DES MOINES, IA (04/26/2011)(readMedia)-- Tickets for the much-anticipated Iowa State Fair Grandstand shows go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets. The 2011 line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

In addition to the previously-announced star-studded line-up, Gavin DeGraw will open for Train and Maroon 5. DeGraw is known for numerous chart-toppers like "In Love With A Girl" and "I Don't Want To Be."

Print at home discounted admission tickets are on sale now through the Fair's website www.iowastatefair.org. For the first time, Fairgoers can purchase gate admission tickets online and immediately print their own tickets at no extra charge. Food coupons, Fair Play Packs, midway tickets and 11-day punch cards will also be available to order online beginning Saturday.

Tickets for all concert and track events will go on sale Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 11, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission.

A complete listing of event dates, times and ticket prices follows:

2011 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

presented by U.S. Cellular

Thursday, August 11 Casting Crowns with Sanctus Real, 8 p.m., $30

Friday, August 12 Jason Aldean with special guests Chris Young and Thompson Square, 8 p.m., $45

Saturday, August 13 Def Leppard with very special guest Heart, 8 p.m. $49

Sunday, August 14 The Incredible Machine Tour featuring Sugarland and Sara Bareilles, 8 p.m., $46

Monday, August 15 Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps, 6 p.m. Races, $15 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Tuesday, August 16 Lynyrd Skynyrd and Doobie Brothers, 8 p.m., $46

Wednesday, August 17 Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull, 2 p.m. $20 Adults, $10 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, August 18 Ronnie Dunn with special guest Steel Magnolia, 8 p.m., $35

Friday, August 19 Train and Maroon 5 with special guest Gavin DeGraw, 8 p.m., $47

Saturday, August 20 Demolition Derby, 11:30 a.m., $12 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Saturday, August 20 REBA with special guest Jerrod Niemann, 8 p.m., $45

Sunday, August 21 An Evening with Janet Jackson, 8 p.m., $65 and $55

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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Nebraska City, Neb. (April 25, 2011) - Iowa's Arbor Day is nearly here, and the best way to observe the holiday is to plant trees. Arbor Day in Iowa will be celebrated on National Arbor Day, April 29.

Before you get started, you want to make sure you're planting the right tree in the right place. A tree serves many purposes. It is wise to first determine which functions are most important to you when selecting a new tree to plant.

The main functions of a tree are:

• Shade: Trees are an excellent source for cooling because not only do they block the rays of the sun, they add water to the air through transpiration. Plant where you want the shadow during the hottest time of the year.
• Beauty: Trees add color and can enhance your home depending on where it's planted.
• Windbreak: These are most effective when you plant trees in a dense, step-like arrangement of both conifers and deciduous trees.
• Boundaries: Trees can help delineate your property.

Once you determine the tree's function, you need to pick the best spot to plant it. To help ensure that you plant the right tree in the right place, there are a few things to consider:

• Short flowering trees are ideal planted under power lines. These trees will not clash with the lines and will add color and beauty to your yard. Some examples of short flowering trees are redbuds, dogwoods and crabapples.
• Large deciduous trees are best used to shade your home and yard. These trees should be planted on the southeast, southwest and west side of your home to provide cooling shade in the summer and won't obstruct the low winter sun. Examples of large shade trees are maples, oaks, spruce and many pine species.
• To slow strong winter winds, many people use evergreen trees, but large deciduous trees work well, too. Windbreaks should be planted on the north side of your home, a fair distance from the nearest structure. Spruce, firs and pine trees make fine windbreaks.

Before you plant, you should also discover which trees grow best in Iowa. To do so, consult the Arbor Day Foundation's Hardiness Zone Map at www.arborday.org/treeinfo, or contact a local nursery or arborist.

Once you've determined the function of your tree and which species you'd like, you're ready to plant. You must take special care of your tree during planting time to ensure that it will grow healthy and strong.

When planting a containerized tree, there are six steps you need to take.

1. Call before you dig. Call the 811 hotline to have underground utilities located.
2. Handle your tree with care. Always lift it up by its root ball and keep its roots moist until you plant it.
3. Dig the proper hole. Dig 2 to 5 times wider than the diameter of the root ball with sloping sides.
4. Dig to the proper depth. The trunk flare of your tree should sit slightly above ground level.
5. Back fill the hole with native soil. That is, unless the soil is all clay. Tamp soil gently to fill large air spaces.
6. Mulch your new tree. Add 2-3 inches of mulch around the planting area but keep it 1-2 inches away from the trunk.

Planting instructions for bare-root trees and ball and burlap trees can be found at http://www.arborday.org/trees/tips/treePlanting.cfm.

Americans have been planting trees on Arbor Day since 1872. Nebraska City, Neb., resident, civic leader and agriculturist J. Sterling Morton urged Nebraskans to "set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit." The tree-planting holiday was so popular that by 1920, more than 45 states and U.S. territories annually celebrated Arbor Day. Today, the tree-planters' holiday is observed in all 50 states and in many countries around the world.

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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education of more than 1 million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2011 - TODAY, Roger Beachy, Director of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will hold a national media conference call to help announce research, education and extension grants to institutions across the country aimed at reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity. The long-term goal of USDA-sponsored obesity research is to reduce the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents. This year's funding is focused on supporting research programs aimed at obesity in children ages two through eight. Projects were funded in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

 

Monday, April 25, 2011

1 p.m. EDT

 

WHAT:          USDA NIFA Director Roger Beachy will hold a national media conference call to help announce research, education and extension  grants to institutions to help reduce childhood obesity

 

 

DIAL IN: 800-593-9988; 1-312-470-7224 International

Passcode: USDA (Given Verbally)

Troubleshooting: 202-720-8560

 

All callers using the above pass code will be placed in listen only mode. To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, these callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.

The Bettendorf Discovery Shop invites you to join them Monday, May 2nd for our Garden event. We are ready to welcome spring by filling the shop with all of the beautiful spring things that have been donated over the last year.

The store will be bursting with lovely items for your home and garden. Plants, flowers, pictures, dishes, yard decorations, birdhouses, wicker furniture, the list goes on and on. We will also have lots of beautiful flowered clothing and accessories to brighten your day. There will be a lot of great things to see, so we hope that you can stop by and take part in the fun!
The Discovery Shop is an upscale resale shop that is celebrating 23 years of successful fundraising in Bettendorf. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the Discovery Shop raises money by selling gently used items donated by individual donors and local businesses. Helping to make the shop such a success is the staff of wonderful volunteers that donate their time, if you are interested in joining our volunteer team we are always happy to have extra hands to help. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, education, patient services and advocacy.

Donations are accepted anytime the shop is open and a tax receipt is always available. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm., Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm. and Saturday from10 am to 4 pm.

We are thankful for all the wonderful donations and excited to have this fun event for our customers.