Many rural Coloradans, especially in agricultural communities, feel looked down on by their urban counterparts. One cattle rancher I spoke to put it plainly. “It’s an attitude … we are the idiots … we are the dumb farmers … we don’t really matter.” The sentiment is also ...

It’s summer and school-aged children are home for break. More meals eaten at home means food purchasing budgets are stretched. For eligible families, Healthy Kids Iowa (HKI), a summer feeding program, is Iowa’s answer to meeting those needs. The South Tama County Food Pantry located on ...

Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of Iowa’s emergency response system, especially in rural areas. As the state faces a growing crisis in recruitment and retention, it’s time to take a closer look at the current state of Iowa’s volunteer fire service and why support is urgently ...

This is a photo of my father. He was born in Tama. He is standing before Mount Suribachi during World War II. If you don’t recognize this place, then you may not fully grasp the weight of history — or the immense cost of freedom. Take note: there is no flag on the peak. A Major in the ...

The 2025 legislative session is over, we adjourned “Sine Die” in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 15, after a 22 hour marathon session. This has been another historic session, there is so much to write about, but so little space in these newsletters. I will touch on a few key pieces ...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental wellness is an important topic in my life and has been for many years. I have assisted many in my personal and professional life who need support in these areas. In my early teen years, I lost an aunt to suicide. A few years later, I lost my ...

As we have had a very busy start to our tenure at the Tama County Supervisors’ office, I wanted to reach out to give an update as to what we have accomplished in a very short amount of time from our perspective. Contrary to what you read on a regular basis from a disgruntled former ...

Last night (March 26), I attended the Tama County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. I attended on behalf of the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) to speak about the economic benefits of renewable energy projects. The Tama Clean Energy District (TCED) is a member of CEDI. I also ...

In a recent case study on the economic impact of wind energy in Howard County, I had the opportunity to work with the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA). The full report is written by Alex Delworth, Senior Policy Associate, and is available on the CFRA’s website. To collect information for ...

This was Week 7 of the session. We are quickly coming up on the funnel date when individually filed policy bills must be through committee to remain eligible for debate. Thursday, the Iowa House and Senate passed Senate File 418, a return to common sense by removing “gender identity” as a ...