The Iowa Pork Industry Center with Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and Iowa State University (ISUEO) Extension and Outreach are offering ventilation workshops designed to help teach producers about the proper use of swine building ventilation equipment to improve pig well-being and minimize operating costs.
The workshop will be held March 20 at the Postville Veterinary Clinic, 110 Hyman Dr., Postville and offered March 21 at the Featherlite Center, 220 7th Street West, Cresco.
Jay Harmon, Iowa State University agricultural and biosystems engineering professor, said The workshop ‘Managing Your Unseen Employee: The Ventilation System’ provides a two-pronged approach to understanding issues and consequences of decisions by combining classroom instruction with hands-on trials and application of knowledge gained in a real-world setting”.
For the second year, Practical Farmers of Iowa has planned a series of spring field days focused on cover crop issues in grazing and row crop systems. Farmers and community members are invited to see cover crops in action on working farms around Iowa, and learn about cover crop basics as well as practices used to maximize the financial return from cover crops.
All field days in the series run from noon to 3 p.m., and are free and open to everyone. Each field day starts with a complimentary lunch. RSVPs are requested for the meal to Debra Boekholder at (515) 232-5661 or debra@practicalfarmers.org.
Many events include stops at multiple farms and locations. Specific details about each field day will be announced closer to the date. Host details and locations – along with a map of events – are also available at practicalfarmers.org. Events in the series include:
by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD
Veterans Memorial Hospital
You may have heard about Green Smoothies, but have you ever tasted one? If not, you may want to reconsider. Here is a short list of why you will gladly add a Green Smoothie to your daily diet. We have provided two recipes for you to try. Feel free to substitute any of your favorite fruits or vegetables.
To Lose Weight: When I work with weight loss patients, one of the easiest ways for them to start losing weight is to add more fruit, vegetables and water to their daily diets. My most successful weight loss clients are now eating a total of 8-10 servings of fruit or vegetables daily. To easily reach this goal; eat more vegetable-based soups, make omelets loaded with vegetables and drink green smoothies often.
“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors. This program will be held Thursday, March 29 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
“We’re excited to offer this free seminar to the community,” says Russ Hagen, SHIIP volunteer. “Medicare is such an important program and understanding what it offers helps assure that anyone eligible gets the health benefits they deserve.”
“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.
A new, local Caregiver Support Group will begin meeting monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The meetings will take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, March 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.
This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This new Caregiver Support Group will continue to meet the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 15 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.
This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
Mental illness can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Despite what the popular throught may be, mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing.
When someone is struggling with a mental health condition, it affects their whole family, not just the person who received the diagnosis. Family members and caregivers can often feel overwhelmed or powerless as they try to learn more about the illness, treatment options, and how they might be able to help.
If these feelings sound familiar to anyone looking for some extra support, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northeast Iowa’s Family Support Group might be the place to find that support and learn to overcome or manage those feelings of being overwhelmed or powerless. NAMI is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults diagnosed with mental illnesses, as well as their families.
Veterans Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Babysitting Seminar Saturday, April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls are not the sole baby-sitters in this society. Boys are also welcome and encouraged to attend.
Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.
The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, March 15. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.
The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. The cost is $3.00 per person with all proceeds going towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.
Anyone interested in attending, but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their own table of four players, however.
Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, April 9, and will continue the class for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.
The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.
These Prepared Childbirth Education classes are free to any expectant parents delivering at Veterans Memorial Hospital. These classes will be offered every three months at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
