 Livestock Business a People Business for Don and Pat Wolfe
Don Wolfe (right in photo) of the Omaha Livestock Market based out of Red Oak, Iowa loves selling livestock but it's the people behind the sales that he's most passionate about. Don and his son, Pat, (left in photo) run the sale barn west of Red Oak on old Highway 34. Don developed a love for the business while growing up in the Tabor area hanging around the Tabor Sale Barn owned by his Uncle, Paul Bell. Don has four sons and has 25 years in the sale barn business while Pat bought into the family business in 1992. Don calls his wife, Barbara, the "backbone of the operation". They especially like the location west of Red Oak because of good drainage and good outdoor pins. The family bought out Omaha Livestock in 2000. Don and Pat have good help in Alex Joseph, Harold Tjarks, Ken Graves, Roger Rosander, Harold Sederberg, amongst others, including their good dogs, Ralph and Runner. Don says you've got to be an excellent manager to make it these days with smaller overall cattle numbers and larger operations. With better commodity prices more and more farmers are putting ground into row crop, thus lowering the number of acres available for pasture. The Omaha Livestock Market is open for business Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Don says he may predominantly be in the livestock sales business, but it's the smiles of his valued customers that "feed his life."
 Baird Family Farm Continues to Spread Christmas Joy
If you love Christmas lights you don't want to miss the Jack Baird Farm Northwest of Red Oak, Iowa. Jack and his family have been putting up a hugely delightful display of lights since the late 1960's. Jack (2nd from left in photo) and his late wife, Joanna, raised 5 children on what is now a "Century" farm; Teresa, Kirk, (4th from left) Deanna, Chris (3rd from left) and Yvonne. (far right) Jack also has 6 grandchildren. Jack also receives great help and good company from Sandy Severn. (far left in photo) Son-in-law, Miles Russell, is also instrumental in ensuring the lights are up and looking beautiful every year. It's been a challenging weather year for both Christmas lights and crops in an operation for the Baird's that consists mainly of no-till corn/soybeans. A devastating storm in June not only severely damaged the Baird's crops but destroyed a Christmas display building that contained many priceless Christmas items. But no bah-humbug for the Bairds; they're planning on rebuilding the shed and are expanding next year to make the display bigger and better than ever. Look for the lighted combine to return in '09 for example along with other gorgeous lighted implements. The display really took off and grew in the late 70's when Chris got involved and it's been going strong and growing ever since. Jack and his family appreciate the positive response they've received over the years and it's the joy the Baird Farm Christmas light display brings that keeps the family looking forward to bringing colorful light to others for many years to come.
 It's Six Generations for Smith Farm Near Emerson
Family heritage runs deep at the Smith Farm southwest of Emerson, Iowa. Gary and Anne Smith (far left in photo) live on the home place in a house that dates back to the 1860's. Gary's Great-Great-grandfather came to the United States from France in 1853 and bought the original 80 acres on a trade of 2 years labor and $150! The Smith farm was recognized as and Iowa Century Farm in 1977. Gary's parents are Russell and Jo Smith (middle in photo) while Anne's parents are Ken and Sally Steffen. Gary and Anne have two children, Brady (far right in photo) and Emily. Brady, proud to be a 6th generation Smith to carry on the farming tradition, married Melissa Leu in November of 2007. The couple lives north of Malvern where Brady works as a district sales manager for Mycogen Seed while farming part-time with his dad. Emily is to be married next summer. Gary works a no-till corn, soybean rotation along with pasture and hay while managing an Angus cross cow/calf herd. The Smiths are deeply involved at the Holy Rosary Church in Glenwood, where Anne is a gifted singer and musician. Gary also serves on the board of Western Iowa Mutual Insurance, is a director on Producers Livestock Marketing Board, is on the Mills County Extension Council and works part-time in the winter for Malvern Trust and Savings Bank as an Ag loan officer. Gary and Anne are proud to be part of this rich family heritage and look forward to "passing the torch" to the generations to follow!
 Life is Good at the Horse Creek Christmas Tree Farm
Terry and Lona Lewis are lovin' "retirement" at the Horse Creek Christmas Tree Farm 4 miles west of Sidney, Iowa. Terry grew up south of Farragut and attended Riverton School while Lona grew up in Maryville, Missouri and graduated from Horace Mann High School. Both are University of Nebraska at Omaha grads and worked in education for years before retiring in Fremont County. Terry and Lona have a son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons who live in Pierre, South Dakota. They started the Christmas tree farm over 10 years ago in the wonderfully picturesque Loess Hills area on Horse Creek Road, understanding it takes 6 to 8 years to get a Christmas tree ready for harvest. The biggest challenges to Christmas tree farming are the weather and deer. Nonetheless, Terry and Lona feel it's a great retirement occupation, giving them the opportunity to work outdoors and of course, the chance to spend time with families. Pat Hume also works with Lona in a very successful wreath business, making 400 to 500 wreaths a year which have been sold in all 50 states, some even traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan. They also get great help from Ursula Collins, Anna Priebe and Kevin Gilchrist. Scotch pine and Canadian fur trees are ready to cut along with some pre-cut trees for sale as well. Their web site is www.horsecreekchristmastreefarm.com. Terry and Lona invite you to come out to Horse Creek Christmas Tree Farm and start a family tradition.
