John and Debra Ahlers Recipients of the Chamber Agriculture Committee’s “Outstanding Service To Agriculture” Award.
(Le Mars) — Last night (Thursday) during the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce 25th annual Agriculture Business Dinner, a farm couple from rural Le Mars was awarded the “Outstanding Service to Agriculture” honor. The introduction for the honorees
was as follows: “Agriculture has played an important role in the lives of the 2019 Service to Agriculture recipients. This couple was born and raised in Plymouth County and currently live on their family’s century farm raising corn and soybeans. This couple is a prime example of a great farming family
in Plymouth County. They serve as vocal advocates for agriculture helping to lead the way on community boards and even working side by side farming and harvesting. John and Debra Ahlers have been involved with the Plymouth
County Fair, Plymouth County Farm Bureau, Plymouth County Extension Council, 4-H leaders, and have been inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for Plymouth County. The couple has also judged FFA competitions. When their introduction was read before the crowd attending the event, Debra Ahlers says
it was a little ways into the introduction before she had realized they were the ones being honored.
John Ahlers says he was surprised and humbled for receiving the honor.
John has been a Plymouth County Fair board director for the past ten years, and he also served as a director and officer for the Plymouth County Farm Bureau.
The farm couple has led active lives with 4-H and Extension with both serving as 4-H leaders, and Debra was a director with the Plymouth County Extension Council.
The Ahlers were honored last summer during the Iowa State Fair for being named to the Iowa State 4-H Hall of Fame, and the Ahlers’ have been 4-H leaders for more than ten years. The ironic part is John was never a member of the 4-H organization.
Both have also helped judge FFA competitions. During the sub-district competition held at Hinton last month, John judged prepared speeches, while Debra helped judge the job interview contest. Many times the Ahlers are celebrating their wedding anniversary during the Plymouth County Fair.
According to Debra, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our congratulations go to John and Debra Ahlers of rural Le Mars for being honored with the “Outstanding Service To Agriculture” award from the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee.
A Le Mars Community FFA Senior was the recipient of the Chamber Agriculture Committee’s FFA scholarship. Christian Koch was presented the honor by Kevin Eekhoff of
the Chamber Agriculture Committee. Koch will receive a $500 scholarship.
Key-note speaker Scott Siepker, aka “Iowa Nice” Guy kept the crowd laughing with his stories about his childhood, how he got started with acting, and other tales of his film productions of the “Iowa Nice” guy.
SmithCo Is Sold To Minnesota Pork Producer
(Le Mars) — SmithCo, the side dump trailer manufacturing company located at C-38 and Highway 75 of Le Mars has been purchased by a Minnesota Pork Production Company. According to a news release, Christensen Farms of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota purchased SmithCo. Greg Smith, a native of Lawton, Iowa,
founded SmithCo in 1994. Smith retired from his position as SmithCo president and CEO. His successor is Scott Lovell, the former operations manager at SmithCo. Lovell now serves as SmithCo plant manager and new CEO. He says the manufacturing facility was seeking a buyer for the past couple of years.
Lovell says Christensen Farms was interested in the local trailer
manufacturing company in order to have a greater investment portfolio.
The news release says all current SmithCo management staff will remain in their current roles. Lovell says he doesn’t see any changes to plant’s mission.
SmithCo offers the largest selection of side dump trailers in the world for a variety of markets including road and building contractors, aggregate producers, agriculture industry, among other industries.
Lovell says the local trailer manufacturing company will retain the name of SmithCo.
There was no mention as to the sale amount involving the financial transaction. SmithCo employs nearly 100 people, and Lovell says the company is committed to staying at Le Mars.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office Reminds People To Be Safe During Spring
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is reminding people now that spring has arrived, to be careful and on the lookout for young children that may be playing near a roadway, or riding their bicycles on a roadway.
In a news release issued today, the Sheriff’s Office says to take extra caution and slow down when driving through residential neighborhoods. The Sheriff’s Office further reminds people that children learn by watching us.
If you’re traveling with a child, please model good driving habits including: wearing your seat belt, obey the speed limit, slow down near schools and neighborhoods (and explain why this is important), do not text or check social media while driving, and make sure children are in the correct scar restraint seat.
Soccer Mom Sentenced For Stealing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A woman who admitted stealing thousands of dollars from a Des Moines soccer club has been sentenced.
Polk County District Court records say 34-year-old Brandi Preul pleaded guilty last week to felony theft. She was given a suspended prison term of five years, three years of probation and fined $750. She also was ordered to pay an undetermined amount of restitution.
Authorities say she stole more than $41,000 from the Greater Des Moines Over the Hill Soccer Club , which operates the Central Iowa Coed Soccer League. Preul was the league’s commissioner to a time last year.
