The Grinnell FFA Chapter Ag Issues team earned a Gold rating and a trip to state at district competition on March 5. Pictured are, from left: Nina Walton. Nick Brennecke, Gabe Gilman, Alea Delk, Hayden Eaton, Nicolle Donnelly and Sadi Flanagan. Members of the Grinnell High School FFA Chapter participated in the 2022 South Central FFA District Convention on Saturday, March 5, bringing home four Gold honors. The Ag Issues team comprised of Nina Walton, Nick Brennecke, Gabe Gilman, Alea Delk, Hayden Eaton, Nicolle Donnelly and Sadi Flanagan earned Gold and advance to state. Public Speaking, Lexi Kephart, earned Gold and advances to state. Chapter Program comprised of Lexi Spooner, Ireland Sebetka and Sophia Louden earned Gold. Chapter Quiz comprised of Andrew Peterson, Blaine Graff, who placed seventh overall and Wyatt Eaton earned Gold. “Keep working hard,” noted Grinnell FFA Chapter Advisor Ashley Wolfe. “I am proud of you all.” And, special thanks goes to student teacher, Mr. Koch for all the behind the scenes work he does to help the chapter. Lexi Kephart earned Gold and a trip to state competition in the Public Speaking category at district competition on March 5. Members of the Grinnell FFA Chapter Program team earned Gold at district competition on March 5. They are, from left: Lexi Spooner, Ireland Sebetka and Sophia Louden. Members of the Grinnell FFA Chapter Quiz team earned Gold at district competition on March 5. They are, from left: Andrew Peterson, Blaine Graff, who earned seventh place overall, and Wyatt Eaton.
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The Grinnell Farmers Market is currently accepting applications for vendors for their 2022 season, which begins May 12 and runs through Oct. 22.
“We are gearing up for warmer weather and another great market season, and we invite you to join us! If you have ever thought about getting involved with the Grinnell Farmers Market, now is the time! Give us a call, find info at grinnellfarmersmarket.com or stop on in,” noted Marissa Pronschinske with the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce. The Grinnell Farmers Market will take place on Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon. The Farmers Market sets up along the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Broad Street on the edge of Central Park. Farmers Market vendors may apply for stalls on either Thursday or Saturday, or for both days. The cost of a season pass is $115 for Thursdays, $105 for Saturdays, or $175 for both Thursday and Saturday markets. Part-time vendors will be charged $15 on Thursdays and $10 on Saturdays. Applications for full-time vendor stalls are due April 22, 2022. Part-time vendor applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but there are a limited number of stalls so requests for specific dates should be made as far in advance as possible. The Grinnell Farmers Market is a 100 percent producer grown or made market, meaning that all items for sale must be entirely grown or made by the vendor or immediate family members. All items must be made or grown in Iowa. For non-food items, inputs may be purchased but the final product must be the vendor’s own creation; for example, a vendor may sell a knitted sweater if they purchase the yarn and then knit the sweater themselves. Vendors are responsible for filing state sales tax permits where applicable. Those interested in applying to be a vendor at the Grinnell Farmers Market can find more information and apply at grinnellfarmersmarket.com or can contact the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, marissa@getintogrinnell.com or 641-236-6555. Recently, Manatt's, Inc. is a recipient of the Iowa Safety Excellence Award (ROSE) thru the Associated General Contractors (AGC). The 2021 award winners were announced at the ROSE awards luncheon during AGC of Iowa's 100th Annual Convention held Jan. 12 -13 in Des Moines. The honor is awarded to contractors who demonstrate a cultural commitment to safety and is sponsored by Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. Pictured, Nancy Ollinger of the Risk & Safety Department at Manatt's, accepts the award on behalf of the company. Submitted photo.
