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Harvest exemplifies Iowa’s status as an agricultural powerhouse

While I’ve been out on the road traveling from town to town on my 36 County Tour, the sights and sounds of this year’s harvest are on full display. Combines, tractors, and grain carts dot the fields, farmers are hauling their crops to market, and our farm families are preparing for winter. Our annual harvest serves is an important reminder that agriculture powers our economy and supports our rural communities. Born and raised in rural Iowa, I know the significance of agriculture to our state, and it’s why I’ve been the strongest voice for our farmers and producers in Congress ...

10 ways that United Way is helping youth in our community

The quality of any community is often measured by the commitment citizens in that community make to support their youth. According to updated census data, one out of five children and adolescents in Fort Dodge live in poverty-stricken homes and are coping with the social ills of poverty. Too many lack the basic living needs to help them grow and develop in a healthy way. In total, two-thirds of our kids are in families that struggle to pay their basic living bills for rent or mortgage, food, clothing, insurance, transportation, child care and health care. Here are 10 ways that United ...

America needs farmers

We celebrate National Farmers Day on Oct. 12, during the height of harvest, to honor the men and women who feed and fuel the world. The dirt underneath my own fingernails, from our fourth generation corn and soybean farm in northeast Iowa, represents the real-world perspective I bring to Washington’s policymaking tables. A lot of times, that means countering Washington nonsense with Midwestern common sense. Too many Americans take our food supply for granted. Some are under the mistaken impression food grows in grocery stores, restaurants or take-out containers. When they prepare or ...

Protecting American corn growers from Mexico’s unfair trade practices

On Oct. 1, the new president of Mexico — Claudia Sheinbaum — was officially sworn into office. While politics in Mexico may seem inconsequential to domestic affairs here in the United States, this development is very significant for our country, and particularly for our agricultural community. In 2023, trade between the United States and Mexico nearly eclipsed $800 billion, and this year, we are expected to surpass that figure. Mexico also imported almost $30 billion in agricultural commodities — our second-largest market for agricultural exports — which included $5 billion in ...

Bonnie Barnett’s hard work results in million-dollar legacy to community

In her 80 years of life, Bonnie Largent Barnett was a tireless worker, widely known to hundreds upon hundreds of Fort Dodge residents in her roles as a waitress, hair stylist, food service worker, house cleaner and grocery courtesy clerk. Unknown to most, however, is that those years of ...

Q&A: What to know about passport renewals

Q: What new option do Americans have to renew their passports? A: The U.S. Department of State announced in September a new service, enabling Americans to renew passports online. This is good news. Americans have enjoyed a robust return to international travel that contributed to a post-pandemic backlog for passport applications and renewals. More Americans have passports than at any time in U.S. history: 46 percent in 2023 compared to 30 percent a generation ago. Whether applying online or through postal mail, my advice for Iowans is to apply early. Double check the date your ...