Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Betting on Rural Iowa - Business Development

Betting on the future of Rural Iowa Calcium Products, Inc. has purchased a vacant 1960’s school building located in tiny Gilmore City (pop. 504) and is in the process of transforming it into their corporate offices. “We’ve needed more space for a very long time”, says Craig Dick, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the firm which manufacturers north America’s most effective soil amendments. “The offices we co-located at one of our manufacturing plants.  You cannot imagine how dusty our old offices were. This arrangement will allow us to keep a presence in Gilmore City and give a boost to the local economy.”

Craig Dick said Calcium Products is seeking to add a number of people to their growing support team including customer service representatives, accounting and administrative roles, and employees for other various positions. “We’ve been asked if we thought being in such a rural area would hinder our hiring. While it can be a bit more difficult to find people, when you do find someone in a rural area, their quality as an employee is unrivaled. When people are offered a good job with a very stable company and can stay in the community or return to the community they grew up in, it’s a winning combination for everyone." (Image: Accountant Susan Flurer standing in the gym area which will be transformed into offices.)

The employees of Calcium Products, Inc. aren’t the only people excited about this move.  Dick “Putter” Jergens is the mayor of Gilmore City and was helpful in securing the abandoned building. “I’d say it was sitting empty for at least fifteen years”, said Jergens.  “The local Catholic Church once had used it for their school and social functions.  But, as time went on and the congregation aged the building was used less and less.”  When asked about the cities relationship with Calcium Products, Inc. Jergens was quick to respond, “We are so proud of Calcium Products and their founder Larry Moore.  He and his family have done so much for Gilmore City and this is just another example.  This is good for Gilmore City because it’s a major boost.  Heck, if they add five new jobs that’s one-percent of our population and that’s a good thing.”

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Food Fights & Michele Payn-Knoper

Last week, on Valentine's Day, a new book about food and farming was released.  "No More Food Fights - Growing A Productive Farm & Food Conversation" by Michele Payn-Knoper attempts to make the connection between eating and producing the food we consume.  It's badly needed.

One hundred years ago over a third of the US population was engaged in agricultural production.  Today less than 2% of us create the food and fiber for America and much of the world.  Forty years ago many of us had a direct connection to the farm. We had family and friends who actually lived on one.  Today we're generations removed.

That disengagement allows for information and misinformation to swirl like a Kansas dust-devil on a hot summer day.  Groups on both sides of the table fight over what is "right" and what is "wrong" with food production.  In the end the consumer is confused, angered and intimidated.

Payn-Knoper offers consumers, farmers. foodies the two sides of production agriculture a real-time look at farming and a real-time look at food.  She asks consumers to get involved with farmers.  Try to understand that there is common ground between folks who love organic and those who don't.  Here is the conversation with Michele.

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It is not a quick read and there's loads of information tucked into the 153 pages.  And, in the end, if you are a "hard core" believer in whatever this book may not alter your belief system.  However, because we all eat it might make sense to understand farms, farmers and food production.  Read it with an open mind.

You can order No More Food Fights here on Amazon.