Miss Alyssa Latcham, 10, daughter of Curtis and Amanda Latcham of rural Montezuma, has been chosen to represent Poweshiek County, Iowa at the 2021 Little Miss United States Agriculture Pageant. 
Alyssa will travel to Maryville, Mo. in December where she will compete on the regional level, the first step to reaching the finals in Orlando, Fla. in June 2022.
     “Alyssa is beyond excited for this opportunity,” said her mom, Amanda. 
    “I’m looking forward to teaching people the importance of agriculture as farmers are important as they feed the world,” Alyssa said.
     Alyssa started off her title run by participating in the 2021 Iowa State Fair Parade.

     Thanks to a $4,800 grant from Bayer Fund, the Montezuma Food Pantry was able to purchase female period products, men’s 2 in 1 body wash and baby wipes for area families.
   Food Pantry Director Darla Wilson said unless you have it experienced it, most people don’t understand the term: period poor.
     “A low income family with several females in the household understands what that means,” Wilson said.
    She added, funds from this grant has allowed the pantry to purchase important and necessary hygiene products for women and men, and strengthen what the Salvation Army was already doing in the county.
    “For some time the Salvation Army has been supplying tampons and pads to the schools in the county to ensure teens have access to those necessary items when they are unavailable at home,” Wilson said. “Now areas families will have the opportunity to add these items to their monthly grocery sack(s) at the Montezuma Food Pantry. We are thankful for this support to our organization, but also to the communities we serve across the county.”
   “Throughout the years, the grants given through Bayer Fund have helped strengthen our communities across the United States, “noted Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund.  “We’re proud to provide support to develop programs that help combat challenges such as food insecurity, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and support services to patients and families managing an illness or disease.”
     In 2020, Bayer Fund awarded more than 17 million to more than 3,400 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in food and nutrition, STEM education and community development.  Over the last five years, nonprofit organizations across the US have received more than $80 million from the Bayer Fund.
     To learn more about the Montezuma Food Pantry visit their Facebook page.  They do not have a website. To learn more about the Bayer Fund visit https://www.fund.bayer.us.
 

    The Grinnell Lions Ag Appreciation Day is slated for Thursday, Aug. 26 from 3 – 7 p.m., in and around Central Park in Grinnell.
    Postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19, Ag Day will again offer food, fun, exhibits, activities for kids, hay rack rides, a guest speaker, music, tractors on display and a tractor parade, and just good fun. A farm family will be awarded the Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming Award and an agribusiness will also be recognized.
    And new this year, the Grinnell Lions have partnered with the Grinnell Rotary Club to prepare and serve their famous BBQ chicken dinners. The Rotary Club will be serving Ag Day attendees as well as drive up customers. All registered tractor owners will be given a free chicken dinner ticket.
    “It’s two Grinnell service organizations working together to help make Ag Day a better event and sell more chickens,” said Allan Maly, a spokesperson for the Grinnell Lions.
    The Dari Barn food truck will also be on site serving Ag Day attendees.
    Route 66 will provide the tunes and this year’s guest speaker is Liz Kolbe, Education and Engagement Director at Practical Farmers of Iowa. Bill Menner is the Ag Day emcee.
    The event will end with the popular tractor parade, which starts rolling at 6:30 p.m.
    “Please encourage any and all tractor owners to bring them to Ag Day,” noted Maly. “New, old, show quality or right from the field. The bigger the tractor parade, the better.”
Schedule
    • 12 – 3 p.m. – tractor registration 
    • 3 – 6 p.m. - exhibitor displays open
   Old and antique tractors on display, Grinnell Historical Society, Farm Bureau – Free Water. Pow Mutual Insurance – free popcorn, Conservation Station Marsh Madness trailer, Iowa Corn trailer, Theisen’s – free popcorn, Cub Scouts, Poweshiek County SIDCD/NRCS, Poweshiek County Extension/4-H, Poweshiek County Public Health offering free Covid vaccinations, UnityPoint Health, diabetes awareness and free screening, Iowa Lions Eye Bank, DuraCrop Scouting services, Bayer Crop Science, Grinnell Fire Department, Alliant Energy – energy demonstration, Poweshiek County Naturalist – Archery Trailer, Hayrack rides – southwest corner of Central Park          
   • 4 – 6 p.m.                       
   Pedal Tractor Pull southwest of playground - (BGM FFA), Petting Zoo (Grinnell-Newburg FFA), Music by Route 66, Food - Grinnell Rotary Club BBQ Chicken Dinner and Dari Barn Food Trailer
   • 5:55 - 6:15 p.m. – Featured speaker – Liz Kolbe, Practical Farmers of Iowa
   • 6:15 - 6:25 p.m. – Spirit of Farming and Ag Business Awards – Lyle Roudabush, President of Grinnell Lions will preside
   • 6:30 – Tractor parade announced
   • 6:35 – Tractor parade starts lead by Merle Doty and the 2021 featured tractor, a 1954 Farmall Super MTA. The parade starts on 4th Avenue west to Broad Street, north on Broad Street, west on 5th Avenue, south on Main Street, east on 4th Avenue, south on Broad Street, finish at 1st Street.

