AG BRIEFS: FFA sets annual banquet; 4-H Shooting Sports meets Sunday; more

Fairfield FFA plans annual banquet

The Fairfield FFA will be holding its annual banquet at 6 p.m. June 4 in the Fairfield High School Commons.

The chapter will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Table service and drinks will be provided. FFA members are requested to bring two side dishes and/or desserts.

Shooting Sports meets Sunday

The Jefferson County 4-H Shooting Sports Club will meet from 2-4 pm. Sunday at the home of Bryan Lauderman, 1267 Peach Ave., Fairfield.

The group will not meet in June. Its next meeting is scheduled for July 17.

For information about the club, call leader Marvin Larson at 472-4332 or Jefferson County 4-H Youth Coordinator Karen Blakley at 472-4166.

Eggs boost Iowa economy

URBANDALE ? The incredible edible egg is a great food for Iowans, but did you know Iowa?s egg farmers also feed the Iowa economy?

An Iowa State University report titled, ?Economic Importance of the Iowa Egg Industry? shows the following economic contributions to Iowa?s economy made by Iowa?s egg farmers:

? More than $1.8 billion in total sales (all economic activity associated with egg production and processing)

? More than $475 Million in Value Added Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

? More than $281 million in personal income

? Nearly 7,600 direct and indirect jobs

? An $18.3 million contribution to state general tax revenues each year

Iowa Egg Council Executive Director Kevin Vinchattle said the report shows the positive value-added impact of eggs.

?Egg farmers and processors are making a tremendous contribution to the Iowa economy. Their conversion of Iowa corn and soybeans to eggs provides jobs, income and revenue to the state,? Vinchattle said. ?Egg provides great nutrition at an economical price. The latest USDA numbers show eggs at 14 cents-per-serving. That is the least cost, high-quality protein you can buy.?

Vinchattle said the combination of good food and economic contributions by Iowa?s egg farmers underscores why value-added livestock is still so crucial to Iowa.

?Iowa is one of the best places on the planet for food production,? he said. ?With a growing world population, we know we will need more food tomorrow than we do today. As Iowans, we have a choice; we can be leaders in producing food or we can be followers. If we choose to lead, our state stands to reap the benefits.

?The reason we see these benefits is because Iowa?s egg farmers provide the utmost in care for their hens,? he continued. ?Food production doesn?t happen by chance. Egg farmers do a great job to support us in many ways.?

According to the Iowa Egg Council, Iowa is the nation?s leading egg producing and processing state.

For more information on eggs visit www.iowaegg.org.