By Rich Wicks

The annual Best of Guthrie County poll is soon closing, so if you have not yet voted, do so no later than 5 p.m. on July 1. Visit https://gctimesnews.com/best-of-2026.

Your vote helps determine the winners in dozens of categories, from Best Doctor to Best First Date Spot to Coldest Beer. A record 851 votes have been cast so far. 

Here are the rules for the 2026 Best of Guthrie County Readers’ Poll:

• All poll questions are “fill in the blank.” There is not a nomination process or a “pay to play” scam. Everyone is eligible. Just vote.
• The voting period runs through 5 p.m. July 1, 2026.
• One ballot per voter (IP address), please. We reserve the right to discard any ballots we deem fraudulent.
• Voters are only required to fill out a minimum of one question to submit a ballot, but we encourage filling them all out.
• Have a problem voting? Try first. If you still have questions, call us Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 641-332-2707. Or email shane@gctimesnews.com.

Creighton Suhr, Cash Suhr, Rylee Robson and Irelyn Wirt

Special to the Times Vedette

The FFA Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event provides an opportunity for FFA members to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Livestock Evaluation.

Activities included in the Livestock Evaluation were placing breeding and market classes of beef, swine, sheep and goats, and keep/cull and oral reasons classes. There were 172 members participating from 50 chapters. The Iowa FFA Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event was made possible with support from the Iowa State University Block and Bridle Club and Iowa FFA Foundation Gold Standard

Partners. The Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event was coordinated and conducted by Will Taylor and other faculty and staff with the Animal Science Department at Iowa State University.

The ACGC FFA had three members travel to Ames to compete in this contest on June 11.

Team members Rylee Robson, Irelyn Wirt, Cash Suhr and Creighton Suhr received 12th overall and a gold rating for their efforts in the contest. As a team, they received a top 10 finish in the sheep and swine divisions and fifth as a group in the goat division.

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

Each year, the Panora Women’s Service Organization (WSO) conducts fundraising activities to make it possible to provide a scholarship to a Panorama Community School graduating senior. This year’s recipient is Ava Thompson. She is shown with Nancy Loeck and Patsy Goss, members of the WSO scholarship committee.

Thompson plans to attend Drake University and major in nursing.

The WSO’s annual home tour is the group’s major fundraiser, which funds this renewable $500 scholarship each year, making four scholarships paid annually. This year’s home tour was June 5.

Scott Stanley, president and CEO of Farmers State Bank, presents a $10,000 check to Kasey Huebner, superintendent of Panorama Community Schools.

Special to the Times Vedette

Going into a new school year should be an exciting time for families, but for those carrying a negative balance on their student’s lunch accounts, it can also bring a lot of stress. Thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from Farmers State Bank in Yale, those worries are gone.

The bank’s donation is going directly toward clearing all delinquent school lunch accounts in the district. Because of their kindness, every Panorama student and family will be able to start the upcoming school year with a clean slate and a zero balance.

School lunch debt is something that can quietly sneak up on families and paying it off can be struggle for household budgets.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Farmers State Bank,” said Kasey Huebner, superintendent of Panorama Community Schools. “This donation directly supports our families by ensuring no student starts the school year with a negative lunch balance. School meal costs can add up quickly, particularly for families with multiple children. This generous gift provides a clean slate and much-needed peace of mind as the year begins.”