IOWA STATE FAIR

The opening day of the Iowa State Fair started out rainy and cloudy, but I wasn't going to let a little rain stop me from enjoying the best state fair in the world. My first stop was at the WHO building for a visit with Van and Bonnie. They gave me my first treat of the fair, a giant sticky roll. It was enough roll to feed me (or an army) for five days!

After that, I stopped by the KGGO booth for a quick chat with Heather from the "Lou, the Roundguy, and Heather" program. They challenged me to ride "the most terrifying ride at the Iowa State Fair" - Ye Old Mill. Always up for a challenge, I accepted and hopped on my first State Fair ride this year. I was a little nervous at first, because Heather told me that it would be a "real white knuckles kind of experience." But I was feeling good as I settled in my boat, the US Iowa. I persevered through big bumps, dark tunnels and posters of previous state fairs (and it wasn't the least bit scary). After coming out safely, I went see what else the fair had to offer.

As I wandered around the fair, I realized that I have been attending the Iowa State Fair, off and on, since 1946. I believe the only years I missed the fair were when I was in the military and in law school. I always look forward to coming home and going to the great Iowa State Fair.

After leaving the 2007 Farm Bill Forum, I stopped for a few more fair treats. At ZAG's food stand, a family- run food stand which has been at the state fair for 73 years, I got some delicious sweet potato fries and had a great conversation with Theresa Zagnoli, a former staffer of mine who runs the stand with her business partner Susan Knapp. I always enjoy seeing Theresa and her wonderful parents, Marilyn and Joe.

Next, I headed to the pork producers tent to flip a few pork loins and serve water and tea to the thirsty fair-goers. Each year I stop by this tent to flip some pork loins and meet some of Iowa's great pork producers. This year, I met Ryan Aupperle and his dad Terry, from Wiota, who showed me the finer points of pork flipping.

While walking through the Varied Industries building, I had the chance to test my friend, Christie Vilsack's wonderful cheese dip. The dish was the third place winner of the "Kraft, Make it with Velveeta" contest.

As I walked out of the fair, I remembered my first fair memory. I was seven years old and flying over my head were two P-80 "shooting star" jets. I was amazed by how they could fly without any propellers, and as I watched them, I dreamed of becoming a pilot one day. My dream was fulfilled later when I flew in the Navy.

FARMER'S MARKET

It's a beautiful, sunny, spring-like Saturday morning without a cloud in the sky. As Ruth and I drive into Des Moines to go to the Downtown Farmers Market, we enjoy seeing dozens of multi-colored hot air balloons in the sky between Des Moines and Indianola. This is the second weekend of the National Balloon Classic, a weeklong competition for hot air balloon pilots from around the country. Thousands of spectators visit Indianola during this festival to see the early morning and evening flights. Getting up early for the farmers market is even more special since we got to see the hot air balloons.

When we arrive at the farmers market, hundreds of people of all ages and ethnicities are already surveying the locally grown produce, pastries, fresh cut flowers and breads displayed by Iowa vendors. It's a festival-like atmosphere - we can hear Latin music from one section and a couple of young musicians are strumming away on guitars in another section. I hear a rooster crowing, but I'm not sure where the sound is coming from. Ruth and I really enjoy Saturday mornings at the farmers market, and this time of year is the best - you can buy Peaches and Cream sweet corn, beautiful fresh cut flowers, and fresh eggs.

Ruth is looking for some plants to set out in our garden, but we decide to eat breakfast first. After picking up a couple of slices of breakfast pizza, we head over to Java Joes to get a cup of coffee and enjoy the outdoor patio. We sampled some jams after that and bought one of the berry jams. Then, we found the jackpot - Grimes Sweet Corn booth! Of course, that's where I bought several ears of Peaches and Cream sweet corn.

As we walk through the crowd, we stopped for a few minutes and talked to Doug O'Brien who is teaching agricultural law at the Drake University Law School. Doug also used to be on my staff. He is with Father Dave Andrews of the National Rural Catholic Life Conference and Father Kevin Cameron, pastor of Our Lady of the Americas Parish in Des Moines, and we had a good conversation about the farm bill and food and agriculture policy. Doug is working on a book about cooperatives.

I also ran into Dr. Catherine Vance, Health Occupation Education Consultant for the state. She works with high school and community college students studying in the health professions. She told me her concerns about the federal Carl Perkins program that was recently taken out of the administration's budget, and how that program has been so important to students planning to work in the health professions.

