Century Farms
Originally broadcast 03/04/2015
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This show was inspired by Iowa's Century Farms, the Iowa Public Television documentary, which Local Talk host Paul Wierson narrated. To represent century farmers we spoke with Ben Wise, who told us how his father, and farming partner, grows organic row crops to keep the soil productive and serve a niche market. Then Marsha Miller told us her memories of growing up on her grandparents' century farm (pictured at left, she holds the original 1848 deed for 160 acres to prove it) and to tell how farmers on that land have kept it productive enough to make a living through succeeding decades. Then we had a lively discussion of the role of folk music in the social life of farmers over that past hundred and fifty years by Marty Miller who is making arrangements for the Harmaleigs' concert on March 11 at the Pantorium, and by Lance Sumpter, who was there to tell us about the music he will feature on his Friday 10:00 PM to 12:00 midnight DJ show, The Blue-collar Philosopher. Only on KHOI.
Pat Schlarbaum, KHOI’s environmental reporter, explains that we are hearing coyotes because their mating season has started. He describes various wild canines returning to our area.
Dennis Keeney was with us to talk about his autobiography "The Keeney Place" which was just released last month. Dennis carried his story from a lively description of the life of a farm boy in the 1940s and 50s through university training in scientific agriculture that led him to become the first director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Cornelia Flora was also in the studio to carry forward reflections about the significance of sustainable agriculture and prospects for the road ahead. Later in the program Erv Klaas joined us to discuss Aldo Leopold and "The Land Ethic," part of the event "Ames Reads Leopold", March 2:00 - 5:00 PM, at the Ames Public Library.
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