The Iowa Football Player Experience

Joanna Schroeder

Last night during the Iowa Corn Growers Association VIP reception at Kinnick Stadium, attendees had the special privilege to hear from former University of Iowa football player Lew Montgomery. Nearly 20 years ago, Waterloo, Iowa native Montgomery was on the 1991 Rose Bowl team, an experience he said he would never forget.

Montgomery is no stranger to farming. He grew up in Iowa and has always had much respect for farmers. “Being a native of Iowa, I can truly appreciate the value of each and every one of you as farmers and being part of this corn belt is tremendous.”

Attending Iowa as a student athlete was a great experience for Montgomery and he said that he chose Iowa for its quality education and long list of traditional values that they have. While he stressed that student athletes have always been challenged in the classroom, they are being even more so now because of the struggling economy. He also said that they are graduating from college and are having a hard time finding quality jobs. That is why is a strong proponent of getting people to come back to Iowa to work and live. He wants to, “grow our talent and keep our own talent.”

While most of us never had or never will have the opportunity to have the player experience, you can get some insight into what it is like in Montgomery’s remarks below.

You can see pictures from game day in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

Corn, Ethanol, Farming, Video

Kickoff!

Joanna Schroeder

I arrived in Iowa City last night to some wet and dreary conditions. But new Iowa Corn Growers President, Dean Taylor, promised that not only are Iowa corn farmers experts at growing our food, they are also experts at moving out the rain and bringing in blue skies when needed. Well, I’ll be, but Taylor was exactly right! It is a beautiful day in Iowa City for the Iowa State versus Iowa football game. The Iowa Corn Growers are a sponsor of the Cy-Hawk series and have been engaging in a fun promotion called Iowa Corn Fed Game Day, where fans are being educated on the very important role Iowa corn farmers play.

I’ve had a blast hanging out with over 900 of Iowa’s corn farmers and maybe what has been most fun, was being on the field for kickoff. Iowa won the coin toss and so Iowa State kicked off the game. So far, Iowa has dominated – the score is 28 to 0 after the first half.

Prior to the game, I spent time at the Krause Family Plaza and took pictures of the thousands of fans who signed up to for a chance to win $5,000 in food or $2,500 in free fuel. They also played a ginormous game of corn hole (see Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.”), as well as a grocery store game. Players had the chance to win t-shirts, koozies and key chains and by the time the game started, thousands of people were sporting their new Iowa Corn Fed Game Day t-shirts.

During the pre-game festivities, the Iowa Corn executive board members were invited on to the field as a thank you for their support of Iowa and Iowa State athletics. They were also thanked for all they do to feed and fuel our country. Earlier in the day, Dick Gallager, Chairman of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, noted both Iowa State’s and Iowa’s tie to agriculture. Iowa State has one of the top ag programs in the country, while Iowa’s helmets say anf, which stands for America needs farmers.

Well, let’s hope the second half goes better for ISU….

You can see pictures from game day in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

Corn, Ethanol, Events

It’s Game Day in Iowa!

Joanna Schroeder

It’s game day! The Iowa State versus Iowa football game is on for this afternoon and thousands will be watching as Iowa State tries to defeat #9 ranked Iowa.

Last night, the Iowa Corn Growers were treated to an inside look at football. As part of that experience, the University of Iowa cheerleaders stormed into the room leading cheers to pep everyone up. Herky was also there, dressed for game day and hammin’ it up once again for Iowa football and Iowa grown corn.

Throughout the day today you can follow Iowa corn growers as they educate consumers about what they do – grow our food and fuel at their consumer tent in Krause Family Plaza. Fans will get a chance to learn about the products that contain corn and register to win $5,000 in free food or $2,500 in fuel.

Tailgate safely and enjoy eating your food and drinking your beverages, made possible, in part by Iowa’s corn growers.

I’ll see you after kickoff.

You can see pictures from the event in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

Corn, Education, Ethanol, Video

Iowa Corn Growers Excited for Game Day

Joanna Schroeder

The rain couldn’t dampen spirits as nearly 100 VIP Iowa Corn growers had the opportunity of a lifetime to experience football weekend from the inside of University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium. The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board held a VIP reception on the media floor of University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium where they learned about what goes into making a college football game happen. In this case, the big game tomorrow is Iowa State versus Iowa.

