Women Around Ag brings women involved in farming or agriculture-related businesses together to network and learn. The program attracts more than 100 women who attend workshops on marketing, estate planning, investing, tax implications, farm safety, farm leasing and land values, international agriculture, and social networking.
Highlights from Worth, Mitchell, Cerro Gordo, Floyd and Franklin counties:
- 4-H Youth Development Creates Future Leaders
ISU Extension is educating youth about science, engineering and technology. This past year four new LEGO MINDSTORMS 4-H clubs were started in the area. Through the program, youth are acquiring skills today that will help them become tomorrow’s leaders. - CIRAS Works with NIVC
North Iowa Vocational Center (NIVC) is a not-for-profit rehabilitation organization. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) worked with NIVC to implement an inventory replenishment/order system and participated in a kaizen event to identify and implement lean manufacturing strategies. This project resulted in $91,000 of direct impact and the potential for $500,000 in increased sales.
- ISU Extension Works to Strengthen Local Foods Network
A new local foods directory was published and 25,000 copies were distributed in seven north Iowa counties.
- Farmland Leasing Meetings
Three counties in the area held Farmland Leasing meetings for tenants and landlords. Participants received updated information on rental rates, land values and production costs. The 165 participants gained a better understanding of how the leasing information provided applied to their situation and were better able to understand the factors affecting land values and rental rates.
- Mennonite Greenhouse Map
A Mennonite Greenhouse Map was developed to enhance agritourism in Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw and Howard counties. Working with economic development commissions, county tourism departments and the greenhouse owners, 1,000 maps were made and distributed to visitor centers, greenhouses, chamber of commerce offices and other businesses. - For more information, visit: Worth, Mitchell, Cerro Gordo, Floyd and Franklin county webpages