Members of the Poweshiek County Farm Bureau Board members meet with area Legislatures at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Board members spent the day discussing issues of importance to Poweshiek County residents. Pictured are, from left: Mike Kleitsch, Brooklyn; President Eric Fynaardt, Searsboro; Jeff Tindle, Montezuma; Tom Cheney, Deep River; Sen. Dawn Driscoll, Senate District 38; Rep. Dave Maxwell, House District 76; guest Ashley DeKoning, Grinnell; Joe Armstrong, Montezuma and Dave King, Guernsey. By J.O. Parker The Poweshiek County Farm Bureau is a local grassroots membership-based organization comprised of a 16-member farmer board, one from each township in the county. The board works with national, state and local officials to implement policies that have a positive impact in Poweshiek County agriculture and beyond. On Wednesday, Feb. 23, a number of board members traveled to the Iowa State Capitol to meet with other Farm Bureau members from across the state as well as discuss issues of importance with Rep. Dave Maxwell, House District 76, and Senator Dawn Driscoll, Senate District 38, both of who cover Poweshiek County. Those making the trip included President Eric Fynaardt, Searsboro; Tom Cheney, Deep River, Jeff Tindle, Montezuma, Dave King, Guernsey; Joe Armstrong, Montezuma; Mike Kleitsch, Brooklyn; and guest, Ashley DeKoning, Grinnell. Following a brief meeting and photos, Poweshiek County Farm Bureau members were joined by members of the Benton County Farm Bureau and Rep. Thomas D. Gerhold, House District 75, which covers Benton County, along with Rep. Maxwell and Sen. Driscoll. The group touched on a number of issues including biofuels, land acquisition and capital gains exclusion/beginning farmer tax credit. They also touched on solar energy. “It was very nice to meet with the local Farm Bureau from my district advocating on behalf of agriculture,” noted Sen. Driscoll. “It is vital to be a voice for our hard-working farmers and agricultural producers. They are an organization that represents the local people in a broader way, ensuring they have a voice, so they will be supported in every endeavor. It is always a great opportunity to get to speak with them at the Iowa State Capitol. Being a farmer myself, I greatly value meeting with them.” “I think it is good and important that we have constituents visit us at the capitol,” said Rep. Maxwell. “It reinforces what they believe in and it is important enough for them to visit us in person and discuss those issues.” Eric Fynaardt, Poweshiek County Farm Bureau president, said it was a successful day, noting that one of the main issues was getting the sales tax increase removed from the senate’s tax bill. “It was good to meet with and have a strong relationship with our local senator and representative,” Fynaardt said. “It is nice to have the opportunity to travel to the Iowa State Capitol and to talk with Sen. Driscoll and Rep. Maxwell and not an aide or staff member.” “We support grassroots membership-led policies,” said board member Jeff Tindle of Montezuma. “The board of directors tries to get those implemented through the Legislature. We also do that on a local level with the board of supervisors.” Community Involvement In addition to lobbying government officials, the local Farm Bureau board works to make communities better. With a membership of 1,800 county residents, the local Farm Bureau supports area youth and families. Some of the examples include: The Poweshiek County Fair where Farm Bureau sponsors showmanship awards. Local high school athletic programs where students who compete on the state level all receive a Farm Bureau commemorative ball for their chosen sport. And local causes with financial donations. Farm Bureau most recently made a donation to the Harold “Pie” Keller Memorial project underway in Brooklyn. The local Farm Bureau also offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the county. Each year, $4,000 in scholarships go to students whose family are Farm Bureau members anywhere in the county. They also promote locally-grown meat products through local grocery stores with promotional events. For instance, in May, Farm Bureau will sponsor a drawing at the Grinnell Fareway called “T-Bone Tuesday” giveaway during the month. Plans are also in the works to offer a family-friendly community event. Farm Bureau works in partnership with local Farm Bureau insurance agents. Farm Bureau has agents in Brooklyn, Grinnell and Montezuma. “All the agents in the county work with us on membership and we work with them on promoting their services,” said Tindle. The Poweshiek County Farm Bureau office is located at 125 Jackson St., Brooklyn. They can be reached at Poweshiek.county@ifbf.org or by telephone at 641-522-9227. Iowa Sen. Dawn Driscoll greets Poweshiek County Farm Bureau member Mike Kleitsch, Brooklyn, in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda as other farm bureau members look on. Farm Bureau members from Poweshiek and Benton counties meet with legislatures to discuss issues of importance during Farm Bureau Day on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Sen. Dawn Driscoll, Senate District 38, middle, chuckles at a comment as Rep. Dave Maxwell, House District 76 (Poweshiek County), right, and Thomas D. Gerhold, House District 75 (Benton County), left, listen in during a gathering of Farm Bureau members from the two counties who meet with the representatives to discuss issues of important to their constituents. Rep. Dave Maxwell, House District 76, discusses an issue with Poweshiek County Farm Bureau President Eric Fynaardt, Searsboro during Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Sen. Dawn Driscoll, Senate District 38, middle, wraps up business of the day with Poweshiek and Benton County Farm Bureau board members during Iowa Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Capitol on Feb. 23. Sen. Dawn Driscoll, Senate District 38, wraps up business of the day with Poweshiek County Farm Bureau board members, Tom Cheney, Deep River, left, and Mike Kleitsch, Brooklyn, middle.