They also had the opportunity to hear from former University of Iowa player, Lew Montgomery, part of the 1991 Rose Bowl team.

Iowa Corn Fed Game Day, a promotion designed to educate consumers about the role Iowa corn farmers play in producing our food and fuel, is actually a sponsorship of the Iowa versus Iowa State football game, basketball game and wrestling matches. Iowa Corn has been traveling around the state holding events and telling consumers about the more than 4,000 products that contain corn. My favorite product so far – hairspray.

Although there were more red Iowa State shirts in the building then the Iowa athletic staff anticipated, they took it all in good cheer as they personally thanked the corn growers for their support of Iowa athletics, but more importantly, their dedication to growing America’s food.

Following the brief presentation, new ICGA President Dean Taylor, a grower from Prairie City Iowa, said a few words. He thanked the University of Iowa for their hospitality and making the reception possible. He also mentioned that the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day sponsorship reflects what a great relationship ICGA, Iowa State and University of Iowa have and what an important role the partnership plays in helping educate consumers about food and fuel.

You can see pictures from the event in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

Corn, Ethanol, Events, Video

John Deere Launches 3 New Gator XUVs

Joanna Schroeder

The new  Gator XUVs from John Deere have arrived and they are the fastest, most powerful gator that John Deere has ever made. And I got this information from a good source. Kevin Lund to be exact, a John Deere Gator expert.

The new Gator XUV 825i boasts 50 horsepower, can hit top speeds of 44 miles an hour, has three-cylinders, a dual overhead cam, and an inline engine that takes you anywhere you need to go.

I asked Lund why growers need an XUV and he answered, “The reason we call an XUV and XUV, is because we consider it a cross over vehicle. We we talk to farmers they want a couple of things out of the vehicle. They want it to be able to work hard. So the XUV has 1,000 lbs of payload capacity in the cargo bed so it can carry heavy loads. It’s got suspension system that’s built to handle it and a chassis that’s built strong.”

Lund continued, “And they also want some speed. They’ve got a lot of distance to cover…cows to chase….so they want a vehicle that can at least catch the cow if not be as agile as the cow.”

The new line of Gators comes in three models: the 825i, 625i and the 855D and are available now. You can learn more about the Gator XUV line at www.johndeere.com/gator or by listening to my interview with Kevin Lund. John Deere Launches Fastest Gators Around

Check out our Farm Progress Photo Album.

Audio, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere

Hammin’ It Up for Iowa’s Corn Farmers

Joanna Schroeder

I will root, root, root for Iowa State….tomorrow that is during the Iowa State versus Iowa football game in Iowa City. I will be sitting on the sidelines with nearly 900 Iowa corn farmers who helped grow the corn that produced the ethanol that I will put in my car to drive to the game. Once I get to the game, I will be eating food also made from the corn they have grown and will be using products made with corn.

This past week, the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board have been educating fans about the benefits of ethanol as well as the role Iowa corn farmers are playing in biofuels development. Iowa is the number one producing state of both ethanol and corn. This has been highlighted all week during several promotions in conjunction with Kum & Go as part of the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day sponsorship and on Tuesday, Herky the Hawk was hamming it up for ethanol.

Speaking of corn, corn is an ingredient in more than 4,000 products and is an important part of our daily lives. Who knew, right? Fans will learn more about these products when they stop by the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day tent at the Krause Family Plaza near Kinnick Stadium tomorrow between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Those who stop by can register to win $5,000 in free food and $2,500 in free fuel. You can also register online at www.iacornfed.com.

I will be posting updates tomorrow during the game. In the meantime, to get you pumped up for ethanol, watch Jerry Lalor with Fox 100.7 interview the non-talking but ethanol loving Iowa mascot, Herky the Hawk.

Corn, Ethanol, Events, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Equipment Technologies announced the rollout of their all-new line of Apache sprayers.
  • All-American Dairy Show youth exhibitors will benefit from a newly formed foundation designed to help support educational and training opportunities: the All-American Dairy Foundation.
  • FMC announced that it has entered into a development and distribution agreement with Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., for access to the new herbicide pyroxasulfone for use in combination with FMC’s fluthiacet-methyl herbicide.
  • Koch Sulfur Products Company, LLC, is expanding its product flexibility by adding a sulfur priller and new export location in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Zimfo Bytes

Wyffels’ Corn Hybrids Performing Well in the Fields

Joanna Schroeder

We’re getting closer and closer to the corn harvest in the Midwest and Bob Jackson, a researcher with Wyffels Hybrids, has been able to get into the fields and get some early looks. Harvest data coming out of Central and Southern Illinois reports that things are doing very well. “We’re off to a great start and I think we’re going to have a very solid year on performance,” Jackson told me last week during the Farm Progress Show.

