|
Zach and Ashley Wenke, owners of Pleasant Grove Homestead near Barnes City is one of two local young farmer businesses in the running for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Grow Your Future Award. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 at www.iowafarmbureau.com. Submitted photos. By J.O. Parker Voting for the five finalists for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Grow Your Future Award ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. Among the five finalists are two young farmer businesses with Poweshiek and Jasper county ties. Ashley Wenke of Pleasant Grove Homestead near Barnes City and Kate Van Manen of Van Manen Sweet Corn and Fresh Produce of Kellogg are two of the five finalists in the running to bring home the top prize. The others include Bobbi Jo Berg of Recipes from French Creek in Allamakee County, Paige McClure of Red Board Ridge in Worth County and Carly Zierke of Sweet Season Farm in Winneshiek County. The Grow Your Future Award, now in its fifth year, highlights businesses started by Iowa’s young farmers. Participants must be between 18 and 35 years of age. Finalists will encourage their customers and friends to vote online at www.iowafarmbureau.com in hopes of landing one of the top three spots. The top three will compete for cash prizes in a pitch-off at the IFBF 2024 Young Farmer Conference in February. All three finalists will receive cash prizes to grow their businesses with first place taking home $7,500, second place $5,000 and third place $2,500. “If you make it to the pitch-off, you’re guaranteed to win money,” said Amanda Van Steenwyk, Iowa Farm Bureau Farm Business Development Manager. Pleasant Grove Homestead Ashley Wenke of Pleasant Grove Homestead sells farm-grown produce and meat from hogs and chickens through community-supports agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, farmers markets and cooperatives. To serve more community members, Wenke wants to build a shed to wash, package and prepared for market year-round. Van Manen Sweet Corn and Fresh Produce Kate Van Manen of Van Manen Sweet Corn and Fresh Produce in Jasper County “married into” the sweet corn business and recently added pumpkins, mums and cut flowers to the company’s offerings. Van Manen wants to install air-conditioning and self-serve flower stations for customers. “The Grow Your Future Award is not only a chance for young farmers to compete for funds to support their business, but it also showcases their hard work to a statewide audience – creating the change for new customers and additional markets for their products,” said Van Steenwyk.  The Van Manen family, owners of Van Manen Sweet Corn and Fresh Produce in Kellogg, is one of two local young farmer businesses in the running for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Grow Your Future Award. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 at www.iowafarmbureau.com. Submitted photo.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|
