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Three Generations Work Together to Put Another Season in the Books

By Joseph L. Murphy

In farming, there are no checkered flags. The job is never done, even after the last seed is planted or the last soybean is harvested from the field.

The Bardole family from Rippey knows this all too well. 

They have been at the game of farming for generations. They've experienced the ups and downs as they've worked the land and labored to keep their family afloat, especially during these turbulent economic times.

As Tim Bardole neared the end of his final row of soybeans last fall, his anticipation grew. In 50 yards or 20 bushels harvest would be over. The combine churned as the reel rolled through the cracking stems of the final few plants. 

With a push of a button, the massive machine fell quiet. For a brief moment, there was silence. The combine stood still, the fields were empty, and another harvest was in the books. 

The stillness was broken as the voice of Tim’s father, Roy Bardole, came over the radio, exclaiming, "That's a wrap!"

Roy had uttered those words for 55 consecutive harvests. Out of exhaustion, Roy, Tim, Schyler (Tim's son), and Pete (Tim’s brother) headed for home already planning the fieldwork that would need attention before the first snow. But for now, another successful harvest was complete.

"The fall is when you reap the rewards of the season," Tim Bardole says as he reflects on the growing season. "The unique thing about farming is you only have one chance each season to get it right. Harvest is when you find out how you did."

Farmers like the Bardoles get a limited number of chances in their lifetime to raise the perfect crop. Hundreds of variables come to play during those limited number of opportunities. Variables like seed selection, weather, conservation planning and pest management, to name just a few.

"There is nothing better than working with family," Tim says. “The fact that my son is working some of the same land that my great-great-grandfather bought in 1901 means a lot to me."

For Schyler Bardole, it was his third harvest as a full-time farmer. He hasn't had the easiest time getting started as over the past few years a trade war with China materialized, commodity prices sunk to historic lows and COVID-19 continues to impact his business. With all the headwinds he has faced, he knows that harvest is a special time that allows him to work closely with his family.

"When the harvest is done, it is almost disappointing," Schyler says. "I thoroughly enjoy it. A big part of it is family. We have family lunches in the field with my grandma and I take my family for combine rides. It has always been a family affair."

Although harvest can be a grueling time filled with late nights and early mornings, which last days on end, the Bardoles wouldn't have it any other way.

"In the fall, you have some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets," Tim says. "And you get to witness it from the seat of the combine. It’s also amazing to stop in the middle of a field on a cool crisp night and see what seems like forever in the stars."

By Joseph L. Murphy

Social distancing, quarantine, self-isolation … all terms that, in the last seven weeks, have become a staple of everyday life. People and communities are trying to flatten the curve, and as a result, distance and isolation have become the norm. As the coronavirus spreads around the globe, every single person’s life has changed.

Like many essential businesses, farmers are hard at work to help ensure shelves are stocked and families are fed around the world. Many farms across the country are on the eve of a planting season that will once again provide food for millions. Their work continues despite disruptions from COVID-19.

"In these uncertain times, we see the real heroes come out of the woodwork," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said during a recent taped message. "Food is essential year-round, but in the face of a pandemic, it is critical that the shelves remain stocked and supplies remain plentiful. America's farmers and ranchers are doing their part. You have jobs that can't telework and we appreciate that."

It is quickly becoming the new routine to “shelter-in-place” and “maintain safe distances” while utilizing digital communications to keep in touch. That offers a juxtaposition from the social nature of visiting with friends, family or attending sporting events.

Farmers, in many ways, have practiced social distancing for centuries. Geographically, their homes and farmland are in rural areas away from metropolitan areas and small towns. That has produced a spirit of self-reliance and a connection to the land that can't be broken.

You can't escape the news these days. The coronavirus is sweeping around the globe while impacting all aspects of daily life.

The coronavirus, now known by its scientific name of COVID-19, likely originated in bats or pangolins and had the first transmission to humans in Wuhan, China, according to Medical News Today. The epicenter of the disease is thought to be the Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. The market is commonly known as a “wet market.”

Wet markets are popular shopping areas where live animals, people and butchered meat are housed close to each other, creating the opportunity for viruses and diseases to jump from infected animals to humans. I had the opportunity to visit wet markets in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

As I get older, it seems that the years go by faster. It is hard for me to believe that two decades have passed since the Y2K scares of 2000 and close to 20 years since the tragedy of 9-11. In 2001 I left the newspaper business and started a position with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. That was the beginning of my now almost twenty-year career in agriculture photography. For the past eight years, I’ve documented farmers for the Iowa Soybean Association, a journey that has taken me across the great state of Iowa and around the world.

