- Iowa NACAA 2000 summer tour attendees: From right Dave
Hessman host at Clay County growers plot, Paul Kassel, Tony Weis, Tom Wagner,
Dave Stender, Rich Wrage, Dale Miller, Gary Guge, Carl Neifert, Russ Euken,
Jack Van Laar, Jack Frus, Neil Wubben, Dan Burkhart- attending but not
in picture Jerry Weiss, Roger Jensen and taking the picture Joel DeJong
Jericho foods is a small pork processing operation owned by a Korean businessman. Most of all the pork products processed were going into the export market, mainly to SE Asia. Ton Kelly manager of the plant explained the different procedures used in cutting products for these market endpoints and said the reason they located here was to access a readily available higher quality product. They buy most of their live pigs from local producers with some under a contract arrangement.
The group then traveled to near Fostoria to the Jones dairy. At the Jones dairy Karen Gebel Extension Youth field specialist gave the group an overview of the Ag-Citing educational program that is conducted at the Clay Co. fair. The group was able to participate in the activity and did very well.
The Jones dairy is a family operation that recently expanded to 200 Jersey cows. They have been in the dairy business for a long time, but with changes in the dairy industry decided to expand and built a new free stall barn, milking parlor, heifer housing and feed facilities. We were able to see their new facilities and a daughter who is enrolled in dairy science gave us an excellent tour.
It was then bean time and we traveled to the Clay Count fairgrounds for an excellent pork chop dinner. After dinner Phil Hurst Secretary of the Clay County Fair gave us an overview of the fair and the efforts to bring more year around educational activities to the fair facilities. The fair has plans to build a convention center, which could be used for educational activities throughout the year. He also indicated the fair has international aspects and they are attempting to start an exchange program with other countries.
Then it was on to the Clay County Grower's plot south of Spencer where Dave Hessman, former Clay County Extension Director and present owner of Pro-Crop will discuss the history and purpose of the Clay County Growers Plot. Dave also discussed some educational efforts that have been conducted there over the past several years including hybrid and variety comparisons. He told the group that Extension always had some new ideas to try at the plot. Dave also informed the group that from personal experience that there is life after Extension and he still supported Iowa State University.
Joel DeJong also shared information on a Leopold Center grant project that is being used for educational purposes on manure nutrient management in Sioux county. For more information on that you can contact Joel DeJong.