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Editorials

Producers: 5 steps to scale up your business

A farmers market is a popular launching point for many small businesses. When demand grows and the opportunity arises to reach more customers, scaling up your operation for wholesale can be an exciting next step. Here are some tips. 1. Assess your readiness: Take stock of your current ...

Eliminating $9 Billion of Waste in Washington

Over the past decade since my fellow Iowans sent me to Washington to make the big spenders squeal, I’ve been exposing waste, fraud, and abuse almost too insane to believe. Recently, I was proud to see some of that work deliver a win for Iowa taxpayers. Both the Senate and House passed the ...

​​New wind energy tax impact study focuses on the turbine capital of Iowa

Rural economic development comes in many forms, however, in Iowa, wind energy is a dominant presence and Adair County is a great example of that. Adair County contributes to Iowa’s status as the second highest producing state of wind energy, hosting more than 500 turbines, or 8% of all ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: Honoring the past, organizing for the future

On Saturday, June 28, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Iowa CCI members and others at the Henry A. Wallace Farm north of Orient. It was a reunion of sorts for many of us who first got involved and formed the Adair-Madison CCI chapter in the early 2000s. I got involved with Iowa CCI in ...

Yes, speak up and speak out, but with civility

Several dozen people gathered on Saturday, June 21, in Monticello for a citizen workshop the Grassroots Iowa Network organized to get more everyday Iowans engaged in the political process. They spent the day listening to speakers* and exchanging ideas and observations, without fear or ...

Speaking for the stuff of Iowa history

In 1976, looking for a summer job that would advance my career goals, I approached the director of the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) to see if there were any special projects on the docket. As it turned out, yes: the SHSI wanted to gather oral histories with owner-operators of century ...

Environmental leader focuses on food sovereignty in Meskwaki

High on a hill overlooking the Iowa River are two homes surrounded by woods and animals, including dogs, horses, goats, birds, deer, and more. From her vantage point in the Meskwaki Settlement, Shelley Buffalo watches the seasons change and nature flourish as she works to update her house. To ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: Houston, we have a problem

Avoca, Persia, Panama, Portsmouth, Westphalia, Kirkman, Tennant, Earling, Exira, Brayton, and now, Iowa’s largest metro, Des Moines. These are just some of the communities I’ve seen recently with water advisories or restrictions in place. Given the seriousness of the situation, I’m ...