‘Serving Our State’
New ISU president visits Webster County
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PULLQUOTE: "We're serving our state in every county and it's been absolutely amazing to hear from everyone." -Dr. David Cook, President, Iowa State University
Iowa State University President David Cook spent Wednesday afternoon at the Webster County ISU Extension office listening to 4-H’ers, farmers, Master Gardeners and Extension staff describe what a thriving rural Iowa looks like.
It was the third of five outreach trips Cook is making across the state since taking office as Iowa State’s president earlier this year.
"I'm learning and enjoying meeting people," said Cook. "I want to hear about how we can be helpful in retaining local talent, what we can do with 4-H, agriculture, and even in education. We're serving our state in every county and it's been absolutely amazing to hear from everyone."
Cook heard from nearly two dozen community members, students, and staff about the many programs and opportunities that Webster County's ISU Extension provides.
‘They know what hard work is’
Lisa Berkland, with Iowa 4-H, told Cook that Webster County youth who participate in 4-H programming arrive in the workforce with many skills already in place.
“They know what hard work is,” Berkland said. “They give back. They have a strong work ethic and an ethic of service, and they always know what’s expected of them.”
Berkland credited ISU Extension Program Coordinator Linda Cline with leading the way locally.
"Webster County 4-H’ers are proud of the program," Berkland said. "They have earned that pride. They have an excellent ability to speak, to share their stories, and they give back. Webster County volunteers lead, teach, and we need to retain them in 4-H."
Aidan Anderson knows both sides of that. A Webster County native and former 4-H’er, Anderson is now an agricultural studies major at Iowa State and a summer intern at the Webster County Extension office.
Anderson told Cook that Webster County has eight 4-H clubs and three Clover Kids clubs.
"The earlier young people are exposed to the facets of hard work and communication, the better they do in careers and in friendships," said Anderson.
Grant Farnham, also a former Webster County 4-H’er, pointed to the same skills, including focus, introducing yourself, shaking hands, and even participating in interviews.
“4-H has helped me to become a better communicator, and I know this will help me in my career,” said Farnham.
Anderson added that the relationships built through 4-H and Extension programs have outlasted the projects and the fairs, noting that he still utilizes those professional networks and friendships.
“Without 4-H, I wouldn’t be who I am today," said Anderson.
Joe Kauffman recently finished his last year as a Webster County 4-H’er and will start at Iowa State this fall. What the program did, he said, was push him and a lot of others out of their comfort zones.
“Talking to the judges terrified me, and yet now here I am talking to a room full of all of you,” Kauffman said. “I have 4-H to thank for that.”
Lane Ahlers, president of the Gowrie Groundbreakers 4-H club and a junior at Southeast Valley High School, told Cook that the program has given him peer mentors who help with more than just projects and lasting friendships.
Farnham summed it up for Cook: between Extension staff, 4-H leaders and mentors, and people like Cline, what the county’s youth are handed is the chance to grow into strong community leaders.
Mental health, and a place to ask questions
Cook and his wife, Dr. Katie Cook, also heard about ISU Extension programming, beyond 4-H, and its impact within Webster County.
Cline said in 2020, her office focused on mental health across Webster County, building partnerships with local providers and launching the Slam the Stigma campaign to start conversations within the community and among young people. The coalition set up tables at basketball games and was able to reach out to youth and adults.
At community events, including the recent Back to School Bash, Cline said she and the local staff met with families and provided information about ISU Extension programming opportunities.
“It’s not just for people who are low income,” she said. “It’s for everyone, and we have so much to offer."
Cline has also led the way in programming for women in agriculture in Webster County for years.
Jenna Hanson, a graduate of Southeast Valley High School and of Iowa State, is the sixth generation to farm her family’s ground. She went through the Women in Ag grain marketing program.
“In farming, you have to be an expert in soil science, in operations, be a diesel mechanic, be an expert in grain marketing,” said Hanson. “I learned a lot from the Women in Ag program, especially risk management and how to make a plan, set goals, how to get by, and even how to understand that what might be a small price of 20 cents could be a $20,000 decision.”
Caroline Larson came to farming through loss. Her father-in-law passed away, and six months later her husband died, leaving her to raise six boys on the family farm.
“I can now drive and market grain at the same time, safely,” Larson told Cook.
Larson had been part of farming her whole life, but said her role had been raising the children while her husband handled the bookwork and chores.
“I had to learn, and fast," said Larson. "There were cattle to feed. Everything just kept going. This was a safe place for me to ask questions and know that there's no stupid question. This was a safe place to learn and make contacts and friends. These are my people.”
An empty lot, 1,500 pounds of food
Doug Brightman told Cook about Webster County’s Master Gardener program.
Seven years ago, Brightman, Cline and a group of other gardeners noted that one in eight Iowans are facing food insecurity. The group then turned an abandoned lot into a sustainable community garden. Last year it sent 1,500 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries.
"We've been able to help many with that garden and our knowledge," said Brightman.
Watching that garden grow and watching it give back has also grown the program itself. Webster County now has 15 certified Master Gardeners.
“We can see that there’s a tangible way to give back and in doing so, it's helped many,” said Brightman.
Brightman, who noted that he's also on the board at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, said that community collaboration was mentioned multiple times throughout Wednesday's presentation to Cook.
“Collaboration is a critical thing in our community," said Brightman. "It’s how we connect and communicate, whether that be in apple trimming workshops or in photography opportunities at the Blanden. The key for our county and our communities is collaboration. It's in conversations just like this and in listening and learning from one another and working together."