    Merle Doty’s tractor was purchased new in 1954 from Richerson Implement Store in Brooklyn by his father, Melvin Doty. The Super MTA was the main tractor on the Doty farm for about 25 years before being sold to a neighbor.
    Merle purchased it from the neighbor some years later and restored it with the help of Eldon VanWyk. Merle has ridden on the Super MTA on several tractor rides and in several parades. Plans are to pass the tractor on to Merle’s son, Mark, and his family when the the time comes.

    The Grinnell Lions Club, in partnership with Unity Point Health-Grinnell, and the Montezuma, Kellogg, and Victor Lions Clubs, will offer a free diabetes screening clinic at the annual Ag Day Celebration on Aug. 26. 
     Screenings will be funded by a grant from the Lions Club International Foundation, as well as follow-up care for those identified as pre-diabetic or diabetic. The project is designed to increase awareness of prediabetes by identifying higher risk individuals, increasing the availability of, and enrollment in, a diabetes prevention program and developing a referral process to a comprehensive follow-up care program for those identified as prediabetic or diabetic.
     Look for U.P.H.  close to the Gazebo in Central Park on Aug. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m.

​   Three college-bound Iowans will receive the Governor Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship for 2021-22, Iowa College Aid announced today. The scholarship, named for the longtime Iowa governor and former U.S. ambassador to China, recognizes outstanding Iowa high school seniors who have actively participated in the fair. This year’s winners will each receive $2,000. They are:

• Gavin Tindle, a graduate of Montezuma High School, plans to major in agricultural business and minor in animal science at Iowa State University. Gavin has camped at the fair every year of his life—a tradition that goes back to his great-grandparents. His fair participation evolved over the years from Mutton Bustin’ and the Pedal Tractor Pull to winning awards for photographs, antiques, flowers, brownies, rabbits, and goats. “My love of agriculture grew from the fond memories of being at the Iowa State Fair and seeing how ag impacts the lives of everyone—not just one person, but the world,” he says. “I feel honored that I have basically grown up being an Iowa State Fair kid.”
• Ruby Hummel, a graduate of Panorama High School, plans to study music education at Drake University. Ruby exhibited photos and sculpture at the fair and regularly took part in 4-H Share the Fun, performing in group skits and playing piano solos. She also won the opportunity to perform in the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Building on multiple occasions. “The Iowa State Fair was a big deciding factor in my future education and career path,” she says. “These performances, and having the opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd, made me realize how much I love performing and how much I enjoy music. Music became something I wanted to pursue and give to others in my life well into the future.”
• Sierra Wegener, a graduate of Northeast Middle-High School in Goose Lake, plans to study animal science and agricultural business at Iowa State University. Sierra grew up helping her parents show livestock at the fair and eagerly awaited her turn, eventually winning three Supreme Champion awards for her sheep. Sierra says the fair has not only taught her about agriculture but also given her the opportunity to teach. “Educating people about the agriculture industry is one of my favorite things because people may not know where their food comes from, or how almost everything that we have can be traced back to agriculture in some way,” she says. “If I can be an advocate for the industry that I love and people can see my passion for it, maybe I can make an impact on them and they could teach others as well.”

