early in the morning.
F i v e - y e a r -
old Hannah
Sc h r o e de r,
d a u g h t e r
of Megan
and John
Schroeder of
rural Castalia,
helps feed
one of ap-
pr oxi mat el y
50 calves on
the Schroeder
dairy farm.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-3
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Along with dairy cows, Megan
and John Schroeder maintain 65
calf huts, in which they keep the
calves from their own farm as
well as bull calves bought from
the surrounding neighbors.
John Schroeder feeds the dairy cows during the 7 a.m. milking shift.
John, along with his wife, Megan, of rural Castalia milks approximately
75 cows every morning and night.
John and Megan Schroeder milk ap-
proximately 75 dairy cows with nine
BouMatic Companion milkers. The
milkers have a tie-stall detacher and
provide a digital read-out of milk ow,
weight, temperature and warnings.
John and Megan Schroeder of rural Castalia are full-time
farmers. Along with dairy cows, the Schroeders raise steers,
calves and chickens, as well as corn and hay.
D-4 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Krueger Construction
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563-426-5373
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563-422-3804
700 W. Bradford, West Union, IA
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NICC Dairy Building - 24x126 Robotic Center
NICC Dairy Building - 49x276 free stall barn
Knutson Brothers, Ossian - Shed
Ed Molokken - West Union
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-5
Rolling Hills Greenhouse has four bays and plenty of room to grow fresh greens and herbs. The facility is also
computer-automated to regulate temperature, humidity, sunlight, and water solutions.
F
rom personal delivery to
a consistently high qual-
ity product, service is what
Eric and Fern Unruh want
Rolling Hills Greenhouse to refect
to their customers and the com-
munity.
Located just of Highway 18 on
Ironwood Road northeast of West
Union, Rolling Hills Greenhouse
had its beginnings in October
2010. Te Unruh family, specif-
cally Eric and Fern, had been ir-
rigation farmers in Kansas before
that, but were ready to embark on
something a little diferent when
they moved to northeast Iowa.
Rolling Hills Greenhouse
grows diferent varieties of lettuce
and herbs hydroponically. In other
words, they grow their plants using
mineral and nutrient solutions in
water, without the use of soil. Teir
goal: to provide fresh herbs and
greens year-round to their custom-
ers.
Eric and Fern did not enter
into this endeavor lightly. Tey
did their research, touring other
hydroponic greenhouses, before
deciding to start their own. Te
intensity and the technology re-
quired to grow a product in this
type of an operation appealed to
them, so they set out to develop
their own business using this
method.
Tings have gone very well
for their business thus far. When
they were in Kansas, they endured
an F-5 tornado. Before that, they
spent three years in Africa, where
the government was very corrupt,
making it dif cult to do business.
Service and availability lead to Rolling Hills Greenhouse success
By Brian Smith
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com
This is the label to look for at your local grocery store if you want
to purchase fresh greens and herbs from Rolling Hills Greenhouse.
Tey feel blessed to be living and
working in Iowa now and to have
received such a warm welcome
from various cities where their
customers reside.
We feel that the business is
going very well here, and we are
happy and very appreciative of
the situation we are in now. Te
joys along the way are worth the
work involved, related Fern, who
devotes much of her time to of ce
work and marketing.
Te business is a family af-
fair, with Eric and his son, Jason,
handling the day-to-day running
of the greenhouse facility. Te Un-
ruhs also have two daughters, Re-
nea and Mandi, who work at the
greenhouse as well. Tey, along
with about four other employees,
keep things running smoothly all
year long.
Te greenhouse is 96 by 132
and is situated north and south,
with a one-foot slope from north
to south. Tis allows us to collect
the most sunlight all year long in-
stead of just in the spring like more
typical greenhouses, explained
Eric, who makes most of the major
decisions for the business.
Te greenhouse is also com-
puter-automated, so that things
like temperature, humidity, sun-
light, and the amount of nutrients
in the water solution can be regu-
lated ef ciently and consistently.
Jason has devoted a lot of time
to studying the science behind hy-
droponics. Tey use a fve-stage
system in which they are planting
new seeds every half-week. Te
seeds germinate in a porous sub-
stance known as rock wool (some-
times called mineral wool). Afer
germination the young plants are
then moved on to a nursery, where
misters keep them moist. As the
plants grow larger, they are even-
tually moved through a series of
food tables and trays that allow
the roots of the plant to grow and
develop in a perfect solution of
water and nutrients before eventu-
ally being harvested.
All stages of the growing pro-
cess are continually present in the
ROLLING HILLS
Continued on D-6
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www.timmermanstalents.com
Thank you, Chuck Bushman,
for letting Timmermans serve you!