John Noer, 86, a resident of the Mayflower Community, presents a 4,000-piece jigsaw puzzle entitle, “Animals of the World,” to Farrah Deppe, a fourth grade teacher at Davis Elementary on Thursday, Feb. 17. The puzzle features fun cartoon characters superimposed on an accurate map of the world. Located in the upper left hand corner is a legend to help viewers learn about where the different animals from around the world are from. By J.O. Parker
It only took him 18-days, but the finished product will serve as an educational tool for years to come. John Noer, 86, who has been putting together puzzles since he was a kid, is at it again. Noer, who resides with his wife, Dorothy, at the Mayflower Community in Grinnell, recently completed a 4,000-piece jigsaw puzzle entitled, “Animals of the World.” The puzzle was made in Taiwan by Yu Gong Fang, and was a gift from his daughter, who resides with her family in Taiwan. The puzzle features fun cartoon characters superimposed on an accurate map of the world. Located in the upper left hand corner is a legend to help viewers learn about where the different animals from around the world are from. When he finished the puzzle earlier this year, Noer asked Mayflower Executive Director Steve Langerud to come look at it and make a suggestion on what to do with it. “He suggested giving it to Davis Elementary in Grinnell,” said Noer. After having the puzzle matted and framed by Jim Beckman, owner of Beckman Gallery in Grinnell, Noer reached out to Davis Elementary Principal Brian Conway to see if the school was interested in having the puzzle for educational purposes. “He agreed it would be something the school would be interested in having,” Noer said. "It is a puzzle that kids can learn from and are already fascinated by,” note Principal Conway. “We are very appreciative of the connection that we have with the Mayflower Community and its residents. Something that has been lost during the pandemic is our close connection to learning experiences with Mayflower residents and we are excited that this is slowly coming back. The donation took place on Thursday, Feb. 17. “I know it will be something our students will enjoy looking at in the building,” said Farrah Deppe, fourth grade teacher at Davis. Noer most recently completed a 40,320-piece puzzle featuring 10 Disney Scenes. Three sections of that puzzle were donated to the Strand Theatre. He has also completed a 3,000-piece puzzle of an African jungle scene that is on display in his dining room, a 9,000-piece puzzle of a colorful underwater scene that was formerly on display in the Mayflower Health Center – Carman Center, but has since been moved to Noer’s apartment building and a 4,000-piece puzzle of 100 Beatles songs. That puzzle will be raffled off at a later date by the Mayflower Community. In addition, Noer has completed a 4,000-piece human body puzzle that is 10-foot tall. His daughter in Taiwan sent the puzzle to him. Once she returns to the states, she plans to use the puzzle in teaching high school anthropology. In addition to puzzling, Noer enjoys playing card games and says he knows 65 card games. He is also working on a book about his puzzling and card game hobbies. The book will be entitled, “Puzzling Adventures.” “It keeps me off the streets and out of trouble,” Noer said of his puzzle and game hobbies. Members of the Grinnell High School Group Mime Team are shown with the “Critic’s Choice” they earned at All-State Speech on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Iowa State University. Pictured are, standing, from left: Speech Coach Kevin Hosbond, Bridget Blanchard, Kalli Hart, Thea Larsson. Kneeling are: Kiran Elfenbein, Kaeden Peterson and Cora Miller, which they earned for the Group Mime production of “The Leviathan.” This is the 11th Critic’s Choice banner received by Grinnell. By Kevin Hosbond