   A common thread in all three winners’ application essays was the fair’s impact on their career paths. “These stories underscore the value of the Iowa State Fair for education, not just entertainment,” said Dr. Mark Wiederspan, Executive Director of Iowa College Aid. “This kind of career exploration is an important component of preparing young Iowans for lifetime success.”
   The winners will be honored at the fair on Saturday, August 14, on the Bill Riley Stage, just before the crowning of the Iowa State Fair Queen.

Sharon Ford of Brooklyn was named the 2021 Poweshiek County 4-H Hall of Fame inductee at the Poweshiek County Fair on Thursday, July 15. Gavin Tindle, right, holds the 4-H Hall of Fame plaque being presented to Sharon, who is joined by her husband, Loren. The Poweshiek Pioneers 4-H Club nominated Sharon for the hall of fame honor. Representing the club at the announcement was William Manatt and Sam Johnson, both at left.​

By J.O. Parker
 
    The Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association announced last month that Myron Jack, a long-time softball umpire, has been inducted into the Softball Umpire’s Hall of Fame.
       Jack, who calls Victor home, learned of the honor on July 24.
      “I met so many wonderful people throughout my umpiring career,” noted Jack. “The coaches, players, fans, and fellow officials I've gotten to know have made for a very rewarding career. To the umpires who mentored me along the way, thank you, this wouldn't have happened without your help. Special thanks to my wife, Rhonda, and the rest of my family, thank you for all of your support through the years. I have been truly blessed.”
        Jack started umpiring in 1990. He said the HLV summer recreation program was needing umpires.
      “I thought it would be an interesting way to get involved in games that I enjoy, and help kids maybe learn about the game,” he said. “Little did I know that I was the one who would be doing most of the learning.”
      Jack worked youth ball for 10 years, mostly in Victor, but did umpire numerous tournaments in Marengo and Williamsburg.
      In 2000, Jack said he talked with an umpiring crew at the high school game about getting started umpiring high school baseball and softball.
     “They advised me to check out the Iowa City Athletic Officials Association,” recalled Jack. “I joined the ICAOA and attended pre-season meetings in Iowa City. They do a lot of assigning in the area, so that was the start of high school ball.”
      Jack worked high school baseball from 2000 to 2003 and high school softball from 2000 – 2017, retiring after the 2017 season.
     The Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association administers the halls of fame for coaches, administrators and umpires. They IGCA also selects the district and state coaches of the year honors. In addition, they name the all-state players after the season is over. They have a committee that takes nominations for the various awards, and then votes for the recipients.
      “I was very fortunate to be one of the two umpires inducted for 2021,” Jack said.
      The Softball Umpires Hall of Fame is an entity of the IGCA.
     In addition to pre-season meetings and clinics, Jack said he typically umpired four, and sometimes five nights, a week.
      “Many Saturdays were spent umpiring tournaments around the area,” Jack said. “I usually tried to keep my regular season games within a 75 mile radius from home, but occasionally would go further. I also refereed junior high and JV basketball for a number of years, usually working two to three nights a week.”
When asked what he enjoyed about being an umpire, Jack said meeting all the peope involved with sports in the State of Iowa.
      “I have so many good memories, I just wish I would have written them down, it would make quite a book,” he said. “I always enjoyed interacting with the players and coaches. You really remember the great ones.”
      Jack said he’s met many umpires from around the entire state.
     “My first full-time partner was fellow Hall of Famer, Darrel Brand from Montezuma,” noted Jack. “He taught me so much about the game, and how to deal with people, especially in tough situations.”
      Jack said he always enjoyed working the post-season.
    “The atmosphere at those games is incredible, especially when you get deep into the tournaments,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to have umpired nine state tournaments, and two state championship games. I would encourage anyone to make the trip to Fort Dodge and see the state softball tournament in person. It is an amazing facility, and is so well run by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.”
     In wrapping up this honor, Jack said there is an extreme shortage of sports officials in every sports. He said the reasons are varied, but too many newer officials quit within the first two or three years. 
    “If you go to some of the games and listen, it's not too hard to figure out why some very promising officials don't stick with it,” noted Jack.
     Jack said due to the shortage, he is going to get registered again, and possibly work some games.
     “I’ll probably just fill in as needed,” he said.
     He also wants to offer to mentor any new official that may need some help getting started.
   “I'm so fortunate that my wife, Rhonda, and our family supported me and allowed me to pursue this avocation that I enjoyed so much,” noted Jack.