D-6 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
greenhouse, so it is a never-ending
cycle of production. Harvesting of
the lettuce and herbs typically oc-
curs twice a week. In the warmer
months, the cycle from planting to
harvest takes about fve weeks. In
the colder months, it may take up
to eight weeks for the entire pro-
cess.
Every half-week we harvest
and plant new seeds so we have
a continuous rotation. Its a chal-
lenge to grow crops here year-
round, but so far it seems to be
working, stated Jason.
Green and red leaf lettuce,
Romaine, and Boston Butter Bib
are varieties of lettuce available
through Rolling Hills Greenhouse.
Te selection of herbs includes ci-
lantro, parsley, chervil, basil, Tai
basil, cutting dill, mint, and sage.
Basil is an especially popular prod-
uct, and Rolling Hills sells it in
bulk, as a live kitchen cutting herb,
in a clamshell, and as a hanging
herb.
If you are wondering how to
purchase their products, you dont
have to travel too far. Rolling Hills
Greenhouse supplies greens and
herbs to Moores Foods in West
Union, along with a few other lo-
cal businesses. In addition to the
West Union area, it also has cus-
tomers in Decorah, Cedar Rap-
ids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Iowa
City, Coralville, Dubuque, and the
Quad Cities. Some of the green-
houses larger buyers are Hy-Vee
grocery stores, the University of
Northern Iowa, and Mercy Hospi-
tal in Cedar Rapids. You can also
go on-line to learn more about the
greenhouse at www.rollinghills-
greenhouse.com.
Service is an important aspect of
the Unruhs business. Tey believe
in providing a service to the com-
Plants that have recently sprung up are moved into the nursery area, where they receive a regular misting
to keep them moist.
Basil is one of the more popular products that Rolling Hills Greenhouse
produces. It is sold in bulk, as a kitchen cutting herb, in a clamshell,
and as a hanging herb.
Boston Butter Bib lettuce, straight from the Rolling Hills Greenhouse
cold room, is shown packaged and ready to be delivered.
munity, rather than just trying to
make money.
Eric or Jason usually delivers
our greens and herbs personally to
all of our customers in Iowa and
Rochester, Minn. We like to think
we are providing a service that
people desire and that also con-
tributes to healthy eating habits,
said Fern.
A constant striving for im-
provement is evident at Rolling
Hills, and the Unruhs seem to
learn something new about what
they are doing on a regular basis.
Goals for the future include fnd-
ing ways to increase growing ca-
pacity and fguring out how best to
adjust what they grow to suit cus-
tomer needs.
However, there are some
things they dont plan to change.
Rolling Hills Greenhouse seeks
to continue to provide herbs and
greens that are fresh, tasty, and
available year-round.
ROLLING HILLS
Continued
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-7
This is one of the many sensors in the greenhouse that let the computer
know if there is too much or not enough of something in the growing
environment.
Rolling Hills Greenhouse is 96 by 132 and is situated north and south, with a one-foot slope from north to south. This allows it
to collect an even amount of sunlight all year long.
Once plants leave the nursery, they are placed into
a series of ood tables and trays that allow the roots
of the plants to grow in a perfect solution of water
and nutrients. The root system of a lettuce plant is
seen here.
Seeds are
planted in a
substance
known as
rock wool,
or mineral
wool. This
is a porous
substance
that helps
the seeds to
germinate
quickly.
Herbs grown at Rolling Hills Greenhouse include cilantro, parsley,
chervil, basil, Thai basil, cutting dill, mint, and sage.
Greens and herbs are grown hydroponically at Rolling Hills Greenhouse. Seen here are
some of the trays and tubes used to grow the plants in water, without the use of soil.
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Nick McIntyre
563-422-5121
800 Hwy. 150 South
West Union, IA
402 Clermont St., Elgin, IA - 363-426-3888
Tim Butikofer & Rhett Jensen
www.federalhybrids.com
4
growing
for the future.
Supplying the farmers of
Northeast Iowa and
SALUTE TO
ALL NE Iowa
Farmers!
D-8 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
W
hat began as a sim-
ple retirement proj-
ect for Erling Bilden
has become a tasty
treasure the entire community can
enjoy. Afer nearly 10 years of in-
vesting in their backyard, on Sept.
22 Erling and Mary Bilden will be
opening their apple orchard to the
public for the very frst time.
Weve been taking the apples
to the farmers market and selling
them to Valley Schools for the past
few years, but weve never opened
it up like this before, said Bilden.
Erling began the project near-
ly a decade ago, jumping in with
no prior experience, very little
education about how to produce
an apple orchard, and with no ex-
pectations for how his little apple
orchard may one day enhance the
community.
Afer struggling in the begin-
ning, Erling took a class through
Iowa State University on how to
care for the trees.
If I had to do it again not
that I would try again at my age
I would learn a little more before I
jumped in, he chuckled.
