Fayette County Farm Bureau

12/17/2025

Happy Holidays from Fayette County Farm Bureau!

We want to wish everyone a joyful and safe holiday season! Please note the following office closures and adjusted hours:

• Our office will be closed December 24 & 25 for Christmas
• We will have limited hours on New Year’s Eve, closing at Noon
• The office will be closed on New Year’s Day

From December 22 through January 2, office hours may vary for our agents, their staff, Federation staff, and the Farm Bureau office. To ensure someone is available to greet you, we kindly ask that you call ahead before stopping by.

📬 The Spokesman Holiday Schedule Update:
• There will be no Spokesman the week of December 24
• There will be no county pages the week of December 31
• The Ad deadline for the January 7 issue is December 29 at NOON

Thank you, and happy holidays!

12/15/2025

The 2025 school year is off to a great start for the Fayette County Ag in the Classroom program! During the first semester, we were proud to reach 1,311 students across our county, bringing agriculture into classrooms through hands-on, engaging lessons.

This semester, students explored agriculture through lessons such as:

💤 Sleep Tight Farm! Students learned how farms prepare for winter and care for animals and crops during the colder months.

🐑 Sheep! Students discovered Iowa’s sheep industry and the important role sheep play in agriculture.

🍕 Who Makes My Pizza? Students followed their favorite food back to the farm, learning how each part of a pizza starts with agriculture.

🌱 Seed Germination Necklaces! A hands-on activity that helped students understand how seeds grow and what plants need to thrive.

These lessons encouraged curiosity, meaningful conversations, and a stronger understanding of where food and everyday products come from.

As we look ahead to the second semester, we’re excited to keep growing agricultural literacy and reaching even more students in our local classrooms! 🌱

12/11/2025

Fayette County proudly celebrated key achievements at the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Des Moines!

Chris Lueder graduated from the 2025 Ag Leaders Program, demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment to agriculture.

Matt Baerg accepted the 2025 County Award of Excellence on behalf of Fayette County, recognizing the county’s dedication to advancing agricultural initiatives.

These milestones reflect the hard work, leadership, and passion of our Fayette County Board Members. The Annual Meeting has left us energized and inspired for the year ahead as we continue to grow, support, and strengthen agriculture in our communities.

Not pictured: Tyler Wynthein and Chris Lueder.

12/11/2025

Attention Fayette County High School Seniors🎓

Are you passionate about agriculture, community leadership, or pursuing a career that makes a meaningful impact? The Fayette County Farm Bureau Scholarship is accepting applications!

We are proud to support students who demonstrate hard work, dedication, and a commitment to strengthening our community.

Scholarship Details:
💰 Students or parent/guardian must be a current Farm Bureau member and reside in Iowa
🗓️ Application Deadline: January 28, 2026
🔗 Apply here: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/auth/signin

12/10/2025

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank the incredible people who make Fayette County agriculture thrive. To our members, leaders, agents, and community supporters..you are the heart of everything we do. Your time, dedication, and passion for farming and rural life have made a lasting impact on our community.

Every effort you’ve made, whether attending events, sharing knowledge, supporting programs, or lending your voice to important causes has helped strengthen our local agricultural community. Your contributions don’t just support agriculture today, they inspire the next generation, connect neighbors, and build a foundation for the future.

From all of us at Fayette County Farm Bureau, thank you for being part of this community, for showing up, and for caring deeply about the people and land that make our county special. We look forward to another year of growth, connection, and celebrating the impact of agriculture together.

12/05/2025

Students in Fayette County After School Programs enjoyed a festive Ag in the Classroom lesson that helped them learn more about Iowa agriculture! 🌽🎄

We talked about how reindeer, and real livestock, don’t eat glitter or sprinkles, but instead get their energy from grains like corn, one of Iowa’s most important crops. Students learned how farmers grow and harvest corn, why grain is used in livestock feed, and how animals rely on these nutrients during the winter.

To bring the lesson to life, each student created their own “Reindeer Feed” bag using real Iowa corn. This hands-on activity helped them see:
• what livestock feed looks like,
• how farmers use crops to care for animals,
• and how agriculture connects to the holiday season.

It was a fun and meaningful way to blend education, creativity, and Christmas spirit while helping students understand the important role Iowa agriculture plays in feeding animals year-round. 🦌🌾✨

12/01/2025

Registration is now open for the Young Farmer Conference! Contact the Fayette County Office to register fayette.county@ifbf.org or 563-425-3383

🎉 The countdown is on for the 2026 Young Farmer Conference!
Kick off the weekend with an exclusive Industry Tour on Friday, January 23, a behind-the-scenes look at innovation in agriculture. 🚜✨

Spots are limited, so register early to secure your place and be part of the experience! Registration for the conference opens tomorrow!

11/24/2025

The Fayette County Farm Bureau Office will be closed Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th in observance of Thanksgiving. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 1st at 8am. We wish you all a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

11/12/2025

From Iowa’s turkey farms to the nation’s cranberry bogs, students at the North Fayette Valley after-school program explored the journey of their Thanksgiving meal — from the farm to their plate! 🦃🌽 They discovered how agriculture connects every part of the holiday we all love to gather around. 🍂

11/10/2025

🚜💡 Fueling the Future!

Today, the Fayette County Ag in the Classroom program partnered with Iowa Corn to bring the Biofuels Mobile Education Center to Oelwein Middle School! 🙌

Students got hands-on with the world of biofuels—learning what they are, how they’re made, and why they matter. They also connected it to what they’re already learning in the classroom, like chemical reactions, photosynthesis, and renewable energy. 🌱⚗️

It’s especially exciting to make these local connections, with POET Biorefining in Fairbank producing ethanol right here in Fayette County! Experiences like this help students see how agriculture, science, and technology work hand-in-hand to power our communities and fuel the future. 🔋🌽

A huge thank you to Mike with the Biofuels Mobile Education Center and Iowa Corn for making this awesome learning opportunity possible! 💚

11/03/2025

Tucking the Farm In for Winter 🌾

This month, students are learning that farming doesn’t stop when the weather turns cold! Through the book Sleep Tight Farm, they discovered how farmers work hard all year long — especially right now — to prepare for winter. ❄️

Students talked about how farm families harvest the last of their crops, stack hay, store feed, and care for animals and equipment before the snow flies. Each student even decorated their own pillowcase to take home as a reminder that even while we sleep, farmers are still working to provide for all of us. 💚

Lessons like this help students see the heart, dedication, and year-round effort that goes into agriculture — and why every season on the farm matters. 🚜🌾