Standing about 16 inches tall, specialist for the region. “They are Jeff Powers, a CBP canine agriculture

Burnie, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine officer, moves from bag to bag while patrolling the Minneapolis-

St. Paul International Airport. As travelers navigate the U.S. port of entry, they flash a smile at Burnie and pat him on the head unaware of the vital work he is doing.

Burnie is one of 120 beagles that work side-by-side with agriculture specialists at more than 180 ports to protect the food supply and agricultural industries. They prevent the intentional or unintentional entry of harmful plant pests and animal diseases into the U.S.

Known as the “Beagle Brigade,” this important group of four-legged friends is working the frontlines every day. The dogs can scan luggage for smuggled or forgotten fruits and meat products in seconds, compared to the time- consuming process of opening and visually inspecting bags.

“They work at a molecular level,” says Tim Lauth, CBP’s chief agriculture specialist for the region. They are trained on five or six scents when they come out of school, but by the time they end their career they can identify hundreds of scents.”

Beagles like Burnie and his Minneapolis partner Scarlett were chosen because of their keen sense of smell, non- threatening size, high food drive and friendly disposition with the public.

“Not much gets through with the beagles working in tandem with their agriculture specialist partners. Together, they are great,” Lauth says. “But you still need the human touch.”

The beagles are the first wave of inspection in a multi-step process. CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in biological sciences and agricultural inspection. Several agents in Minneapolis hold Bachelor of Science degrees in agronomy and entomology. Other agents spend their spare time working on the family farm.

Jeff Powers, a CBP canine agriculture specialist, works with Burnie every day, patrolling the international flights arriving in Minneapolis and transporting thousands of passengers.

“He gets a lot of attention at work,” Powers says of his furry partner.

Currently, one of the top threats to U.S. agriculture is African Swine Fever (ASF) – a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is estimated to have already impacted about 40% of China's 450 million pigs and has spread to other countries in Asia and Europe.

The virus causes nearly 100% mortality, and there is no vaccine or treatment at this time. If it were to reach the U.S., it could cause severe damage to the nation’s pork industry.

“While pork from pigs with ASF is safe to eat, the ramifications of ASF in the U.S. could be wide-reaching,” says Jamee Eggers, producer education director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Eggers says if the disease were to make it to the U.S., it could drive pork prices down rapidly and cause a decrease in demand for soybeans and corn, because these crops are key components of pig feed. Currently, pork production in Iowa creates 141,813 jobs and nearly $37 billion annually in sales, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

"Agriculture is so important to Iowa that even if a consumer doesn’t think they are related to pork production, they likely know someone, work with someone or have family that could be directly affected by the loss of jobs," Eggers says. "It could have a far-reaching impact on rural Iowa communities."

ASF is only one of a dozen high- priority foreign animal diseases and invasive plant pests that the Beagle Brigade and CBP are working to keep out of the U.S. Others include the Khapra beetle, nematodes, cottonseed bugs, rust fungus, Newcastle disease, fruit flies and propagative plants.

"You can have something as simple as an orange that has a fruit fly on it or a leaf with an aphid on it. These small pests can wipe out millions of dollars in agricultural goods," Lauth explains.

On a typical day in fiscal year 2018, the CBP processed 1,133,914 passengers and pedestrians. On average, CBP agriculture specialists discovered 319 pests at U.S. ports of entry and 4,452 materials for quarantine each day.

"The Beagle Brigade and their CBP agriculture specialists are a key component of our nation’s first line of defense against illegal agriculture products," Eggers says

The traffic flowing from Lacona, a sleepy town in southern Iowa was unmistakable. Silverados, F-150s and super duty trucks followed each other east out of town in an ad hoc parade of farm trucks.

Two miles east, one mile north and a quarter mile west revealed their destination. It was a farmstead on a ridge overlooking a scenic valley with frozen farmland stretching into the distance. A man directing traffic directed drivers to park in the field and then head to the barn. Snowfall the night before yielding several inches of powder was cleared from the field. Now, nearly 70 trucks were parked adjacent to three parallel lines of assorted implements.

A short walk from the trucks to the barn revealed the unmistakable sound of an auctioneer. He rattled off numbers in a cadence that could be mistaken for a song. It was auction day and a large crowd had turned out to find deals, visit with neighbors and pay tribute to a lost friend.

