Iowa has quite the past and tomorrow (December 28th) marks the anniversary of Iowa becoming the 29th state in the Union. Most Iowans don't know about Iowa's rich heritage and why, at least in part, we have the French to thank for our great state. Leo Landis, State Curator, State Historical Society of Iowa shares all the juicy details, both the good and bad.

Landis is also the Museum Curator of the State Historical Museum of Iowa and shares how Iowa was formed, what was in our region before statehood, and why Congress originally rejected Iowa because our borders were far too big. He also shares a surprising fact from President James K. Polk's journal. Iowa wasn't even mentioned. Turns out, we've been a fly-over state since the beginning.

See all the show notes and photos: https://iowapodcast.com/when-did-iowa-become-a-state

Iowans live in a leading agriculture state but do many of us truly understand the science of farming? Do we know what no-till is or why it's important? Do we know why soil quality is eroding? Jayson Ryner, founder ReEnvision Ag, and Iowan farmer, explains soil degradation and what his company invented to fix the problem.

Farmers are often faced with a delicate balance of producing, but also making long-term sustainable choices. Tillage is more efficient, but erodes soil. No-till is less efficient, but improves soil. Ryner's tech solves these issues with what he calls SpeedSpikes. His tech allows farmers to scale no-till operations and widen planting windows, without tilling the land. It's a huge breakthrough because it preserves the valuable biomass that decays into the soil, and it converts all Iowa farmland into a natural carbon capture tool.

Check out the full show summary and photos here: https://iowapodcast.com/top-soil-problems-what-is-no-till

One Iowa town is known for having the largest gardens in the state of Iowa, and just in time for Christmas and Hanukkah they have transformed their entire outdoor garden space into what they're calling a Winter Wonderscape. Ed Lyon, Director of Reiman Gardens talks about winter experience.

Reiman Gardens are the largest gardens in the state of Iowa with tens of thousands of plant varieties and flowers. They have a surprising amount of winter activities like weekly butterfly hatching, a huge model train, and indoor greenhouse gardens. Lyon discusses the Winter Wonderscape and how you and your family can walk through, fully immersing yourself in the experience.

See the photos and show notes at https://iowapodcast.com/winter-wonderscape

Guest host Greg Bailey interviews Brian Gumm, founder of Ross Street Roasting, a rural Iowa coffee tradition turned national brand. Gumm shares the company's origin, tracing its humble beginnings to the essence of its creation and the early days' customer reception. He delves into the roots, motivations, and initial challenges faced while establishing the specialty coffee roasting business. The conversation touches on the company's evolution from a local gem to a renowned national entity. Gumm's insights paint a picture of perseverance, community support, and the transformative journey of a small-town tradition into a widely embraced coffee brand.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/brian-gumm-ross-street-roasting

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Iowa's largest mall has some surprising facts and figures. Did you know many retailers designate central Iowa as one of their top 5 retail locations by revenue? And why in a time malls across the country, why is one Iowa mall doing so well? We sit down with Randy Tennison, the head honcho of Jordan Creek Town Center which is 99% full, to ask him what they're doing differently.

Tennison gives the breakdown of new stores, and why people are drawn to the mall—because they want to interact with merchandise, not stare at it behind a screen. He gives an outlook of employment challenges for the 2023 Holiday season, and explains why Jordan Creek is a travel destination for neighboring states. He also explains the Holiday activities unique to this massive Iowa mall mecca.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/jordan-creek-town-center-stores

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The biggest critics of The Honey Creek Resort at Lake Rathbun are its new owners. Beth and Terry Henderson had originally planned on working with the resort to host some events for their agriculture company, but quickly ran into a problem: the resort fell short of their expectations. So they bought it. Even though they took over in April, they've already been quickly renovating the property and have no plans to stop until they hit a 4 or 5 star experience.

For starters the property will be open year-round. They've added holiday programming, rebranded the restaurants, remodeled major parts of the property, and are adding a bourbon and wine bar. Cabin and room renovations are in process too. The Lake Rathbun area is stunning, but the couple believes The Honey Creek Resort hasn't been the crown jewel of southeastern Iowa like it should be. They also announced a partnership with Atlantic Bottling Company that will add some Coke-themed attractions.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/honey-creek-resort-remodel-2024

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"I think skepticism is warranted." says Joseph Nelson, CEO of A.I company Roboflow regarding President Biden's new executive order focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Nelson was quick to point out that while the objective of Biden's order appears to have good intentions, regulators should use caution or they may inadvertently stifle innovation in multiple sectors like healthcare or the environment.

While regulations may seem logical at first, especially in a time people fear AI, it's unclear this executive order will accomplish its goal. For example, current laws already prevent much of what this law seeks to prevent, says Nelson. Other concerns are reporting AI data to the Federal Government and losing AI companies to other countries. While we should take AI safety seriously, regulators should exercise caution to not stifle innovation. We should "how do I wield this capability, not the capability exists in itself."

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/Pros-cons-Bidens-AI-regulations

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The most beautiful and best Iowa Park may be found in your corner of the state claims Sally Ortgies, the "Iowa Park Lady." Ortgies has visited all Iowa state parks and has seen every corner of Iowa and knows better than anyone the beauty it offers. She has recommendations in your part of the state.

It took Ortgies just over one year to complete her tour of all state parks but she says the experience was well worth it. In NE Iowa, she said Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge stood out. In NW Iowa the ancient pink rock formations are worth visiting not to mention the rolling hills which "feel like a roller coaster." In SE Iowa the river formations are incredible, and SW Iowa is home to her favorite state park. Listen to her explain why.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/best-iowa-parks

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The Hamas slaughter of innocent Israeli citizens and the Jewish people is enough evil for a lifetime, but pro-Hamas protests in Iowa have the Iowa Jewish population noticeably concerned, saddened and sick. As state and city leaders rally around our Jewish population, now's the time to stand up, says Jarad Bernstein, Executive Director of The Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines.

Despite threats to kill Jewish people, Bernstein's strength and determination are incredible to witness. He gives a very important history lesson on the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He explains how Hamas' goal is to kill, and how they use their own children as human shields. He also explains the lengths the Israeli Defense Force goes to ensure civilian life is protected.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/jarad

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You may have heard of The Villages of Van Buren, but what is it exactly? Is it a town? A county? An entertainment destination? Not quite. Emily Starnes, the executive director, explained the background of the area, and told the story of when Missouri threatened to invade Iowa over honey trees. (Iowa won)

The Villages of Van Buren is actually 11 small towns with a combined population of just over 7,000 in Van Buren county. Not only is the area focused on nature, with lots of trails and a 9000 acre forest, but it's home to many artisans and has the oldest courthouse in continuous use, west of the Mississippi River.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/villages-of-van-buren-scenic-drive-festival

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