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What’s the BUZZ with bees?

During a recent Iowa Learning Farms’ webinar, Randall Cass, Iowa State University Extension entomologist, gave an overview of some of the research that is being conducted in Iowa with bees, including the implications for farmers, beekeepers and landowners. Cass said oftentimes, people are surprised to find out there are several hundred species of bees in Iowa. “I ask people if they know how many species of bees we have in Iowa. They can think of bumblebees, honeybees and of course, some people mention sweat bees. Other than that, people aren’t quite sure,” he said. “We ...

Grandpa’s Barn

VARINA — Nancy Kelly has the privilege of working in her grandfather’s barn on a daily basis. Kelly, who partners with Dick Farrell, owns and operates “Grandpa’s Barn” in the town of Varina in Pocahontas County, where they have done extensive repair to the structure, turning it into a event center for just about any event from baby and bridal showers, class and family reunions to weddings. It is also a place for a monthly bingo game, community breakfasts and even morning coffee Grandpa’s Barn, Farrell feels, creates a place for camaraderie “A lot of that has ...

‘The only full-service in Fort Dodge’

An elderly woman drove her van next to one of the gas pumps at Anderson Station on a mild winter day Thursday morning. And out from the office walked Colten Anderson, a mechanic who asked the woman how she was doing before he filled the tank of the vehicle with gas. He then popped the ...

Killer flu

LIDDERDALE — The letters, written in pencil more than a century ago, may seem more like diary entries from rural Iowa at first glance, with details of a blizzard that dumped a foot of snow and how corn yielded 30 bushels per acre the previous fall, despite dry conditions. But read a bit further, and the tone becomes much darker. “It [the flu] sure made a cleaning of the Mowry family and lots of others right around here,” wrote John Tinte on February 20, 1919, from Casey, Iowa, to relatives living near Parkston, South Dakota. “All of the folks have had it, [except] at my place, ...

Celebrating the American farmer

SPENCER — For Ryan and Amanda Bare, entering into the distillery business means more than simply creating a brand of whiskey or vodka. The Bares own and operate Century Farms Distillery in Spencer where they pride themselves on celebrating the American farmer, using corn to make their Prairie States Whiskey and Open Gate Vodka. They use corn grown from, what they claim to be, the best farms in Iowa. Amanda Bare said they currently have their Open Gate Vodka, Prairie States Corn Whiskey Rapid Aged and Prairie States Corn Whiskey Unaged in 80 and 125 proofs available. But they ...

Shimkat leadership transitions

Although Bruce and Ed Shimkat have retired as owners of Shimkat Motor Co. — the longtime Fort Dodge car dealership — they are still very much a part of how the business operates, according to current owners Ed Shimkat Jr. and Bill Shimkat. Bruce Shimkat and Ed Shimkat serve as ...