I’ve enjoyed eating my share of bacon, sausage, ham and pork chops during my life. But it wasn’t until I became a community journalist and moved to Iowa that I received an education worthy of distinction in the art of raising, showing and photographing hogs, pigs or swine.
    I mention hogs, pigs and swine as it seems that all three names fit them well. One farmer I spoke with and asked what the correct name was for a hog, pig or swine, and he said, “they all work.”
​    I am reminded of this as the Poweshiek County Fair gets underway this week and I will be there covering most of the animal competitions, including the swine show.
     Having grown up a city boy, I knew very little about the critters. My grandfather on my mom’s side had a few hogs back in day as did my Uncle J.W., my mom’s younger brother, who raised them for food.
     I remember once when I was a young fellow going to a farm sale and my Uncle J.W. bought a runt pig for 50 cents. We all thought the little fellow was going to make it, but the odds were not in its favor.
     Some years after moving from Tulsa to their farm in Bixby, Okla., my parents bought a couple Berkshire hogs to root out the weeds in the family garden. Mom and Dad built a moveable pen and let the hogs do the rest of the work.
     Without going into too much detail, one of the hogs didn’t make it all summer due to lack of water and the hot Oklahoma summer.
    Since moving to Iowa, I have not only learned a thing or two about the animals, I’m also a good pig photographer, an adventure in itself.
    I’m quite proud to say that I have photographed the swine show at the county fair every year since 1998.
     Some may recall reading a column or two that I have written in years past about the first time I tried to photograph the animals at the county fair. It was July 1998, less than a year after I graduated from college and moved to Iowa. I was sent to the Iowa County Fair to cover the swine show, or hog or pig show.
    The swine show superintendent at the time decided to finish the show then take the winning photos. That was not too bright of an idea as it was getting dark and the animals had returned to the comfort of their temporary homes for the evening.
     So, here comes a long line of hogs from the barn to the showring.
    It was quite an experience for a city boy. One fellow had a bucket of slop and another fellow had a table-top like device he used to keep the ornery critters in line.
    After sometime of trying to coax the animals to stand still for more than 5 seconds, the powers that be got one hog to stand still. I ended up taking about a half dozen photos of 4-H’ers holding their winning banners in front of the same pig.
   Since that experience, I have learned a thing or two about photographing the animals. I’ve also expanded my knowledge of the different types of hogs. For example, there are barrows, boars, gilts and sows.
    I’m planning to dive more into the different types of hogs next. Stay tuned for more.
I hope to see you at the Poweshiek County Fair. Stop and say hello and maybe we can talk some pig, hog or swine business.
    Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.
 

   My (almost) new American Flag is flying high at the Parker Homestead, thanks to family and friends.
    The flagpole kit was a gift from Debbie for Christmas about a dozen years ago. It had been in the basement closet for a long time. I’m not too good about getting around to these household projects. I have several other projects to wrap up, too.
    We had a handyman coming last November to install a new gatepost for our horse pen, so while he was out, I had him install the base of the flagpole. It took about a half dozen bags of concrete mix, some water and muscle to get the job done.
    At some point, I had opened the box and got the instructions and kit items out such as the pully, rope and other attachments, which I somehow misplaced. I’m sure they are stuffed in a box or plastic tub somewhere in our home. No problem, a stop at the local hardware store and I had all I needed to get Old Glory flying high.
    And in typically J.O. fashion, the base was installed but I hadn’t gotten around to finishing the project. Thanks to one of my kind and hardworking nephews, the flag is now flying high.
   I was driving home from my day job the other day and Old Glory was waving in the wind. It makes me proud to be an American.
    I can remember as a kid growing up saying the Pledge of Allegiance to start the day. I always remember my family praying at the dinner table before each meal. I can still hear my dad laying in the bed at night praying for his family. It made a difference.
     Putting up my flag couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s sort of a celebration of good things to come in this great nation.