Farm auctions are part of the tapestry of Iowa. According to the National Auctioneer Association(http://www.auctioneers.org/consumers/auction-history), they date back to the 1600s and the arrival of the Pilgrims on America's eastern shores. Auction schools came to the United States in the early 1900s. And for farmers who persevered through the 1980s Farm Crisis, auctions occurred frequently, an oratory reminder of broken dreams and tough times for families next door.

Now, on a chilly February day, bidders flashed their numbers as the auctioneer went from hay rack to hay rack selling extension cords, boxes of bolts and even chainsaws. The warmth of the machine shed provided temporary comfort from the cold before the crowd moved to the frozen pasture for the big-ticket items.

Like some auctions, a heavy feeling hung in the air. While people searched for deals and community members and neighbors visited, it was unmistakable that the gathering was predicated on pain of others.

Change is at the root of every auction. Whether it was a retirement, a bankruptcy or a death, farm sales can be associated with broken dreams and the march of time. Today's auction fit the bill. A conversation between neighbors revealed that the owner had committed suicide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), suicide was the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in 2013. The CDC also noted that males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 77.9 recent of all suicides. Suicide can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families and communities.

The reasons behind suicide aren't always clear but depression is often at the forefront. Downward economic pressure in the farm economy paired with tight margins in farming can lead to depression for farmers.

To help farmers deal with depression and stress Iowans can call the ISU Extension and Outreach Iowa Concern Hotline, (800)-447-1985. The Iowa Concern website at www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/ has a live chat feature as an additional way to talk with stress counselors. Agencies and professionals serving individuals and families can contact local ISU Extension and Outreach offices about Iowa Concern hotline number business cards available for distribution.

A snapshot is often referred to as an image capturing a moment in time. As I sat in my home office in the waning days of 2017, light snow was falling outside, and I had a hot cup of coffee in hand. When the closing New York Stock Exchange numbers scrolled across the television, one particular company caught my eye.

WGO - $55.60.

The three letters signified more than a company to me. WGO or Winnebago Industries was a way of life growing up. Everything I knew was connected to those three powerful letters. Winnebago Industries fed our family, put clothes on my back and helped me through college.

Winnebago was founded by John K. Hansen in 1958. The company built recreational vehicles that allowed members of what is now considered the Greatest Generation the freedom to explore the country without leaving comfort behind.

My dad started working for Winnebago Industries in 1968. He retired in 2004. During that time he held prominent positions in design, concept development, and marketing. He was highly respected and built a comfortable retirement after years of work.

After his untimely death in 2009, I heard less and less about the status of the company. My mother kept me up to date through her lens as a city council member. In 2014 she moved to Central Iowa, and the news I heard from the company was little to none.

Until recently that is.

Lately, the news I hear from friends that live in Forest City and work for Winnebago Industries concerns a corporate restructuring that has moved members of the executive team and central office employees to Minneapolis, Minnesota. A move that by some accounts could signal tough times for my hometown of Forest City.

That is why I decided to chronicle the impact that decisions by the executive team of Winnebago Industries will have on Forest City. 

Many believe there is a divide forming between the success of the company and the vitality of the city. For those that have lived in Forest City, this theory will not come as a surprise. It would seem the fortunes of the town, or lack thereof, have always been tied to the success of Winnebago. However, for myself and others in the community, this point in time feels different.

As a point of reference I will use December of 2017 as a snapshot to paint a picture of Winnebago Industries and the town of Forest City going forward. 

I am calling the ongoing series "Deconstructing Forest City." In the upcoming months, years and maybe even decades I want to shed light on the struggles and successes of Forest City. I hope to do that, by using journalism as a tool, that provides first-hand accounts of what is happening in the North Iowa town of 4,013 people according to the 2016 census.

I guess you could call it a "heat wave." After dealing with double-digit subzero temperatures for four days, you would think 8 degrees felt balmy.

But it was hard for Dan Hanrahan, a farmer from Winterset, to buy into that as he hit the door latch and opened the tractor cab door to start his daily chores. Even with a 20-degree temperature change, Hanrahan still braced for the rush of cold air that washed over his face and slowly penetrated the numerous layers of clothes he had on.  Click below to read full story:

By Joseph L. Murphy

New Years is a natural time to look back at accomplishments from the previous year while looking forward to new opportunities.below is a group of my seven favorite photos of 2017. 

