<strong>Farmer</strong> The <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa Fall 2023 A Publication of Sycamore Media AG CAREERS While growing crops and raising livestock are the lifeblood of the <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa farm community, agriculture isn’t just for farmers. Many area folks pursue careers that support the industry in a variety of fields. Laying the ‘Ground’work: Niche family business has been growing sod since 1967. Experience is the Best Teacher: Students get hands-on learning a the Wilton FFA farm. A Landmark Slice: Produce stand famous for melons offers fruits, veggies, flowers and more. Growing and cooking: A local woman promotes self-sustaining lifestyle with garden-to-table practices. HERE’S TO YOU: The <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa <strong>Farmer</strong> ® Sycamore Media President: Trevis Mayfield Advertising: Faith Jones, Trevis Mayfield, Wendy McCartt, Connie Myers, and Dean Upmann Creative: Brooke Till, Elizabeth Goodman, Tate Huckstadt, Erica Mohr Editorial Content: Jennifer Harrington, Kate Howes, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield, Sara Millhouse, Jane Schdmit, Jenna Stevens, Kristine Tidgren, Jessica Yuska Photography Content: Kelly Gerlach, Kate Howes, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield, Erica Mohr, Brooke Till Editors: Kelly Gerlach, Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield Published by: Sycamore Media 108 W. Quarry St., Maquoketa, <strong>IA</strong> 563-652-2441 Cover: Brooke Till See photos of your friends and neighbors! The <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa <strong>Farmer</strong> is a specialty publication of Sycamore Media Corp., 108 W. Quarry Street, Maquoketa, Iowa 52060, 563-652-2441. 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. ® SCOTT | CEDAR | MUSCATINE VIEW THE ENTIRE MAGAZINE ONLINE EIFARMER.COM MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to The <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa <strong>Farmer</strong>, a project we could not have done without you What fun we have had for the past four months working on the launch of this magazine. This project began with a belief. That belief was that agriculture is the core driver of the eastern Iowa economy and that those who make the wheels turn share common goals, common problems and a strong sense of community. After meeting and talking with countless grain farmers, livestock men and women and agriculture service providers, it became clear that our belief was actually a fact. We found plenty of interesting people and interesting Trevis Mayfield things to write President, about, and we had Sycamore Media Corp. a wonderful time doing it. For me personally, it has been an opportunity to return to my roots. Having grown up on what was then a 97-acre grain farm in west central Indiana, many of my early memories are of the farm my parents still manage. I pulled my first disc with an Oliver 1850 when I was about 12, and I remember the pride my parents felt when Indiana’s governor awarded them their Heritage Farm certificate a few years ago. There are some interesting family stories, too, as I suppose there are with most farms that have stayed in a family for that long. My great-aunt Geneva was credited with having saved the farm during the Great Depression. She married a man who did well selling oil drilling equipment, and it was she who kept my great-great-grandfather’s land from being lost at auction. When it was time for me to figure out my path in life, simple economics dictated that the farm was not big enough to be a realistic option, but it is still in the family today and it’s still part of who I am. That’s one of the reasons why this project has been so rewarding for me. Another reason is that I love what I do as a publisher, and this effort has allowed me to combine both interests. I have also always enjoyed people, and this magazine is all about people. During the process of interviewing farmers and agriculture professionals for stories and seeking advertisers, I had a lot of laughs and came into contact with a bunch of smart, hardworking folks. The rest of our staff can say the same. Yes, what fun! We found lots of interesting things to write about in these parts, and we hope you enjoy the stories as much as we enjoyed producing them. This inaugural issue will not be the last that you see, so let us know what you would like to see in future issues. Feel free to email us at EI<strong>Farmer</strong>@sycamoremedia.net. We would like to thank all of those who helped make this first issue of The <strong>Eastern</strong> Iowa <strong>Farmer</strong> a reality. I’m personally grateful to the staff here at Sycamore Media who worked extremely hard on this project. We appreciate those of you who gave us ideas and helped us source our stories, and a special thanks goes to our advertisers. Without our advertising partners this magazine would not exist. Sincerely, Trevis Mayfield, Sycamore Media president 8 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | FALL 2023 eifarmer.com <strong>Eastern</strong>Iowa<strong>Farmer</strong>_South_Fall2023.indd 8 9/19/23 3:34 PM
Caleb Kaufmann, Kale Petersen, Taylor Bensenberg and Brayden Frazier Gary Carpenter and Tim Swamberger Matt VanSloten, Ross Kleppe, Zach Bangert, Rick McCulloh, Aaron Trenkamp, Tyler Mitchell, Lucas Hughes From one season to the next, River Valley Cooperative is there for our member-owners and the communities we call home. Like you, we combine the latest technologies and insights with roll-up-your-sleeves hard work. www.rivervalleycoop.com | 1-866-962-7820 @RiverValleyCoop @RVCooperative @River_Valley_Cooperative eifarmer.com FALL 2023 | EASTERN IOWA FARMER 9 <strong>Eastern</strong>Iowa<strong>Farmer</strong>_South_Fall2023.indd 9 9/19/23 3:34 PM
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