    American is getting back on its feet and back in business following COVID. Folks are out and about enjoying life again after being prisoners in their homes for most of last year.
    Many Iowa communities celebrated the Fourth of July and America’s 245th birthday this past weekend. I covered parades and celebrations in Montezuma and Grinnell. And three weeks ago, I covered the Brooklyn Flag Festival activities.
    There are several things that come to mind that I believe make this a great nation.
The freedom to worship God.
    Our military who serve and our Veterans who served, many giving their lives for our freedoms.
The great men who signed the Declaration of Independence and had the forethought to establish this nation with principal and common sense. It’s something we need more of in this country, especially in Washington, D.C.
   Our police, sheriff deputies, highway patrolman, FBI and other law enforcement agencies who keep us safe.
    The freedom to speak our mind and protect our families, thanks to our forefathers.
   The great men and women who forged through challenges to build buildings, develop companies and create products and create jobs, making life better for all.
   We can fly or take a train. We can drive or take a bus. We can come and go as we please.
   We can buy homes and land and sell it as well.
   We can study at great universities and colleges, no matter our age.
   We can learn a trade or improve our skills, no age requirements
  We can dream and follow our dreams. Whatever it is, if you can imagine it, you can do it in America.
   My hope is that the people of this county will continue to stand and not lose sight of our rights and make this nation great for now and future generations.
  Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.

   Every day the headlines on social media, the internet and gossip rags are filled with all kinds of garbage news stories. And for the most part, I don’t care.
   I don’t care about what the Royal family is up to, what Hollywood is doing, most of what the halfwits in Congress are not doing for the American public, or about some disrespectful sports star who makes $10 million a game while taking a knee during the National Anthem and then spouts off his mouth about the way we should live our lives.
    What I do care about is my family, my friends and my community.
    As a community journalist, I’ve prided myself in finding the “good news.” Yes, I have had to write some not so good news stories, but I believe my resume of news tips the scales in a more positive direction.
    Take for instance stories of hope and compassion that have happened after Xavior Harrelson, the 11-year-old Montezuma boy, went missing on May 27.
     One instance is when 377 people came from all across Iowa to Montezuma on Sunday, May 30 and worked alongside law enforcement official to help during a public search. Even though the situation wasn’t good, these people didn’t ask the why, how or anything else, they came to give of their time, energy and hearts filled with hope that Xavior could be found. 
    “We are Iowans,” said Pete Sciarrotta of Newton, who came to help that day. “When there is a problem in Iowa, people show up.”
     That is the Iowa I have come to know, to love and to share their stories in the paper and now on through social media outlets.
    And that is not all. People all across Montezuma, Poweshiek County and the state of Iowa have been hanging orange ribbons, Xavior’s favorite color, on trees, fence posts, porches, telephone poles and street signs. Others have been exchanging their regular porch lights with orange light bulbs and handing out missing person flyers at places where they do business or visit while on vacation or a family outing.
      One business in Montezuma, Hometown Hardware, is giving free orange lightbulbs to anyone who makes a donation at the store to the Xavior Harrelson Reward Fund. Daryl Eichenberger, owner of the store, has already donated $1,000 to the reward fund, which has now reached $25,000.
     Kelsie and Karlie Mostek, the children of Eric and Krista Mostek of Montezuma, recently hosted a lemonade stand. The duo raised $167 and their parents matched it for a total of $334 for the reward fund.
   And just last week, Aiden Norris of Montezuma, with help from volunteers, hosted bake sales at Montezuma’s two banks, raising $1,693.72 for the Xavior Harrelson Reward Fund.
      And that just touches on the good news of people doing good for others. What a privilege I have had to tell these and so many other good news stories of Iowans making a difference in other people’s lives, no matter the situation.
      Some of these self-righteous rebellious sports stars could learn a lot from Iowans.
     Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.
 

​    It’s been hot enough lately here in Iowa to fry an egg on the sidewalk. 