Since taking the class, the
trees have produced an abundance
of apples. As we walked through
the orchard, branches flled with
juicy ripe apples sagging toward
Orchard to provide
a taste of autumn
By Shalee Hanson
Contributing Writer
Erling and Mary Bilden
are excited to welcome
the public to the very rst
opening of their apple
orchard on Sept. 22 and
the Barn Board Factory on
Oct. 5 and 6. (Photos by
Shalee Hanson)
the ground surrounded us.
Te apples, however, arent
the only project the Bildens have
been working on. As we toured
the rural Elgin farm, Mary ofered
to show me what she referred to as
the Barn Board Factory. Inside
the various sheds and trailors on
the farm there were mountains
of crafs made out of refurbished
barn boards.
Ive always wanted to live in
an old barn, thats my dream, Mary
admitted. Te couple laughed as
they told me Marys dream barn
house isnt in the cards for them.
It is Ron McCartney that Mary
blames for her new favorite hobby.
Well, I found out he was tear-
ing down an old barn on his land
and told him not to do it, and
then he called me the day before
and said if I wanted to come pick
through the barn before it came
down, I had better get over there.
pple
Bildens
BILDENS APPLE ORCHARD
Continued on D-9
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Farmers Union Coop
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-9
Thanks to the Fayette County Corn & Soybean membership we
have reduced our dependence on foreign oil by supporting
ethanol and soy biodiesel through our checkoff dollars.
Motorists are
turning to ethanol
to speak out against
foreign oil and
rising fuel costs.
www.iowacorn.org
Soy biodiesel can
provide up to 5%
better fuel economy.
To learn more about soy
biodiesel check out:
www.iasoybeans.com

Recognition goes out to our
2013 Fayette County Corn &
Soybean Grand Sponsors
Agrigold Josh Geistkemper
AgVenture Seed
Aurora Elevator
Bank First-West Union
CGB Clayton
Community Bank of Oelwein
Crop Insurance of NE Iowa
u u l 8 l S
ECI Seed
Farm Credit Services
Farmers Savings Bank
Fauser Energy Resources
Fidelity Bank, Oelwein
Maynard Savings Bank
l C
Flint Hills Resources
Hub City Implement
l A S
Mark Ney-Monsanto
M C
l S A
Pioneer Hybrids
RFS&W CPA
Smith Insurance
Titan Machinery
v
W P k
Billerbeck
Iowa Corn Growers
Fayette County Corn & Soybean
Growers Association
For more information or to get involved call
Steve Rau, President 563.920.4553 wwww.iowacorn.org
Thank
You
2013
Sponsors!
Mary Bilden and Lisa Schneider picked through the barn and began to build items
to take to craf shows.
It really was a domino efect; we went to one craf show, where we were invited to
another, and so on and so on, Mary explained.
People from across the state now call the Bildens to come collect pieces of old barns
that are about to be torn down. As we walked through the buildings I saw anything
from in-home decorations to lawn ornaments to birdhouses made by Erling, Mary and
Lisa.
Afer perfecting their craf and cultivating their orchard, Erling and Mary are happy
to welcome the community to their open house on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 6
,

to see the Barn Board Factory crafs, as well as come and enjoy their apple orchard.
Te Bildens Orchard is home to eight kinds of apples, including Wolf River, Red
Delicious, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Courtland, Haralson, Empire, and Gala, as well as
two pear trees. Te orchard itself will open to the public on Sunday, Sept. 22, to the
public and the Barn Board Factory open house will be held on Oct. 5

and 6.
Mary and Erling Bilden live at 18203 Bixby Road outside of Elgin. Head towards
Gunder from Elgin on Agate Road for approximately four miles and Bixby Road will
be on your lef. Keep an eye out for the blue address sign and the house will be on your
lef. If you need more information regarding the crafs or the orchard, please call Erling
or Mary at 563-423-7197.
BILDENS APPLE ORCHARD Continued
Erling Bilden began harvesting apples this week for the opening of the Bilden
s Apple Orchard which offers eight kinds of apples including Wolf River, Red
Delicious, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Courtland, Haralson, Empire and Gala, as
well as two pear trees.
With nearly 50 apple trees on-site, the Bildens are excited to share their harvest
with the community.
D-10 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Electric Motor
Repairing
and Rewinding
On-the-Farm
Service
New & Used Motors
V-Belts
Wiring
Power Tools
Starters
Alternators
Generators
Corn Dryers
12637 Hwy. 18 Postville, IA Ted or Susan Hughes
During Business Hours
563-864-7351
Lawn
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563-422-3285
Solar energy sweeping northeast Iowa
By Shalee Hanson
Union news writer
SOLAR ENERGY
Continued on D-11
People passing through the ru-
ral communities of northeast Iowa
may believe the businesses and
people are old-fashioned and anti-
innovation. Tose people couldnt
be more wrong. In fact, nestled in
the hills of Castalia, organic farm
owner Chuck Bushman recently
installed a 70 kW solar array on his
organic farm.
