<strong>Farmer</strong> The <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2020</strong> A Publication of Sycamore Media Tough times, tough people <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> producers have rolled up their sleeves, made hard decisions, and done the dirty work necessary to overcome not only a battered ag economy, but also the season of CovId. Valued partners: Long before women gained the right to vote 100 years ago, they played key roles on <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> farms. Dear Diary: A local woman shares how the pandemic has impacted life for her family and their agricultural livelihood. Country cookin’: Get tips on making your own sourdough or try out some hidden gems from local cookbooks. Trudging through the timber: Forestry management helps keep trees healthy for wildlife habitat, recreation and conservation. PLUS: Photo pages of your friends and neighbors! The <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> ® Sycamore Media President: Trevis Mayfield Advertising: Jeni Joos, Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor, Dean Upmann, and Bob Wendt Creative Director: Brooke Taylor Editorial Content: Elliot Bibat, Lowell Carlson, Megan Clark, Kelly Gerlach, Ashley Johnson, Dale Kilburg, Kris Koth, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield, Sara Millhouse, Jenna Stevens, Kristine Tidgren Photography Content: Kelly Gerlach, Ashley Johnson, Nick Joos, Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor Editors: Kelly Gerlach, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield Published by: Sycamore Media 108 W. Quarry St., Maquoketa, IA 563-652-2441 Cover: Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor Travis Till, model The <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> is a specialty publication of Sycamore Media Corp., 108 W. Quarry Street, Maquoketa, <strong>Iowa</strong> 52060, 563-652-2441 or 800-747-7377. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sycamore Media Corp. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sycamore Media Corp. cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sycamore Media Corp. cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine. view the entire magazine online eifarmer.com ® Message from the Publisher Everything has changed, at least for a little while This issue was supposed to be focused on weather patterns and how they have affected the lives and practices of <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong>’s farmers over the past few years, and how those farmers have found ways to roll with the metaphorical punches. We had taken note of how resilient area farmers have been in making adjustments as weather patterns shifted and weather events slapped them silly from time to time. Because this magazine is a year-round effort for us, we had already begun working on stories for that issue when a natural disaster of a different sort changed everything. As a new and dangerous virus began leaching its way around the globe like the parasite it is, everything, at least for now, has changed, and the cover story for this magazine is the least of it. No part of our agriculture community has been spared from the emotional, economic and health challenges that COVID-19 has wrought. For our staff, it has meant social distancing from each other and our Trevis Mayfield President, Sycamore Media Corp. customers, more time on the phone and no handshakes. We have washed our hands until they are raw, and when we’re in the presence of others, we have worn masks, a practice that seemed bizarre at first but now feels almost normal. And despite those efforts, multiple employees have been exposed to the contagion, including me, twice. One of our employees tested positive, which sent five others to get tested. All of us had to work from home for 14 days as we quarantined. As we very carefully visited farms and advertisers to take photographs and talked with sources and advertisers through digital means, we heard the same thing over and over. From hog and cattle farmers to corn producers to haulers and everyone in between, one sentence popped up in almost every conversation: “It’s been a real roller coaster.” That ubiquitous comment is why we shifted course with our plans. Given how broadly this issue is impacting the farming community in so many ways, how could we not document it, and farmers’ efforts to deal with it, in a timely manner? As the pandemic stretches into the fall, farmers have found creative ways to manage their crops and animals against the backdrop of low prices, disrupted supply chains and all kinds of uncertainties. They’ve buckled in and are holding on tight. State and federal aid is helping in the short-term, but farmers are riding on some thin rails as they navigate the twists and turns of the future. But one thing is clear. <strong>Farmer</strong>s are tough people, and they will survive these tough times. As this scourge drags on, we get closer to its end. Yes, it will end, we just don’t know when. In the meantime, we hope this magazine lifts your spirits. We hope in it you find stories to which you can relate, stories that make you smile and stories that show you are not alone in your struggles. At the end of this letter, I often thank our advertisers who make this magazine possible. For this issue, in these challenging times, there are no words that could fully capture our appreciation of your support, so I’ll keep it simple. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Sincerely, Trevis Mayfield, Sycamore Media president 10 <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> | fall <strong>2020</strong> eifarmer.com
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