By Morgan Sheeder | Times Vedette

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced in late March that the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship awarded 30 Iowa farmers, small businesses and organizations Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants. Grant recipients, like That Iowa Girl in Panora, were eligible to receive up to $25,000 in cost-sharing funds, with hopes to increase the production of Iowa grown and produced items.

This year, $500,000 of value-added grants were awarded, leveraging the $1.7 million requested by grant recipients. The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received more than 120 applications this year. The cost-share funding is designed to support projects of Iowa farmers and small businesses by expanding production, reaching new markets and increasing the value of the items they produce. Investments include commercial kitchen equipment, cider and winery production equipment, refrigerated trucks and farmers market infrastructure.

Secretary Naig says, “By investing alongside these businesses, we are helping meet growing consumer demand while creating economic opportunity in communities across the state. The overwhelming popularity of this value-added program highlights the momentum and growing interest in local food as well as the high quality of the projects proposed across Iowa.”

The Choose Iowa Value-Added Grant Program was launched in 2022 and has since awarded more than $2.1 billion in state-funded cost-share for 130 local projects. The projects have leveraged more than $7.3 million in total investments to help support local Iowa businesses, farmers, and producers.

The following businesses were awarded the 2026 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grant:

• Mustard Seed Community Farm, Ames
• Treasure Acres Farm, Blairsburg
• Batige’s Transparency Project Farm, Cedar Rapids
• Afro-Iowa Unity Farm, Cedar Rapids
• Grand View Beef, Clarion
• Buser’s Produce, Conesville
• InConvenience Inc., Davenport
• Iowa Food Hub, Decorah
• Global Greens – Lutheran Services in Iowa, Des Moines
• Pie Bird Pies, Des Moines
• Jefferson County Ciderworks, Fairfield
• Mundo Lindo Farm, Fairfield
• Pickle Creek Herbs, Fairfield
• Soldier Creek Winery, Fort Dodge
• Prairie Produce, Grinnell
• Carlson Tree Farm, Hampton
• Mint ‘N More Foundation, Knoxville
• Rooster Ranch, Knoxville
• Yoder Family Farms Pork, Lone Tree
• Fireside Winery, Marengo
• Enchanted Evergreens, Newton
• EcoPrime, Osage
• That Iowa Girl, Panora
• Golden Hills Apiary, Riverside
• Home Kneads, Slater
• Local Harvest CSA, Solon
• Wilson’s Orchard, Solon
• Kittleson Bros., St. Ansgar
• Minerva’s Meadow, State Center
• WW Homestead Dairy, Waukon

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette 

A local art competition kicks off April 11 at Art on State in Guthrie Center (320 State St.). The Guthrie County Arts Council/Art on State, in collaboration with the art instructors at Panorama and ACGC Schools, are holding a first-ever high school art competition April 11-25.

Students earning the top three spots in the two-dimensional and three-dimensional art categories will receive monetary prizes, ribbons and a year’s membership to Art on State. Submissions will be judged by visitors to Art on State through April 24 with an awards reception on April 25. Entries are anticipated from 16 ACGC and 12 Panorama high school artists.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the April 7 regular meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Jennifer McMillan addressed the supervisors regarding the Iowa Governmental Health Care Program (IGHCP).

“Currently, IGHCP serves 55 entities in Iowa with 13,000 total members,” McMillan said. “Overall, your costs have increased, on average, by 4.21% over the years that you’ve been in IGHCP, so for about 15 years now. 

McMillan shared usage data for Guthrie County.

“Guthrie County has performed very well this year, with a 52% loss ratio, with 93 average employees and 260 average covered members,” McMillan said.

Supervisor Mike Dickson commented on the improvement reflected in that data.

“That’s a huge improvement from where we were just two or three years ago, because we were over 100%,” he said. Dickson also noted that the county has a “healthy” fund balance which could be used if claims are increased in a particular year.

The supervisors voted to approve the insurance renewal as presented.

The supervisors set a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Guthrie County budget. The hearing will be 9 a.m. on April 21.

Veterans Affairs Administrator Beth Watson provided a quarterly report on services provided through her department.

County Engineer Josh Sebern discussed two proposed resolutions that the supervisors then approved (Resolution 26-28: Posting of Bridge Load Limitations; and Resolution 26-29: Posting of Noxious Weed List).

Sebern was asked if there are any concerns with county roadways that will be involved in RAGBRAI’s trip through the county in July. Sebern said there are no issues that he is aware of.

The supervisors meet regularly at 9 a.m. Tuesdays. The public is welcome to attend at the courthouse or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123 and use meeting code 547029216#.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Saturday, April 4 was the date of many Easter egg hunts in the area. The cool, damp weather forced some events indoors. The Panora egg hunt was held outside on the town square as scheduled, while Yale moved the egg hunt into the Community Building. Indoors or out, fun was had by all.

Eggs galore on the Panora square prior to the egg hunt.

Kids begin picking up eggs and treats at Yale.

Paige Anderson and her daughter, Emmie, after a successful hunt.

Everleigh Calvert filled her bucket.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Blake Michelsen reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on April 1 at 9:34 p.m. on State Street in Guthrie Center. Ruth Elaine Spaulding, 79, of Jefferson, was driving a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox eastbound and was turning into the parking lot of Public Health and ran into the driver’s side of a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Melissa Elaine Johnson, 59, of Panora. Estimated damage to the Equinox is $6,000, and estimated damage to the Traverse is also $6,000. Spaulding received a citation for unsafe turning.