WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Nov. 21, 2012 - Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, two lucky Iowans from Ottumwa and Osceola will enjoy "Free Groceries for a Year!" from the Iowa Farmers Feed US grocery sweepstakes offered by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and grocery partner, Fareway Stores, Inc.  The two winners, whose names were drawn at random from more than 93,000 Iowa consumer registrations during October, are Stacey Manternach of Ottumwa and Mark Mason of Osceola.

Stacey Manternach of Ottumwa may be a teacher, but she's also an Iowan who is always open to learning. She visited the Iowa Farmers Feed US website (www.farmersfeedus.org/ia) after learning about the opportunity to win $5,000 in free groceries. Once there, she also learned more about the people who raise the food she finds at the store.

"I was very impressed with the website and I liked being able to learn more about the families and farmers featured there," said Manternach. "I liked learning about their histories and being from Iowa, I have the upmost respect and appreciation for our farmers. I started by visiting the farmer closest to me, which was Tim Kaldenberg who raises cattle near Albia."

The website features beef cattle, corn, dairy cattle, hog and soybean farmers from across the state, each sharing information about their farm and family. The campaign also featured the farmers on Facebook and Twitter.

"My family was involved in the Iowa Farmers Feed US project because we understand that while not everyone is involved in raising food, nearly everyone is interested in seeing how animals are cared for, how crops are raised and how we protect Iowa's soil, air and water," explained Justin Dammann, who raises cattle, corn and soybeans in Page County. "The website offers that opportunity for people throughout Iowa, many of whom have never been on a farm."

Manternach agreed, "I didn't know a lot about farming before this and it was neat to learn how Iowa leads the nation in many areas." She also is thinking about how she can use the site and its information in her classroom. "I have so many students who are interested in farming and agriculture, I would like to find some classroom opportunities to use this information," she said.

Although the winners have been chosen, Iowans can still visit www.farmersfeedus.org/ia to learn about Iowa agriculture and take virtual tours of different types of family farms. Additional Iowa agriculture groups supporting this initiative include the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Midwest Dairy.

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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.

CHICAGO - Wednesday, November 21, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn announced the appointment of Adam Pollet as acting director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), effective Monday.

Pollet is an international trade expert with broad business experience across both the public and private sectors. In his new post, he will lead the state's economic development arm and implement Governor Quinn's vision to create jobs, double exports and expand the state's global economy.  Pollet succeeds David Vaught, who is retiring from full-time employment with the state.

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Pollet to lead the state's commerce department and bolster the Illinois economy in the global marketplace," said Governor Quinn. "I also want to thank my longtime friend and advisor David Vaught for his service to the state. During the past four years as head of the budget office and DCEO, Vaught has worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for fiscal stability and economic growth in our state."

Pollet, 34, was most recently deputy director for the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment within DCEO, where he led the state's export and foreign direct investment activities. Before joining the state in 2011, Pollet worked in the Chicago office of the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. where he served client companies in the firm's strategy and operations practices. While at McKinsey, Pollet concentrated on the energy, transport, logistics and automotive sectors.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Pollet previously worked for the United Nations focusing on trade facilitation, poverty reduction, and environmental protection initiatives. At the U.N., he implemented a World Bank-funded project to promote trade and increase government revenue in Afghanistan and oversaw large-scale infrastructure projects in that country, as well.

Pollet earned his undergraduate degree at Stanford University, where he studied international relations.

Vaught, 65, has served as a top aide to Governor Quinn since 2009. He was director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for three years and most recently director of DCEO. In the 1990s, Vaught also served in the Office of Illinois Treasurer Pat Quinn.

Prior to his state service, Vaught was Managing Director for Mitchell Vaught & Taylor Inc. investment advisors. Vaught is a graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he studied engineering. He also served in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

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Based in Chicago, Maggie Brown is a talented singer and performer who infuses her music with history and storytelling. She describes her style as "edutainment" and strives to use music to educate and uplift people. This performance is being sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. For more information, please visit the Mississippi Valley Blues Society website at http://www.mvbs.org/index.php/education/115-bits-maggie-brown-2012.  For more information about other programs offered at any of the Davenport public libraries, visit www.davenportlibrary.com.