Iowa's Largest Grassroots Farm Organization Begins Summer Policy Conference with Message on Conservation

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - August 27, 2013 - The president of Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization kicked off the 2013 Summer Policy Conference this week in Des Moines with a call on all farmers to do their part to protect the land and water.

President Craig Hill, a crop and livestock farmer from Milo, opened the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) 2013 Summer Policy Conference, praising progress and calling all farmers to heed the call to conservation.  "Farmer to farmer, let's look at one another, as stewards of the land, and take a long, hard look at how we care for two of our most precious resources: soil and water.  It has never been more important than today to have this dialog with each other about conservation.   We must go beyond talking, to doing what is right for your farm and for all of Iowa's natural resources," said Hill.

Hill also touted the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and the progress farmers have already made in preserving the soil and watershed.   "Since the Nutrient Reduction Strategy was developed by many stakeholders and funded by the legislature, Iowa Farm Bureau has been leading the charge to encourage farmers to do one more thing.   Just since the funding was announced recently, 1,096 farmers in 97 of the 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Iowa have applied to participate in the newly funded cost share program.  Farmers have submitted applications for more than 120,000 acres of new conservation practices.  This is great news! But we know that more needs to be done," said Hill.

The 2013 Summer Policy Conference continues tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. at the IFBF headquarters where delegates from 100 county Farm Bureaus will finalize policies for 2014.  For a transcript of Craig Hill's speech, click here.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

CANTON, MO (08/27/2013)(readMedia)-- Ian Sodawasser of Davenport, Iowa, was among Culver-Stockton College's students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members who spent Saturday, Aug. 24 volunteering for the fifth annual Extreme Dome Makeover. Over 400 volunteers participated in the event, sprucing up 13 work sites in the town of Canton, Mo.

Volunteers spent the day doing various activities like painting, landscaping and cleaning. Project sites included both public areas and private residences. Public sites included Canton Senior Housing, City Hall, Martin Park, the Mississippi River Park, the Canton Community Garden and more.

Extreme Dome Makeover provides the opportunity to introduce incoming students to the community of Canton, as well as to their classmates, advisors and neighbors. "We want our students to know that being a servant leader is important. Hopefully by the time they graduate they will know that importance and they'll be able to lead service projects in their own community after they graduate," said Dean of Students Chris Gill.

Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, Mo., is a four-year residential institution in affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). C-SC specializes in experiential education and is one of only two colleges in the nation to offer the 12/3 semester calendar, where the typical 15 week semester is divided into two terms, a 12-week term and a 3-week term.

The C-SC Wildcats are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:        What is the purpose of presidential libraries?

A:        Building on an idea conceived by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Congress passed legislation in 1955 that established a system to preserve the artifacts and documents of the presidency.  The network of libraries starts with the 31^st president, Iowa's own Herbert Hoover.  The law has worked to secure the official papers, documents and materials collected throughout a president's years in office.  It also helps prevent these records that bear tremendous value to the American public from being lost, destroyed or sold.  The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955 set a precedent in which private dollars are used to establish and build the libraries after which the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) would operate and maintain them.  Until 1978, presidents were encouraged to donate their records and materials after leaving office.  The Presidential Records Act of 1978 established that all materials documenting the constitutional, statutory and ceremonial duties of the president are the property of the American public.  Through museums, archives and public programs, the 13 presidential libraries offer current and future generations a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate how history unfolded within the White House.  Technology has changed dramatically from the audio recordings of FDR's "fireside chats" to the video and social media platforms that today capture every breath a 21^st century president takes.  No matter the medium, the carefully archived material offers researchers, scholars, historians and the American people a profound look back at each presidency.  From the millions of pages of letters and documents to the hours and hours of audio and video footage, visitors get to take a look behind the scenes and gain a deeper understanding of each president's policies, priorities, pressures, politics and place in history.  Congress passed a major funding update in 1986 that requires private endowments to be established for each facility to help offset the cost of maintenance.

Q:        Where are the 13 presidential libraries?

A:        Barbara and I took a road trip in August to visit the presidential libraries of the 33^rd and 34^th presidents, two Midwestern-raised men who made it all the way to the White House.  We spent five hours at President Harry S. Truman's presidential library and museum in Independence, Missouri, and the next day drove to Abilene, Kansas, to learn more about President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Both of these men came from humble beginnings, chose to serve his country in the military, and then served two terms as leader of the Free World.  Both of their stories, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, illustrates the enduring American values of hard work, sacrifice, public service, and love of country.  Just like our visits to Hoover's library in West Branch, Barbara and I enjoyed visiting the presidential libraries in Missouri and Kansas.  Planning a visit to one or all of the 13 presidential libraries makes for a great family trip.  Visitors will soak in bits of history and come away with an even stronger appreciation for our American heritage.

Here's a list of each presidential library and location:

·         Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch, Iowa

·         Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, New York

·         Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

·         Dwight D. Eisenhower, Presidential Library and Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas

·         John F. Kennedy, Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts

·         Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, Austin, Texas

·         Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, California

·         Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan

·         Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta, Georgia

·         Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, California

·         George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, Texas

·         William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas

·         George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas, Texas.

State-Funded Improvement Will Strengthen Company's Expansion and Lead to 100 New Jobs

MOUNT VERNON - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local and company officials to open a new railroad spur to Continental Tire in Mount Vernon, a state-funded infrastructure improvement that will strengthen the company's expansion and pave the way for 100 new jobs by 2015. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and build a 21st century infrastructure that will drive Illinois' economy forward.

"Continental Tire is one of the largest single site downstate employers in Illinois with 3,000 employees already in Mount Vernon, and this improvement will allow them to add even more jobs to the local economy," Governor Quinn said. "We must continue to work every day to create job opportunities for the people of Southern Illinois."

The new $1.1 million railroad spur, supported by the Illinois Department of Transportation, will help the company bring more resources in and ship out more finished goods to national and international markets. The recently completed Truck Access Route at Continental Tire has already helped improve the flow of products in and out of the facility.

"The new rail spur will allow Continental to reduce logistics costs," Benny Harmse, Mount Vernon plant manager said.  "This rail spur is a key component in supplying raw materials required to ensure continued growth at the Mount Vernon facility."

Continental Tire is in the process of investing $129 million in its Mount Vernon facility to expand operations, and will add 100 new full-time jobs over the next three years, which was announced in January. The expansion is expected to be complete by mid-2015, and will increase production to more than three million truck tires a year.

"The Continental Railroad Spur Project is an example of the partnership and confidence established between the State of Illinois, the City of Mount Vernon and Continental Tire to support a project that aids in expansion, leading to the creation of new jobs for Mount Vernon, Jefferson County and the Southern Illinois region," Mount Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said.

Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets. CTA is part of German-based Continental AG who is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately 175,000 employees in 46 countries.

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