   The recent hot weather spell reminds me of my growing up days in Tulsa. Summers in Oklahoma were always hot and humid. On average, a summer day in Tulsa would be 8-10 degrees warmer than here in Iowa.
   Most days were in the upper 90s and a number of days reached the 100-degree mark and beyond. The hottest I remember was 109. I remember one June in the early 1980s when it was 103 for several days in a row. Toss in the humidity and the heat index would be well into the 100s. 
   We didn’t have an air conditioner in our home in the early days. My folks bought a 400 BTU Frigidaire window unit sometime in 1968-69.
     It was installed in the dining room for years. It was later moved to the living room after my folks added on to the house. We used box fans to help circulate the air. My mom had a rule that the air conditioner didn’t come on until it was 92 on the thermometer. I remember it running every summer day.
     When I was a kid, I would come in from outside and lay on the dining room floor and soak up the cool air. I had a slip ‘n slide and spent many summers playing in the water. And there was McClure Pool a few miles away where I could swim or I would ride my bicycle to Florence Park and play in the sprinkler for fun! 
     At night, Mom turned the AC off and turned on the attic fan. Many old southern homes had attic fans. Ours was installed above my bedroom. It was basically a large box fan with a timer to set how long the fan would run. By morning, I was usually wrapped up in a blanket.
    Many older homes in Tulsa had large screened windows and big porches. Back in the day, folks would open the windows and sit on the porch on a hot day and visit with the neighbors. Fans were used to circulate the air. 
    We didn’t have anything like that at our house, but we did have a lot of love and good memories. I always drive by my boyhood home when in Tulsa to jog my memories of growing up in a good, Bible-believing family where I was taught right from wrong.
    When I erred in my ways, I was met at the front door by Mom with a belt or switch in hand. I remember one time going shopping with Mom and one the neighbor ladies. I don’t remember what I did, but Mom threatened me with the switch when I got home, which meant I was going to get a good backside whooping. Mom had a way of putting the fear in me.
    We pulled into the neighbor’s drive and unloaded her groceries. I didn’t wait for Mom, opting to take off for the house and the security of my bedroom. On the way in the door, I picked up the large family Bible and carried it to my bedroom.
    When Mom arrived home, she opened my bedroom door and had to chuckle, seeing me there reading the Bible. It was my saving grace!
     It wasn’t always the case. If I got in trouble at school, and I did on occasion and got a spanking, I was sure to get one at home. 
    And I can’t forget about her paint paddle, which she used to keep me in line. I will always be thankful for what my parents did to steer me in the right direction in life.
    And thinking about families and the importance of spending time together, it is good to see people out and about these days enjoying and celebrating life.
    There was a nice turnout for the Brooklyn Flag Festival events earlier this month, which included a parade featuring an Iwo Jima float in honor of Harold “Pie” Keller, family events in Landes Park and the Brooklyn Ruritan Car Show on Sunday.
    And coming up, the Montezuma Business Boosters will be holding the first of three Booster Bashes on Thursday, June 24 on the Courthouse Square. They are held the third Thursday of each month and feature music, games and a car show.
     Grinnell hosts Music in the Park on Thursday evenings throughout the summer.
    And Montezuma’s “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration will held on Saturday, July 3. There will be the famous Lions Chicken BBQ, a parade starting at 10 a.m., kids bouncy houses and fireworks at Lake Ponderosa that evening. And after a year layoff, Grinnell’s Fourth of July parade and fireworks return on Independence Day.
   Grinnell Ag Days returns in late August and the Poweshiek County Fair returns in full force this year. Conference judging takes place on July 10 followed by open class judging on July 14. The main fair is held July 15-19. And of course, the Iowa State Fair is on the horizon, Aug. 12-22. And one of my favorites, the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is back, Sept. 2-6.
    Enjoy the summer and enjoy time with your family. It is time well spent.
    Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day and always.