I have been fortunate to pursue a career in photography and writing that has led me around the world while meeting many people. I look forward to 2018 and all of the new opportunities it will bring.

By Joseph L. Murphy

Living in Iowa it is difficult to practice the art of street photography. There are, of course, opportunities wherever you live to find great street images. But when comparing Des Moines to other major metropolitan cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles you can see the potential for street photography diminishing.

I’ve always been drawn to the gritty images that street photography offers. There are so many historical masters (Erwitt, Bresson, Koudelka) of street photography and there are also many (Gilden, Webb, Free) working the streets today.

That is why when I travel I always make sure to take time and walk the streets where I visit to take photos of the people that are part of those communities.

Any way you slice it, American barbecue is one of the most debated food topics. Some will claim Kansas City or Memphis barbecue is the best. And states like Alabama, Texas and South Carolina always find their way on top 10 lists. But more people are adding Iowa to those lists. Or at least they will if Darren Warth gets his way.

Warth, owner of Smokey D's BBQ in Des Moines, is familiar with all the arguments and best-of lists. But he says the best BBQ in the country is in Central Iowa, and he has the hardware to back it up.

"I walk in every morning, and I just love barbecue. Barbecue is 100 percent of our life," Warth said. "I go barbecue to get away from barbecue. My relaxation time is sitting over a pit on a Saturday during a barbecue competition."

That passion is paying off for Warth and his wife, Sherry. The duo is the only team to win the American Royal Open, Jack Daniels World Championship, the King of the Smoker and, most recently, the Houston Livestock World Championship. Add to that 82 state championships and 800 individual category awards, and you start to build an impressive resume that simply can't be touched by anyone else.

"It’s a balance," Warth said while explaining why his barbecue is so highly rated by judges. "It’s meat, it’s smoke, it’s spice and it’s sauce. It’s not one of those things overpowering the other."

In 2007, the former vice president of transportation for Ruan Trucking in Des Moines, walked away from a lucrative career to focus his full-time attention on championship barbecue competitions and a catering and takeout business.

"It went crazy," Warth said of a catering and takeout business that started in his driveway in 2005. "I was on the road 60 percent of the time. I was traveling everywhere."

That led the couple to open a location in the old Polk County Sheriff's building and eventually in the skywalk in downtown Des Moines. Today the Warths own three locations in the metro while still competing across the country in barbecue competitions.

"When I look at a restaurant and see how it runs I don’t think like a normal restauranteur," he said thinking about his start in the trucking industry. "I think about how efficiently I can get food to the customer and how I can have better customer service. If I can make a customer happy, the rest are just details. Everything is a process to me.”

Those details paid off on the tournament circuit and for his restaurants. He is quick to say the quality of pork, beef and other meats are just as important in a barbecue contest as they are in his restaurants.

"We use one word around here, and it’s 'consistency,'" Warth said. "It’s the consistency that really keeps bringing people back. We bring the consistency and quality that we have in competition barbecue to the restaurant business.”

To do that they use meat suppliers like Smithfield when purchasing their meats.

"We look for a heavy meat cover on ribs with as much marbling as possible," he said. "That ensures it will be a juicy product at the end, whether you are cooking for judges or customers."

Smokey D's business received a boost when famous food "judge" and traveling customer Guy Fieri, host of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” featured Warth's wings on his television show. Warth said even though Fieri featured his wings, most customers know Smokey D's for their ribs and burnt ends.

"If you think about Smokey D’s, you're thinking about ribs and burnt ends," he said. "People come here for ribs and burnt ends. There’s not much profit in them, but it is what brings people through the door.”

Any given day, Smokey D's will serve up barbecue to thousands of people. They’ll typically sell about 1,200 racks of ribs per week and serve 125,000 pounds of pork and beef per year.

"We have a weird demographic," Warth admitted. "You have grandma and grandpa sitting here and next to them is a Harley rider with tattoos down his arm and a screaming kid across the way. And it doesn’t seem to bother anybody because it is Smokey D's."

Over the past decade, Warth has built a business and championship pedigree that is tough to beat. Those endeavors paired with other fantastic barbecue restaurants across the state have put Iowa barbecue on the map.

Is it the best? It might be a solid claim for one of the most-debated food topics. One way to find out is to try Smoky D’s for yourself. For locations and other information, go to www.smokeydsbbq.com.