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Investing in renewable electricity for a healthier future

The way our pets enjoy nature is inspiring — bounding around local parks or stalking through backyard grass. As I think about making a difference in my local community and caring for the planet for my own pets and family, I’m driven to seek out sustainable actions I can take at home and at work. Creating impactful change is especially top of mind as we conclude Climate Week, one of the largest annual climate events taking place Sept. 22-29. During the week, corporate and government leaders from around the globe gather to discuss how they’re moving the needle. In Fort Dodge, we ...

American farmers need a five-year Farm Bill

After years of inflation, high interest rates, increased energy costs, trade uncertainty, and bureaucratic red tape, the outlook for the farm economy is bleak. U.S. farmers and producers continue to face drops in farm income, regulations like WOTUS still pose the threat of punitive and costly fines, and inflation has made the cost of doing business more expensive and forced producers to delay new equipment purchases. This combination of poor economic conditions, government overreach, and repeated failures by the Biden-Harris administration to foster new trading relationships poses a ...

The vital role of leadership in Fort Dodge

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance’s Leadership Program continues to be a cornerstone of growth, empowerment and community spirit. As we reflect on the past and welcome a new class into the program, it is evident that this initiative is not just important, but essential to the sustained prosperity of Fort Dodge and Webster County. Since its inception, the Leadership Fort Dodge program has been committed to equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to engage in our community in a more impactful capacity. This year marks the 19th class of ...

Constitution Day calls for civic participation

When I celebrated my birthday on Sept. 17 growing up on our family farm, I didn’t know I shared the day with Uncle Sam. On that day in 1787, our nation’s founders signed America’s highest law of the land — the Constitution. While I can’t attribute my interest in government to this coincidence, it nevertheless coincides with my efforts to foster civic engagement. Constitution Day calls Americans to reflect on our storied system of self-government, as well as consider ways to participate in and contribute to society. Thanks to the courageous patriots who fought for ...

Strengthening our strategic position against China

For decades, China has threatened our national security through both overt and covert measures. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and affiliated individuals and entities have rapidly increased purchases of American farmland, stolen valuable intellectual property and other critical technologies, infiltrated our schools and universities, and violated our trade laws with impunity. As the world becomes increasingly volatile, we have a duty to protect our country and the American people from CCP influence and interference. That’s why, at the beginning of September, I joined my Republican ...

Child homelessness is a crisis

United Way of Greater Fort Dodge is working hard to help homeless children in our community. Inflation is difficult to deal with for most families, but it is devastating for low-income families. In Webster County, the data shows that food costs have risen 21 percent to 30 percent since 2019, and gas prices are up 65 percent and rental rates for houses and apartments have increased by 31.9 percent. Because of this, eviction rates have increased dramatically. Fort Dodge is no exception. The actual number of homeless women and children in the greater Fort Dodge area is not known, but ...