<strong>Farmer</strong> The <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2021</strong> a Big year! A Publication of Sycamore Media Finally, after being plagued by market challenges, a pandemic and a natural disaster, <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> farmers are hitting pay dirt Giant gains: With commodity prices rising and investment capital pouring into agriculture, land prices are setting new records. Blown away: Perhaps never before were so many grain bins los than during the mighty windstorm that decimated farmscapes last year. Looking back: After a year that saw packing houses shut down because of Covid-19, livestock producers look back with a deep sigh of relief. Timber! Over the past 35 years, an area exporter has built a family business by buying, selling and shipping high-quality logs around the globe. The <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> ® Sycamore Media President: Trevis Mayfield Advertising: Faith Jones, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield, Wendy McCartt, Brooke Taylor, and Dean Upmann Creative Director: Brooke Taylor Editorial Content: Kelly Gerlach, Ashley Johnson, Kris Koth, Beth Lamp, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield, Sara Millhouse, Rachel Moore, Carter Mommsen, Jane Schmidt, Jenna Stevens Photography Content: Kate Howes, 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: Joanne Doherty, Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor 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 Sometimes, I just love a rainy day Any farmer will tell you that a timely rain is a wonderful thing. Well, this magazine publisher will tell you the same thing. Not only does it help his farmer customers prosper and pay their bills, but as it turns out, a little H20 from a dark sky can also lead to a good pork chop sandwich, catching up with old friends, and making some new ones. It was late August and the sales and production effort for this issue of the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> was going full tilt. It was all hands on deck here, and it didn’t feel as if there was a moment to spare. Then the rain came. I was on my way to visit with Bob and Calvin Breeden at Breeden Sales when in rolled a big thunderhead from the southwest. That’s when I noticed a small helicopter making haste to the east. A little while later, after leaving Breeden’s place, I stopped at Delaney Ag to visit with Michael Delaney just as the thunderstorm let loose, and I had happened onto the right place. As I walked in the barn that houses their office, I could smell the grub on the grill, pork it was, and I noticed a table with all the necessary fixin’s for a feast. It seemed the entire Delaney gang was there waiting out the storm. Since a sandwich quickly found its way into my Trevis Mayfield President, Sycamore Media Corp. hand, I sat for a while with the crew talking farming, weather and sharing a joke or two. Then, in walked a wiry guy with a wild beard who quickly became the object of good-natured ridicule. I didn’t recognize him, so I introduced myself. The guy’s name is Dave Seaton, and there’s a good chance he has, at one time or another, laid eyes on your farm. He hails from Killeen, Texas, and his job is to fly his small helicopter – about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle with chopper blades and a tail – all over the country spraying crops. It was him I had seen in the sky a few minutes earler. In his past life, he had worked in the financial industry, but he had always had a thing for helicopters. After learning to fly simply because he wanted to, it became a career in which he travels around with a driver and truck in tow that serves, literally, as an aircraft carrier for him to land on for fuel and filling his spray tanks. When I asked him about flying away from the storm, he gave me this pearl of wisdom, which he attributed to a former flight instructor: “It’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than being in the air wishing you were on the ground.” When I heard that quote, I knew it would make my column. About a week later, rain, again turned out to be just what I needed. A photo assignment at Regency Retirement Residence in Clinton was rained out, and the weather for the next few days looked bleak. It was time for Plan B. The director of the facility, April Mc<strong>Fall</strong>, suggested that instead of the outdoor photo, we build the ad around images from a potluck dinner that was planned for a few days later. Then, one of the residents who was within earshot suggested I bring a bottle of wine, specifically something white and cheap. I took her suggestion, and what fun it was. I learned about the lives of the residents, talked about canning vegetables (one of my family’s hobbies) and especially enjoyed Beverly Soenksen’s baked beans. So, yes, sometimes the best things happen when it rains. I hope all of you enjoy the magazine as much as I enjoyed those rainy days. Sincerely, Pilot Dave Seaton (above) sits behind the controls of his chopper. Beverly Soenksen (left) works in the kitchen at Regency Retirement Residence. Trevis Mayfield, Sycamore Media president (563 10 <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2021</strong> eifarmer.com <strong>Eastern</strong><strong>Iowa</strong><strong>Farmer</strong>_<strong>Fall</strong><strong>2021</strong>.indd 10 9/15/21 10:21 am
75 Years AND STILL GOING STRONG! Pictured, seated: Tim Clark, Store Owner, and Lisa Omoyefa, Sales. Jeremy Lutton, Installation and Service; Andy Schumacher, Delivery and Installation; Courtney Anderson, Sales; Tristian Spooner, Delivery and Installation; Kim Soll, Service Department and Sales; Brandon Hicks, Service Department Manager; Lee Lutton, Delivery and Installation; Brian Drury, In Store Assistant; Dean Clementz, Service Technician Zirkelbach Home Appliances is celebrating 75 years of supplying the Clinton County area with quality home appliance sales and service. We have been here doing this since April 1, 1946, when John and Betty Zirkelbach started as a small business specializing in refrigeration repair. Since 1946, we have expanded to both sales and service and offer options for the entire range of kitchen and laundry products. We even offer LG HDTV options with professional installation available. (563) 242-6121 | www.zirkelbachs.com | 225 5th Ave S, Clinton As the years come and go, things change. We do our best to change along with the demands. We have adapted just like the rest of the world has even during this pandemic. We offer curbside pick-up and our service and delivery professionals have adapted to wearing masks and sanitizing regularly to keep everyone as safe as possible. This entire year we will be offering deep discounts so everyone can help us celebrate! Our sales staff are factory trained (updated by webinar nowadays) and our service department has the best resources around to help keep our products going all year round. Stop in to see us and experience the difference at Zirkelbach Home Appliances. We do our best to make your life eaZier!! <strong>Eastern</strong><strong>Iowa</strong><strong>Farmer</strong>_<strong>Fall</strong><strong>2021</strong>.indd 11 9/15/21 10:21 am
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