Leadership Washington gets lessons on ag economy

This year’s Leadership Washington class got an up close and personal look at farming life when it met on Wednesday, April 14. The leadership program, sponsored by the Washington Chamber of Commerce, combined presentations by experts and field trips to help educate the class on the impact of agriculture to the local economy during its annual Agriculture Day.

Washington County 4-H Youth Coordinator Amy Green started the day in Dallmeyer Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds with her talk “Farmers Know Best” touching on how many skills farmers must possess.

Tye Rinner, farm manager at Rinner Farms of Washington, spoke to the group on the topic “Turkeys Aren’t Just For Thanksgiving Anymore.” Then the class boarded a bus and went to West Fifth Street to hear Harry and A.J. Walker talk about “Beef — It’s What’s For Dinner.” Next Brayton Turner at 2005 260th St. spoke on “The Sheep are in the Meadow” and conducted a tour of his operation.

Following lunch at the fairgrounds catered by Illa Miller, Aaron Putze of the Iowa Soybean Association in Ankeny spoke on the many uses of the soybean. Also, Diane Rinner, Washington County youth outreach educator reported that her job takes her into 39 classrooms reaching 560 students each month to educate youths on the role agriculture plays in their daily lives.

Andy Miller, new Washington County Extension Director, spoke about the many services of the Extension Office.

The class then traveled to JWV Pork at 2504 Quince Ave. where Heidi Vittetoe delivered a presentation entitled “This Little Piggy Went to Market.” Then the group traveled to Sinclair Tractor at 2495 Highway 92 to hear Jake Thomsen talk about his store’s group and precision farming.

From there the class went to Cuddeback Farms at 1691 250th St. to hear a presentation from Jim and Jane Cuddeback before returning to the fairgrounds to wrap up.

Volunteer leaders of the day were Amanda Russell and Rachel Fishback. The day was sponsored by the Washington County Farm Bureau.