Tim Burgess received Best Paired Duo honors showing a sheep owned by Ellen Cook with the Montezuma FFA at the Poweshiek County Fair Celebrity Livestock Show held on Friday, July 16.

Janel Burgess received Crowd Favorite honors showing a sheep owned by Olivia Latcham with the Poweshiek Pioneers 4-H Club at the Poweshiek County Fair Celebrity Livestock Show on Friday, July 16.

Sharon Boggess as Little Bo Peep received Best Dressed honors with her outfit and dressed up sheep owned by Easton Edelen with the Sheridan 4-H Club at the Poweshiek County Fair Celebrity Livestock Show held on Friday, July 16.

Edy Henning received Most Alike Duo honors with a sheep owned by Levi Stevens with the HLV FFA at the Poweshiek County Fair Celebrity Livestock Show held on Friday, July 16.

Jono Cheney received Overall Winner honors with a sheep owned by Vivian Cook with the Deep River Helping Hands 4-H Club at the Poweshiek County Fair Celebrity Show held on Friday, July 16.

Steve Plants, a long-time volunteer with the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service, enjoys visiting with a friend who stopped at the “Sundaes for Steve” event held in his honor on Sunday, June 13 in Brooklyn. Plants has volunteered with the EPAS for 45-years and says he has no plans to retire at this time. Guest attending were treated to free ice cream Sundaes and cake in Steve’s honor. “I was just amazed at how many people came,” said Plants. “A lot of them brought cards and sent texts and well wishes through Facebook. I got to see a few old members of the EPAS who attended the event.” 

J.O. Parker
 
    Doing a job for 45-years is quite a feat for anyone. Just ask Steve Plants, a life-long Brooklyn resident, BGM graduate and volunteer with the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service (EPAS).
    Plants, 64, just celebrated 45-years as a volunteer with EPAS. That is four and one-half decades of volunteer service. With an average of 300-350 calls per year, Plants has gone on more than 13,500 ambulance calls during his time as a volunteer.
    The EPAS honored Plants with a “Sundaes for Steve” event held on Sunday, June 13 at the Brooklyn Public Safety Building. Grinnell’s Dari Barn served ice cream sundaes in Steve’s honor. The local ambulance service also unveiled a new ambulance lift system at the event.
    “I was just amazed at how many people came,” said Plants. “A lot of them brought cards and sent texts and well wishes through Facebook. I got to see a few old members of the EPAS who attended the event.” 
​    Plants joined the EPAS on July 4, 1976, a year after graduating high school. 
    “My dad helped out with the ambulance service when I was in high school,” recalled Plants. “I must have gotten the bug from him.”
     At the time, the EPAS was operated out of the local funeral home in Brooklyn. The service went solo on Jan. 1, 1976.
    When asked what keeps him going, Plants said he likes helping people out because everyone needs a helping hand once awhile.
    “We all have bad luck once in a while and need help,” Plants said. “We are here to help them get to the hospital and get into appropriate care.”
    Plants is currently in charge of training staff and going on ambulance calls. He is a trained EMT.
    Plants said he has no plans to retire at this time.
    “I’m going to keep going for now,” he said. “For how long, I don’t know.”
   When not on an ambulance call, Plants works for the family-owned J&M Roofing commercial roofing business in Brooklyn. He also helps his brother farm and raise cattle.
    Plants and his wife, Pauline, have three children, Natalie, Nikki and Bryan and a host of grandchildren. The couple will celebrate 40-years of marriage in October.
    “I want to thank everybody for coming and for the support of the community and the surrounding area,” Plants said.