I noticed several vendors with signs noting that they accept vouchers from the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This is a wonderful program and one of the things that is great about farmers markets. Older citizens whose incomes are under a certain level can get coupons through their local Agency on Aging and then redeem them at the farmers market through locally certified vendors for locally grown food. It mutually benefits the local grower while improving the health and wellness of our older citizens. The Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) program also provides similar coupons.

While looking for red raspberries (I guess they're more abundant in a few weeks), I bought some very plump black raspberries. Then, I stopped at Vander Ploeg's Bakery from Pella and bought a small cache of Dutch Letters - I have always loved these and they will be a special treat for tomorrow's breakfast.

Long-time friends, Joe Jongewaard who is a Regional Strategies Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Economic Development and Connie Cook, Principal of Hoover High School, stopped by to chat for a few minutes.

After that, Ruth and I looked at the list of offerings on the sign at the Sheeder Farms booth from Guthrie Center - they sell organic chicken, beef and pork - but they were sold out before 9:00 a.m.! However, just down a couple of booths, we stopped at Audubon County Family Farms and talked with Cindy Madsen. Cindy and her husband Vic are members of the Audubon County Family Farms - a group of farmers who raise livestock using what they describe as "environmentally friendly methods for soil, water, family and community health..." They sell their hogs through Niman Ranch.

I had a nice talk with Cindy. She and Vic were among the first to enroll in the Conservation Security Program (CSP) as residents of the East Nishnabotna watershed, one of only two Iowa watersheds selected in 2004. They operate a crop and livestock farm of about 300 acres, employing numerous conservation measures including permanent pasture, delayed haying, crop rotation and much more. They just planted an additional 250 trees on their farm. I enjoyed talking to Cindy and asked her to say "hi" to my good friends in Audubon County, and of course, I couldn't leave without buying a couple of Iowa chops for dinner tomorrow night.

Now that we're stocked up with some fresh produce, meat and pastries, Ruth and I are ready to head back home to work on some projects around the house, which include putting the plants Ruth purchased into our garden. I hope I have time to visit again next week!

DES MOINES ROTARY

Senator Harkin spoke to a meeting of the Des Moines Rotary at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. The Des Moines Rotary is the oldest and largest service club in Iowa, with a membership of over 375 business and community leaders. Harkin spoke about his recent successful efforts to support economic development in Iowa and the Senate's recent legislative activity, including the recently-passed energy and transportation bills, and the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which Harkin has sponsored.

REMARKS BY SEN. TOM HARKIN
DES MOINES ROTARY CLUB
HOTEL FORT DES MOINES
DES MOINES, IOWA
AUGUST 4, 2005

Thank you, Dori [Briles, Senior VP at DMACC], for that kind introduction. And thank you, Bryan [Shiffler, club president] for inviting me to be with you, this afternoon. It's always nice to visit Cummings' northeast suburb to address the Rotary.

Last week we finally passed the big energy bill. Somebody asked me why it took Congress nearly five years to pass this bill. And I said, "Well, it's complex. It's not easy." And then I told her a story: A farmer is crossing the road to get to his mailbox. He's in the middle of the road, and he turns to see a speeding car bearing down on him. The farmer dodges to the left; the car swerves to the left. He dodges to the right, the car swerves to the right. Finally, the farmer stands frozen with fear, smack in the middle of the road. The car comes to a screeching halt just inches from his face. The window rolls down to reveal a squirrel in the driver's seat. The squirrel sticks his head out the window and says, "Not as easy as it looks, is it?"

Read Tom's full remarks to the Rotary
File Size: 36 KB

FOLLOWING THE LEADERS

Senator Harkin met with the Iowa School Board Association to discuss Following the Leaders, a new web-based educational program that uses technology to support school improvement. Following the Leaders provides Iowa educators with tools and resources which allow them to assess student performance, analyze results, and act on the information. Harkin secured $3 million in federal funding to expand the program in Iowa in FY 2005. Harkin is the ranking Democrat on the committee that funds education initiatives.

Next I jumped back in the mobile office and headed back to Des Moines. I was able to meet at the Iowa School Board Association to discuss a program that I have secured funding for, Following the Leaders. Following the Leaders is a web-based program designed as a tool to help student and teachers identify the difficulties in subject areas such as math, reading, and science.

I was amazed by the positive feedback educators gave about this program. They reported increased test scores by their students nearly across the board. Following the Leaders has made it easier for teachers to identify areas of difficulty for their students, making it easier for students to get the help they need. Based on the teacher feedback, this is a program that is clearly making a difference in the learning of Iowa students and I plan to do all that I can to continue to support Following the Leader in Iowa.