Century, Heritage farm families recognized at State Fair

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson on Aug. 20 honored 514 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations during ceremonies at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. The annual recognition celebrates families who have owned their farms for 100 and 150 years, respectively. This year, 274 Century Farms and a record 240 Heritage…

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The sounds of a lifetime

~Colleen O’Brien It’s said that the most potent memory jogger is scent. The whiff of cut grass was one of my favorites — used to make me feel like a kid long after I quit being one. A waft of Old Spice was my husband, and a whiff of baby powder my babies (now pushing 60). I can no longer…

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Crops a bit ahead of average growing season

“Beautiful weather throughout much of last week helped cap off an incredibly successful Iowa State Fair, with fairgoers turning out in record numbers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “As students and families settle into the routines of a new school year, farmers are keeping an eye on the forecast as crops continue to mature. Warmer temperatures and near-normal…

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A primer on measles

MMR, Measles, Mumps Rubella? Red Measles, German Measles, Hard Measles, 3-day Measles, Measles outbreak in southern Iowa? Three shots instead of one shot. Make American Healthy Again, MAHA? These terms and topics are appearing frequently in today’s news headlines. I am using this opportunity to share information with you. The President and Director of Health and Human Services are recommending…

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