All-State Recap: The day began with the performance of the Choral Reading "Them" at CY Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University in Ames on Saturday, Feb. 19. The students gave their best performance yet. Upon the conclusion of the performance, the critic for their category stated that it was "beautifully staged and beautifully performed" and thought the overall performance was a phenomenal collection of movement, singing, and text. The cast includes Chloe Alger, Sarah Ashing, Emily Cooper, Kailyn Corey, Maddie Davis, Joel Dressler, Kiran Elfenbein, Mary Jacobson, Kiran Jones, Brittany Kifer, Thea Larsson, Judith Perez-Valentin, Kayla Sieck, and Peter Simpson. The piece was written and directed by Kevin Hosbond. Off to Solo Mime at the Scheman Building... Cora Miller gave another flawless performance of her piece "The Mousetrap." The critic judge in that center enjoyed her attention to detail and the "magically diabolical" story she created. Later, the Group Mime "The Leviathan" performed for the same critic. He raved about their fantastic performance and complimented the progress mime has made in Iowa. The cast includes Bridget Blanchard, Kiran Elfenbein, Kalli Hart, Thea Larsson, Cora Miller, and Kaeden Peterson. Both mime pieces were directed by Kevin Hosbond and written by him with the assistance of the cast. Next the students were off to the Alumni Building for the Ensemble Acting performance of "Whatever / Two Hanged Women." The critic admired how the performers created believably distinct characters in two very different scenes. Iris Mackenzie and Olivia Mick were the performers in that event. The piece was directed by Kevin Hosbond with assistance from Jennie Flinspach. The final Grinnell performance was in the area of Musical Theatre at the Ames City Auditorium with the performance of "Once." The critic in this center spoke to the vocal power of the performers, their ability to create an environment using physicality and mime technique, and the vulnerability in their emotional portrayals of the characters. The cast includes Bridget Blanchard and Kaeden Peterson; the piece was directed by Kevin Hosbond with assistance from Jennie Flinspach and Michael Gookin. The end of the day concluded with the closing ceremonies taking place at a fully packed CY Stephens Auditorium with overflow audience members watching online from the Scheman Building. Each critic gave their choice for the "Critic's Choice" award--represented by a travelling banner that will go on display in each school for the year before returning the next season. When announcing the Critic's Choice for Group Mime, critic Jason Alberty said, "It is my great honor to give the Critic's Choice award for Group Mime to...The Leviathan." According to the IHSSA, "Approximately 24,000 students started at the district level from more than 347 schools. Now only 113 schools had groups named as Outstanding Performers and less than 1,800 students earned the right to be named as Outstanding Performers. This Critic's Choice is selected by a professional in the specific field as the top performer in the State of Iowa in that performance area for 2022." In the areas in which we performed, only the top 20 in each category from across the entire state receive a high enough ranking to be invited to perform. So to receive a banner can be likened to winning a state championship. It is my belief that the high honor of this banner is something shared by more than just our group of six mime students. It represents all the work, creativity, and commitment of the students who came before them as well. For me, I think this is the 29th group mime of mine to perform at All-State, so it kind of felt like a "lifetime achievement award" in a way. But in particular, these students from day one have been the easiest group to work with--every moment of rehearsal was inspiring and fun. They brought so much joy and truly fulfilled their dream. This banner represents the 11th Critic's Choice banner received by Grinnell. It will be on display this year, and the Ramsey family has already agreed to fulfill their earlier promise of purchasing a replica to hang on the auditorium wall for years to come as they have done with the previous 10 years. |
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