Originally broadcast 10/20/2016
Listen here now
Republican incumbent Rob Bacon and Democratic challenger Sherri Taha discuss the timing of the education budget, expanding medical marijuana, water quality, criminal justice and other issues facing the state, in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Ames and Story County.
Originally broadcast 10/19/2016
Listen here now
Today's show dealt with farmers who work together to improve their land, build their communities and make a profit. Sally Worley, executive director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, explained the goals and methods of the organization of 3,000 farmers that she leads. Then we took a road trip to Whiterock Conservancy for a conversation on the porch of Liz Garst's farmhouse learning about the philosophy and farming methods practiced on the farms at Whiterock Conservancy, a 5,500 acre preserve. Liz Garst told us how the legacy of caring for the land that came from her father, Stephen Garst, and her grandfather, Roswell Garst, led her and her sisters to form the Whiterock Conservancy as a non-profit. Liz and the Conservancy's land manager, Rob Davis, described how they combine growing corn, beans, and cover crops with agricultural experimentation in fields and pastures. Plus the public can enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding on 45 miles of trails through old growth oak savanna and rolling hills, or canoeing and fishing along seven miles of the
Middle Racoon River. We closed out the show with Paul Wierson telling us about the history of ragtime music and the origins of Ragtime in Randall, which will be celebrating its thirty-first year this Saturday (October 22) at the Elim Lutheran Church in Randall (ragtime in a church? what would grandmother say? -- if she lives in Randall she's probably helping with the lunch the church ladies are serving there).
Photo courtesy of Whiterock Conservancy; Nat E. Meehan
KHOI recently held an event at the station Sunday 10/02/2016 where people recorded their unique answers to the question "What do you live for?" The answers were all under 60 seconds. Originally broadcast 10/17/2016
Listen here now
Mary Sand, from the League of Women Voters, discusses various races and public forums being held by the League (re-broadcast on KHOI on Politics is Local at 7:00 AM on Thursdays). Ms. Sand specifically explains the race for Story Country Supervisor, who the candidates are, and events that led to 5 candidates running for 2 seats.
Sue McCaskey of the Story County Animal Shelter, describes their work dealing with livestock and exotic pet emergencies in Story County. Story County Animal Shelter is being featured this month in KHOI's Community Service Appreciation.
Renate Dellman, German-born Ames resident, shares vivid memories of Oktoberfest in Munich from her youth.
Cindy Hicks from the Main Street Cultural District gives the history of Oktoberfest as a festival and describes the food, music, and fun on Mainstreet in Ames, when Oktoberfest comes here, October 22. Evan Taylor, volunteer beer coordinator for the festival explains what beers will be at the festival, how it will be judged, and how the Ames Brewers League is involved.
Jonathon Buffalo, historian for the Meskwaki Settlement, talks about the first Germans, the dominant ethnic group who came to Iowa as pioneers, and their peaceful co-existence.
Originally broadcast 10/14/2016
Listen here now
Kathy Hanson, director of school, community and media relations for the Ames Community School District, describes the school board's efforts to redefine what success looks like, in a way that includes all learners. Key themes are inclusion, cultural proficiency and collaboration--as well as community involvement.
Is biofortification--the breeding of staple crops to boost nutrient contents--a good thing or bad thing? According to ISU professor emeritus of sociology Cornelia Flora, "it depends." And, it turns out that the orange-fleshed sweet potato, whose developers are honored as this year's World Food Prize laureates, is one of the best examples of biofortification through traditional breeding, participatory crop development and farmer-owned germplasm. Joining us for the conversation is ISU grad student Naboth Bwambale, who was part of a group promoting the sweet potato in his home country of Uganda.
Originally broadcast 10/12/2016
Listen here now
Nicole Barreca, director of communications and events for the World Food Prize, explains the annual awards that will happening this week in Des Moines.
Sharon Donovan, from the Catholic Worker House and chief organizer of the events for Occupy the World Food Prize, a series of week-long events giving an alternative view of world food solutions, and in some cases, protesting the World Food Prize philosophy, gives the schedule of events planned by Occupy the World Food Prize.
Mary Hanson Harrison, US President of the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom, explains how, during this week, also, Monsanto is symbolically being put on trial at the International Tribunal in the Hague and Amsterdam, in Netherlands.
Finally, Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping from New York City, and Musical Director Nehemiah Luckett of the Church of Stop Shopping were in the KHOI studio. They are featured artists and performers of Occupy the World Food Prize in Des Moines and will be performing at Trinity United Methodist Church on Wednesday October 12 at 7:00 PM. They preach on the future of food and agriculture, and describe how they are mapping the use of Glyphosate spraying by cities, in proximity to childrens' playgrounds.