Rain has been a concern in Iowa and Jackson said it there has been a lot of excess rain falls. “A common rain fall seems to be five inches this year. No one gets an inch of rain anymore,” said Jackson.

But as a researcher this actually excites him because he is able to learn how his company’s corn hybrids will perform. He noted that with all the rain, a lot of corn had a problem with denitrification and there has been a lot of oxygen depletion in the soil as well. This has caused a number of problems to develop this season.

“We haven’t really seen these hot conditions for the past couple of years. So it’s good to put our hybrids through the strains that happen during a normal year,” explained Jackson. “Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s cool. Sometimes it’s wet and dry. So as a researcher, I like to see what happens and find a hybrid that works the best in all conditions.”

Although Wyffels didn’t release any new hybrids during the Farm Progress Show this year, they have a few new products coming down the pipeline.

You can learn more about Wyffels Hybrids by listening to my interview with Bob Jackson. Wyffels' Corn Hybrid's Performing Well

Check out our Farm Progress Photo Album.

Audio, Corn, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows

Iowa Based Kum & Go Supports Iowa Corn Farmers

Joanna Schroeder

Iowa based Kum & Go is a huge supporter of Iowa farmers. They sell ethanol and they sell products in their store made from corn. In Iowa, 31 of their stations sell E85 and in total 62 of their stations sell E85. In addition, every Kum & Go station offers consumers the choice to choose E10. The company is so passionate about offering consumers ethanol blends at the pump, that they have become a long-term partner with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

To help better educate consumers about the role Iowa corn farmers play in their everyday lives, the Iowa Corn Growers are in the midst of the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day promotion. As part of this initiative, this past Tuesday, the organizations jointly hosted three pump rallies around Iowa City, Iowa. I spoke with Matt Chase to learn more.

Not only is the promotion is designed to educate consumers about ethanol, but also to educate them about how many everyday products use corn – more than 4,000. But consumers don’t have to worry about having to make a choice between food, products or fuel. Iowa corn farmers, along with corn farmers around the country, are growing enough corn to meet all of our needs. In fact, this year is expected to be another record harvest using less land than in previous years.

You can learn more about food, fuel and products at www.iacornfed.com where you can register to win $5,000 in free food and $2,500 in free fuel. You can also learn more about the uses of corn by visiting the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board during Saturday’s Iowa State versus Iowa football game in Iowa City. They will have a booth with fun activities set up in the Krause Family Plaza from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Check out the photos from the pump rally here.

Corn, Ethanol, Events, Food, Video

Pork and Beef Panels On GIPSA

Chuck Zimmerman

Since the livestock industry is so important to our country as well as just about every other sector of agriculture you can’t get enough on a subject that has major implications for its future. That would be the proposed rule by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). You can follow back through our posts on this topic using the GIPSA Category which is in the left side drop down menu.

I still have some audio to share with you from the recent USDA/DOJ public workshop in Ft. Collins, CO. In this post you can listen to and download audio from the two panels (beef and pork) conducted the evening before by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council. I streamed it live at the time but also recorded it for you.

The pork panel included:

Sam Carney, President NPPC, Iowa pork producer
Mark Legan, Indiana pork farmer
Brent Sandidge, Manager of Ham Hill Farms, Missouri
Steve Meyer, President, Paragon Economics

You can listen to pork panel here: GIPSA Pork Panel

The beef panel included:

James Herring, President/CEO, Friona Industries, Texas
Bill Rishel, Rishel Angus and currently President, Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association
Jerry Bohn, General Manager, Pratt Feeders, Kansas
Allie Devine, Vice President/General Counsel, Kansas Livestock Association
Dr. Stephen Koontz, Associate Professor, Colorado State University

You can listen to beef panel here: GIPSA Beef Panel

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, GIPSA, NCBA, NPPC, Pork