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NPPC cancels 2020 World Pork Expo

DES MOINES — The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced Monday that its board of directors has decided to cancel the 2020 World Pork Expo in June due to COVID-19 human health concerns. World Pork Expo 2021 is scheduled for June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. “While deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s Expo, NPPC’s board of directors unanimously agreed it was prudent to make this decision now,” said NPPC President Howard “A.V.” Roth, a pork producer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. “By eliminating COVID 19-related uncertainty surrounding the event, we allow ...

Flipping the script

The voices of workers who holler back orders like “small fry” or “ one double cheese” to the cooks at Ja-Mar Drive In Restaurant have gone silent. Customers don’t experience the scent of fresh brewed coffee and can’t flip through the pages of the newspaper as they wait for ...

Building a dream

A white wooden frame that doesn’t look quite right hangs on the door to the wood shop at B&B Custom Carpentry, 1020 12th Ave. SW. The bottom piece of the frame is a tad short and doesn’t connect to the other side. Written with black Sharpie in the middle of that frame are the ...

COVID-19’s potential impact on agriculture

Beyond the concern for the general public’s health with the spread of COVID-19, many within the agricultural industry are wondering what impact the virus will have on agriculture and how it will affect producers. To help address these concerns, a team of professors from the University of Illinois have started a bi-weekly webinar series exploring the potential issues from COVID-19 surrounding agricultural markets, planting decisions and agricultural policy. Gary Schnitkey — professor University of Illinois said in addition to the concern for personal health, there is also worry ...

Former dairy barn transformed into wedding venue

Editor’s note: This feature first ran in a special publication called Barns of Iowa, featuring historic barns in 37 counties in Iowa. DALLAS CENTER — When James Godfrey was 12 years old, he vividly remembers milking cows in the family’s stoic brick barn. Today, the family’s barn ...

Sweet Sound

There’s a blue canvas chair that’s carefully situated in front of a turntable and in between two speakers at Greg’s Custom Shop, 2372 170th St. That blue chair is what owner Greg Hammen calls the sweet spot. That’s where the sound equilibrium exists. When the needle catches ...