Former Hawkeye All-American, Current NFL Star Advocates ANF

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - May 16, 2013 - Chad Greenway, a small-town farm boy, now a dominant defensive player in the National Football League (NFL), is the latest football star teaming up with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (UI) to promote the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign.

Greenway was raised on a small South Dakota farm that his parents still operate.  Today, he is one of the NFL's most prolific linebackers, but underneath his jersey and pads is a farmer passionate about highlighting the vital role agriculture plays in our country.   "The importance of farmers is never going to go away.  The foundation of human nature is farming: being able to produce something from the land, being able to feed your family, feed your community, and feed the world," Greenway said.  "It's the backbone of America.  It's what we're all about.  It's the fabric of our being."

Greenway says the life lessons learned on the farm help motivate him on the football field.  "There are so many levels where hard work and growing up on a farm can correlate to football.  I've used all the principles I gained growing up on a farm to really push me in the profession that I'm in now," said Greenway, star linebacker of the Minnesota Vikings entering his eighth season in the league.  "The game of football is unique and tests you in many ways; it tests your will; it tests your ability to get up from being knocked down; it tests your work ethic, for sure, and the want-to that you have."

Greenway joins an impressive list of former Hawkeye players who support ANF, a campaign launched by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry in 1985 during the Farm Crisis. The ANF emblem is displayed on Hawkeye football players' helmets today and is a source of pride for the former Hawkeye great.  "I'm proud that I went to the University of Iowa and that ANF is part of what the UI symbolizes and tries to push.  I'm proud that the people of Iowa can turn on the Hawkeye game and be proud of the people we are putting on the field who wear that emblem," said Greenway.

With most people two to three generations removed from the family farm, IFBF and the UI joined forces to promote the ANF message and talk to consumers about the food, fuel and fiber raised by farmers. "Consumers want to know more about where their food comes from and the ANF effort is just one way farmers are helping build that understanding," said Craig Hill, IFBF president.

Greenway joins former Hawkeye greats Hap Peterson, Mike Haight, Matt Kroul, Casey Wiegmann, Jared Devries, and Dallas Clark as ANF supporters.  The ANF campaign continues to create excitement with the 2013 Hawkeye football season drawing closer.

• Learn more about why Chad Greenway and the other members of the ANF team believe America Needs Farmers at www.iowafarmbureau.com/articles/89871/pro_bowl_linebacker_chad_greenway_joines_america_needs_farmers_team.
• ANF and Iowa farmers will be featured at Farm Bureau Park, located on the Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 8-18. Visitors can register for prizes, play games and learn more about farming.
• "ANF Day at Kinnick" will be held Oct. 26 for the Iowa versus Northwestern game.  The day will feature pre-game events featuring Iowa farmers and an autograph session with former NFL and Hawkeye greats.
• Kinnick Stadium visitors can see ANF Plaza and the Wall of Fame, located between the stadium's west grandstand and the north grandstand.
• ANF merchandise is for sale at www.bravosportsmarketing.com. Farm Bureau members can take advantage of special discounts throughout the year at www.iowafarmbureau.com.  A portion of the proceeds goes to the Iowa Food Bank Association.
• The website www.AmericaNeedsFarmers.org features fun facts, trivia, ANF events and comments from former University of Iowa football players who proudly wore the ANF on their game helmets during their playing days at the UI.

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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 media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Teoscar Hernandez goes 4-for-5 with three runs as Quad Cities pounds out 14 hits in comeback win

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (MAY 15, 2013) - One night after losing a three-run lead to Wisconsin, the Quad Cities River Bandits fell behind, 4-1, after four innings but used four-run frames in the fifth and sixth innings, along with 14 hits, to overcome the Timber Rattlers for a 9-4 road win at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The first four spots in the Quad Cities order went a combined 10-for-16 with five runs and six RBIs. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez went 4-for-5 with a game-high three runs scored. Shortstop Carlos Correa extended his hitting streak to six games with a 3-for-5 night, including a double, two runs and two RBIs. Designated hitter Miles Hamblin went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, and three walks.

Hernandez started the offense by leading off the game with a single against right-hander Leonard Lorenzo. Two batters later, Hamblin hit a liner past first baseman Adam Giacalone into the right-field corner to bring in Hernandez. Quad Cities right-hander Lance McCullers worked a scoreless bottom of the first inning but was removed from the game with hip tightness.

Left-hander Mitchell Lambson started the bottom of the second inning and worked two scoreless frames before alowing the first five Wisconsin batters to reach base in the fourth on a walk, an error by shortstop Carlos Correa, a walk and consecutive RBI singles by third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez and catcher Brent Dean. Right-hander Michael Dimock (5-0) came on to allow two inherited runners to score before ending the inning with back-to-back strikeouts and a 4-1 deficit.

Quad Cities (22-16) responded quickly against Lorenzo in the top of the fifth, as catcher Roberto Pena drew a leadoff walk in front of four consecutive singles by left fielder Jordan Scott, Hernandez, Correa and Hamblin - with each of the last three bringing in runs for a 4-4 tie. Correa scored on a ground-ball double play by first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki against right-hander Taylor Mangum (1-3).

Dimock allowed a double, walk and hit batter to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth before striking out shortstop Orlando Arcia to preserve the one-run lead. The River Bandits added four runs against right-hander Damien Magnifico in the sixth, as second baseman Brian Blasik drew a leadoff walk and in one play stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by catcher Brent Dean. Pena doubled and scored on a wild pitch, and Hernandez singled and scored on a double by Correa, who scored on Wierzbicki's RBI single for a 9-4 advantage.

Right-hander Daniel Minor made the lead stand, allowing three hits in four shutout innings for his first professional save.

The River Bandits and Timber Rattlers (18-18) play the rubber match of their series at 12:05 p.m. Thursday, when Quad Cities left-hander Colton Cain (1-4) and right-hander Mike Hauschild (1-0) face Wisconsin right-handers Austin Blaski (2-0).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits begin their next home stand Friday, May 17, with Petrolpalooza Night - when berm tickets are 10 cents lower than the average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline at BP, and bleacher tickets are 10 cents below the price of a premium unleaded gallon. Friday will also feature a Fireworks show presented by Eastern Iowa Toyota Dealers, WLLR and WQAD. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.