NEW MISS IOWA USA AND MISS IOWA TEEN USA CROWNED

Newton, Iowa - The 2016 MISS IOWA USA and MISS IOWA TEEN USA Pageants took place Sunday night at the Newton High School Auditorium in Newton. A capacity crowd filled the auditorium on Sunday evening for the pageant finals, where the panel of judges selected Alissa Morrison of Davenport as MISS IOWA USA 2016, and Hannah Bockhaus of Tripoli as MISS IOWA TEEN USA 2016.

Both titleholders will now advance and compete next year at the MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA national pageants.

The competition, which is held annually, consists of three proportional segments: evening gown, swimwear and interview. Eligible young women must be between the ages of 14 and 26 and be unmarried residents of Iowa in order to compete in the pageant.

Alissa and Hannah will each receive thousands of dollars in prizes and awards. Most importantly, they will have the opportunity to compete for the national titles of MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA this coming year.

Alissa will compete for the title of MISS USA 2016 on the live national telecast of MISS USA, and Hannah will compete for the title of MISS TEEN USA 2016 at the national pageant next year. In addition, the new MISS USA will go on to represent the United States in the MISS UNIVERSE competition, which is televised in over 130 countries worldwide.

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) uses its global grassroots reach to empower women to be self-confident and strive to be their personal best. MUO believes that every woman should be "Confidently Beautiful." The MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA®, and MISS TEEN USA® beauty pageants provide an international platform through dedicated partnerships with charities, sponsors, and brands around the world. During their reign, winners are given the tools to personally and professionally enrich others by providing humanitarian efforts to affect positive change, all while developing their personal career goals.

For more information on the MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA state pageants, please visit www.missiowausa.com or www.missiowateenusa.com, email info@futureproductions.net, or call the Future Productions state pageant offices at (651) 222-9650.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after Paul Ryan was elected the next Speaker of the House.

"I want to congratulate Paul Ryan on his selection as the Speaker of the House. It is my hope that Speaker Ryan will be the leader of the entire House, not just the Republican Party. While we may not always see eye to eye, I look forward to working with Speaker Ryan to move our nation forward."

LOUISVILLE, October 29, 2015–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.

"Today's announcement is symbolic of the evolution of USDA's efforts to better serve the next generation of farmers and ranchers. What began seven years ago with the recognition that the rapid aging of the American farmer was an emerging challenge, has transformed into a robust, transparent, tech-based strategy to recruit the farmers of the future," said Harden. "No matter where you're from, no matter what you look like, no matter your background, we want USDA to be the first stop for anyone who is looking to be a part of the story and legacy of American agriculture."

The new web tool is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the site's Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs.

Using the new web tool and other outreach activities, and operating within its existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA programs, which were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total investment value of approximately $5.6 billion. Programs were targeted for expanded outreach and commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an operation, developing new markets, supporting more effective farming and conservation practices, and having access to relevant training and education opportunities. USDA will provide quarterly updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available at: BFR-Commitment-Factsheet.

Deputy Secretary Harden made the announcements during remarks to more than 60,000 attendees at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The National FFA Organization is the largest youth organization in the United States, and focuses on preparing students for a wide range of careers in agriculture, agribusiness and other agriculture-related occupations.

As the average age of the American farmer now exceeds 58 years, and data shows that almost 10 percent of farmland in the continental United States will change hands in the next five years, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established. Equally important is encouraging young people to pursue careers in industries that support American agriculture. According to an employment outlook report released by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University, one of the best fields for new college graduates is agriculture. Nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings are expected annually in the United States for the next five years, yet only 35,000 graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher in agriculture related fields are expected to be available to fill them. The report also shows that women make up more than half of the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment higher education graduates in the United States. USDA recently released a series of fact sheets showcasing the impact of women in agriculture nationwide.

Today's announcement builds on USDA's ongoing work to engage its resources to inspire a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building market opportunities; extending conservation opportunities; offering appropriate risk management tools; and increasing outreach and technical support. To learn more about USDA's efforts, visit the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Results Page.

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It's time for the Charity Mah Jongg Tournament which will be held at the Outing Club (Bawden Rooms) on Wednesday, November 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Doors open at 12:30. Entry fee is $30 and there are cash prizes for first, second and third place.

The event is in loving memory of Nancy Weigle, Norma Shagrin and Leah Hantman with all proceeds going to the NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Make your reservation by Friday, November 6th by emailingnormaleafoundation@gmail.com, calling 309.794.0009 or by registering at this link: https://form.jotform.com/52986442187972