Te 360 panels line the roof
of his chicken coop and were in-
stalled by Timmermans Talents,
LLC of Platteville, Wis. Te in-
stallation has been up and run-
ning for a month and a half, and
since its implementation it has cut
Bushmans electric bill from $1600
to $170.
Chuck Bushmans renew-
able energy dream began 10 years
ago when he took an interest in
the wind turbines that had been
popping up around the Midwest.
Afer doing more research on the
cost, savings, and maintenance,
Bushman decided against imple-
menting wind turbines.
Afer speaking with Todd
Timmerman of Timmerman
Talents, he was confdent in the
benefts of solar energy. Afer a
few weeks of installation, the solar
panels were providing cost-efec-
tive and energy-ef cient solutions
Chuck Bushman (r) describes the installation process and benets of solar energy to the Solar Tour as well as neighbors and friends interested
in solar energy. (Photos by Shalee Hanson)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM D-11
2013 CNH America LLC. New Holland is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC.
EXPLORE THE
POWER OF BLUE
T7 SERIES TRACTORS
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Baumler Implements, Inc.
1306 Highway 150 South
West Union, IA 52175
(563) 422-3835
www.baumlerimplements.com
Give your kids a taste of
farm safety
Your family lives and works on your farm. Take
steps to keep them safe. Dont carry extra riders
on tractors or have children perform tasks that
are beyond their capabilities. Remember, farm
safety is a family affair.
A Policy of Working Together
A Policy of Working Together
Kelly & Miller
144 S. Main, Fayette
Insurance
563-425-4569
SOLAR ENERGY
Continued
for the Bushman farm.
Bushman utilized the Rural Energy for
America Program (REAP) grant and federal
and state tax credits to ofset his costs. He also
receives $.04/kWh from his RECAllamakee-
Clayton Electric Cooperative.
Te Bushman farm isnt the only north-
east Iowa business utilizing solar energy. On
Tursday, Sept. 12, the Bushman Farm, Luther
College, Pizza Ranch, Decorah Bank and Trust,
and Oneota Valley Family Eye Care were all
stops on a Solar Tour. Te tour attendees includ-
ed Nathaniel Baer of the Iowa Environmental
Council, Tim Dwight of the Iowa Solar Energy
Trade Association, Steven Falck and Joshua
Mandelbaum of the Environmental Law and
Policy Center, as well as Iowa senators Mike
Breitbach and Pam Jochum. Te group toured
the local businesses to see how solar innovation
has improved the way they do business.
Iowa ranks 16
th
in the United States
in technical potential for solar photovoltaic
systems. Te use of solar energy is predicted
to rapidly increase over the next several years,
leading to policy proposals dealing with power
purchase agreements, funding for Iowa Solar
Tax Credits, expanding the Iowa Renewable
Portfolio Standard, and continuing the Iowa
Power and Lights Renewable Energy Pilot
Program focusing on solar projects.
Participating in a recent Solar Tour of the Chuck and Marlys Bushman farm were representatives from several state energy organi-
zations. Pictured (l-r) are: Nathaniel Baer, Tim Dwight, Joshua Mandelbaum, Pam Jochum, Chuck Bushman, Mike Breitbach, Todd
Timmerman owner of Timmerman Talents, LLC., and Steven Falck.
Thursday morning the Solar Tour visited Chuck and Marlys Bushmans
organic farm to see Bushmans new solar energy installation.
D-12 Wednesday, September 25, 2013/The Fayette County Union - FARM
Wapsie Valley
C R E AME RY I NC .
300 Tenth St., NE, Independence, IA
319-334-7193
For the past 105 years, we have been a
family-owned company serving family-owned farms.
Proud to honor all of Iowas Farmers!
We are privileged to work with great people every day...
~ Great Place to Market Your Milk Since 1906 `
Hats of to all of the
hardworking farming
familys of today...
especially the
John & Megan Schroder
family of Castalia!
John Schroeder, his wife, Megan, and their
daughters, Hannah, 5, and Bristol, 8 months.
Agriculture
Agriculture Business
Agriculture Production
Animal Science
Beef Science Technology
Companion Animal Science
Dairy Science
Dairy Science Technology
Enology
Enology Specialist
Large Animal Veterinary Technician
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Viticulture
Viticulture Technology
Learn More.
Visit with a Admissions Expert Today!
Calmar: 800.728.2256 Peosta: 800.728.7367
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Training Todays Agriculture Professionals
Northeast Iowa Community College provides hands-on agriculture education that
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>> Visit www.nicc.edu/agprograms to learn more
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