 Doyle Follows the Pioneer Family Tradition
Donnie Doyle of Imogene, Iowa (left in photo) is a family man and a Pioneer man. Doyle, of Irish ancestry, was born and raised northwest of Imogene and is the son of Don (right in photo) and Ethelyn Doyle. Donnie's wife, Tara, is the Cost Management Specialist at Pella Corporation in Shenandoah and the couple has three children, Brooke, Britney and Blake. The Doyle farming operation consists of a mostly no-till corn and soybean rotation along with some alfalfa and pastureland that helps feed their Black Angus cow/calf herd. The Doyle family has also been loyal to the Pioneer Seed Company, as Don, along with his brother Ambrose and Donnie collectively have been selling the Pioneer product since the 1950's! Donnie joined the family business 13 years ago, providing seed corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and sorghum to his many customers. Donnie also owns a Meter Max seed meter calibration system, which enables him to accurately calibrate John Deere and Kinze planter finger units, making sure seed drops precisely and accurately in the spring. He also sells other precision planting parts. Donnie is proud to sell Pioneer and is thankful for his loving, supportive family and of course, his loyal customers as well.
 From Oklahoma to Iowa for Eggers
Tim Eggers didn't know growing up that "sooner" or later he'd find his way to Iowa from his native Oklahoma. But he's glad he did. Eggers, Iowa State University Extension Field Ag Economist for Southwest Iowa, was raised on a farm near Morrison, Oklahoma, where his parents have 1600 acres of wheat and alfalfa along with a sizable cow/calf herd. He also has a sister who is married and lives in Washington. Tim has three sons, Milton, who is a sophomore at Shenandoah High School, Dietrich, who is in the 8th grade and Barnabus, who is in 5th grade. Eggers attended graduate school at Iowa State University where he continued to feed his passion for learning and decided in 1996 extension work in Iowa would be a good way to continue his education while passing along his knowledge to the benefit of others. And now after 12 years Eggers continues to do just that. Along those lines, Eggers reminds participants of upcoming Tenant Leasing Workshops scheduled for December 4th in Southwest Iowa. For more information, call 877-596-7243 or e-mail Tim at teggers@iastate.edu.
 Burkhiser Works to Save Soil, Improve Water Quality
If soil and water could talk, they'd be thanking people like Tom Burkhiser. Burkhiser, the Montgomery County District Conservationist, has worked for years to save soil for future generations and improve overall water quality. Tom, who is one of 7 children, grew up in Farragut, Iowa and went on to graduate from Northwest Missouri State University where he studied Ag Business. One of those instrumental in his early career path was Marge Meyer, then an administrative secretary in the area conservation office in Shenandoah. From Page County Tom also worked in Corning, Grundie Center, Marshalltown and has now been in the Red Oak area for almost 23 years. Tom's wife, Barb, works at the Southwestern Community College/Red Oak campus and the couple have two sons, Kyle, 24, and Wade, 21. Tom is proud of many things in Montgomery County, including his outstanding staff, and the fact Montgomery County was the 1st full conservation district in the state of Iowa, a county with a rich history of conservation achievements. Amongst many, those achievements include the masterful renovation of Viking Lake Park near Stanton and Pilot Grove Park near Grant. Ever the promoter of good conservation practices, as we wrap up harvest Burkhiser encourages producers and landowners to reduce fall tillage and as always, practice no-till!
FARM NEWS:
CHICAGO (AP) _ Agriculture futures mostly rose Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for March delivery climbed 5.75 cents to $6.1675 a bushel; March corn shed 1 cent to $4.1125 a bushel; March oats advanced 4 cents to $2.16 a bushel; and March soybeans gained 10 cents to $9.87 a bushel.
Beef and pork futures traded mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. February live cattle rose 0.45 cent to 87.55 cents a pound; March feeder cattle gained 1.2 cents to 96.72 cents a pound; February lean hogs lose 1.18 cents to 62.67 cents a pound; and February pork bellies shed 3 cents to 86.45 cents a pound.
TS Bank's 2009 Ag Summit, co-sponsored by Farm Service Company, will be on Friday, Jan. 23rd between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm at the Treynor Community Center. Registration begins at 8:30 am and a complimentary lunch will be provided. For more information or to register please call 712-487-0326.
Page County Conservation Board will be co-sponsoring an Operation ReLeaf event this fall in cooperation with Alliant Energy and the Iowa department of Natural Resources. Operation ReLeaf is a residential tree-planting program offered to Iowa customers of Alliant Energy company in the Page County and surrounding counties to reduce future energy use and at the same time landscape their homes. Alliant Energy customers are eligible to purchase trees for $25.00 each, with the purchase limited to 2 trees per household. Order forms are available thru the Page County Conservation Board Office in Clarinda, Iowa or at www.allinatenergy.com/releaf. For more information, please contact the Page County Conservation Board at 712-542-3864 or 800-255-4268.
High commodity prices are being chased by rising input expenses, but Iowa continues to rank among the leaders in national agriculture production according to the recently released 2008 Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklet. This annual report is generated by Iowa Farm Bureau, in association with Iowa Agricultural Statistics and Iowa State University.
The Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklet also provides information on other areas, including national figures, agribusiness, renewable energy and conservation efforts in Iowa. Single copies of the 2008 Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklets are available at no cost from the Iowa Farm Bureau, Marketing and Communications Division, 5400 University Ave., West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Multiple copies are available for $3 per copy.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts wants to remind all landowners that they can sign up for state cost share funds at any time of the year.
Dollars are available to assist with care of your well. The DNR provides these funds to assist with well testing, closure, & reconstruction. Water test kits and applications are available at your County Public Health Offices.
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