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Wed
08
Feb

Letter to the Editor by Karen Pratte

To the Editor:

Casting your vote for the person who will  represent you is fundamental to having your voice heard. Voters in Allamakee and Clayton Counties elected Anne Osmundson to represent them in the Iowa State House of Representatives. But, she did not vote on our behalf when it came to school vouchers.

Iowans have always taken pride in our public schools and want them supported. This overwhelming support was evident at the large number of individuals and groups who spoke out against private school vouchers at the State Capitol and at town halls.

Wed
08
Feb

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: ARCPLC Signup

submitted by Matthew Welsh, Resource Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA
It’s that time of the year again when our attention is focused on a particular Sunday in early February to see who will be crowned world champion in the Super Bowl. At the end of the game there is no doubt the winning team has reached the pinnacle of success and achieved its objectives through teamwork, having built a great foundation. Like a Super Bowl champion football team, a healthy functioning soil has the same superior foundation and teamwork aspects.

Wed
08
Feb

Cover Crop Workshop to be held February 22 in West Union

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Consortium for Cultivating Human And Naturally reGenerative Enterprises (C-CHANGE), will host a cover crop workshop Wednesday, February 22 from 12-2 p.m. at the West Union Event Center.  We welcome farmers and landowners to attend the free event, which includes a complimentary meal catered by the West Union Event Center.

Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, increased organic matter in the soil and forage potential for livestock. When paired with no-tillage or strip-tillage, additional benefits include increased water infiltration to further reduce erosion during heavy rain events. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about these opportunities, ask questions, and share their experiences.

Wed
08
Feb

USDA announces additional assistance for dairy farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the details of additional assistance for dairy producers, including a second round of payments through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). The update to PMVAP and the new ODMAP will enable USDA to better support small- and medium-sized dairy operations who weathered the pandemic and now face other challenges.

Wed
08
Feb

Dorchester mushroom farmer Tanner Sanness wins Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s “Grow Your Future” Contest


Winner of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s “Grow Your Future” Award ... Tanner Sanness (pictured at right in the photo at right) of Reconnected Farms near Dorchester in Allamakee County receives a check for the top prize of $7,500 in the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) “Grow Your Future” Award from Megan Hansen, Chairperson of Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Advisory Committee. Sanness was presented his prizewinnings at the 2023 IFBF Young Farmer Conference held January 27-28 in Des Moines, and he plans to use his prizewinnings to help purchase a walk-in cooler and a delivery van for his mushroom growing business that was the focus of his presentation in the award contest. Submitted photo.

Tanner Sanness, age 26, of Reconnected Farms near Dorchester was named the first-place winner of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) “Grow Your Future” Award.

The award promotes young agriculturalists, ages 18-35, with a niche market, unique ag service or specialty business. Sanness was announced the winner during the 2023 IFBF Young Farmer Conference, held January 27-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, and took home $7,500 to grow his mushroom growing business.

“I was in college when I heard a podcast about the health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms,” says Sanness. “I wasn’t involved in farming at all at the time. When I couldn’t find them locally, I bought a grow kit.”

Sanness now grows 300 to 500 pounds of mushrooms per week that can be found in local grocery stores and 20 area restaurants. With his winnings, he plans to purchase a delivery van and walk-in cooler.

Wed
08
Feb

Popular resilience workshop “What’s Your Word?” scheduled to return to Waukon Monday at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Area residents invited to learn how to clarify values and set meaningful goals in an interactive workshop

Over the past year, Allamakee County residents have had the opportunity to attend a series of six free resilience education workshops delivering practical ways to cultivate trust, manage stress, build hope, cope with adversity, find meaning in hardship, and grow personal resilience skills.

With a recent grant from the R.J. McElroy Trust, more residents will now have the opportunity to attend a final “What’s Your Word?” workshop that guides people to clarify their values and set meaningful goals. The workshop will be held Monday, February 13 from 12 -1 p.m. in the large community room at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Participants will receive a personalized bracelet or bookmark with a compass word they choose to remind them of their intentions.

Wed
08
Feb

Nominations sought for 2023 Allamakee County Dairy Awards

Award nominations due by February 20; Dairy Banquet scheduled for March 25

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board is asking for assistance from the general public in identifying worthy candidates to be recognized as this year’s top producers in Allamakee County at the2023 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet scheduled for Saturday, March 25. Every year, top producers and several other awards are nominated from members within the county. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension office are accepting nominations for the following awards:

Outstanding Young Dairyman/Family Award - Honors young dairy farmers who have achieved excellence in managing their dairy enterprises, have contributed leadership to the dairy industry, and are respected in their communities. Dairy producers must be 35 years of age or younger to be nominated for this award.

Wed
08
Feb

Waukon Music Department to host its 13th Annual Pops Concert February 24

The Waukon Music Department will be hosting its 13th Annual Pops Concert Friday, February 24 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the concert performances to begin at 7 p.m.

The Pops Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters. The Pops Concert features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today.  Groups performing will include the high school and middle school choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, featured soloists, song and dance skits, and emcees.   The Pops Concert continues to feature new musical talents each year and has become a must-see event for the Waukon community.

Wed
08
Feb

Revamped City Hall north entrance now open ...

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden recently provided an update to The Standard relating to improvements made at the Waukon City Hall north entrance, which is now open again to the public. Evident in the photo above, Boden noted replacements and improvements including metal hand-railing, steps leading to parking at the east side of the building, the sidewalk and canopy in front of the north entrance and new interior and exterior doors are now in place following work performed by Sweeney Builders, Inc., the primary contractor on this project. Boden noted that these improvements were made possible through a commitment of $70,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding with an additional $2,000 from the General Fund, all of which he added will not impact local taxpayers.

Wed
08
Feb

Waukon City Council postpones decision on property tax levy due to pending State of Iowa legislation, approves facade improvement grant for Town Theater


Iowa Economic Development Authority tours AJ Steakhouse ... Downtown Economic Development Specialist Jim Thompson (far right in above photo) of Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in Des Moines toured AJ Steakhouse at 12 West Main Street in Waukon Thursday, February 2 as the final step in the Community Catalyst (CAT) Building Remediation Grant Program that provided some of the funding for the renovation of that former JCPenney/Tierney’s building into the new dining facility. Thompson and Waukon City Clerk Sarah Snitker (at left) were provided a tour of the building by owner Arturo Barreda (second from right) and Alvina Velarde (third from right) of AJ Steakhouse. During the tour, Thompson noted that the AJ Steakhouse building renovation is one of 200 building restoration projects across the state of Iowa that received funding through the CAT Grant Program thus far over the program’s five-year history. Thompson noted that the AJ Steakhouse building is a “great project” while adding, “This is an example that we want every town to have. For this to be catalytic, other people and communities need to see this and say that we can do this too.” Standard photo by Assistant Editor Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 6 to address a full agenda of matters including the Public Hearing on Proposed Property Tax Dollars for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year, review of a Waukon Facade Improvement Program application and the approval of plans and specifications relating to the storm sewer project along 1st Avenue and 1st Street NW.

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