Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Visits Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited the Plymouth County Fair yesterday afternoon for the first time. Naig says he was impressed with the fair and all the volunteers that help put the fair on.
Naig says county fairs serve an important to role to educate the public about the importance of agriculture, and he says other counties and organizations could look to Plymouth County to use as a model for agricultural education.
It was earlier this week when the U-S Department of Agriculture announced it would provide some financial relief to farmers who have lost money as a result of the imposed trade tariffs. Naig says the program is only meant to be a temporary solution. He says ultimately, agreements will need to be reached, and trade restored to effectively help farmers.
The Iowa Agriculture Secretary says farmers would much prefer trade over aid.
Just this week the Trump Administration was able to negotiate a trade deal with the European Union, which should open up additional agricultural trade opportunities for U-S farmers.
Naig met with fair board members, soil and water conservation officials, chamber ag committee officials, the fair royalty, pork producers, and other fair attendees.
Good Weather Conditions Help With Fair Attendance
(Le Mars) — The nice comfortable weather conditions of this week have helped the Plymouth County Fair’s daily attendance. Fair officials say the attendance for Thursday exceeded 20,000. The official number is listed as 20,150. A year ago, the Thursday attendance was listed at 19,500. So far, the fair’s total attendance is just under 38,000 at 37,900. A year ago, the
total attendance from the first two days of the fair was listed at 37,000.
Plymouth County Fair Brings Back Champion Pie Contest
(Le Mars) — After a year off, the Plymouth County Fair will again hold a pie contest scheduled for Saturday. Carol Scheinder is one of the organizers of the pie contest. She says the contest was revived due to people requesting it.
Scheinder explains what will take place with the pie contest.
The Plymouth County Pie Contest official says only fruit pies will be accepted in the contest.
Scheinder says the pie contest is open to both youth and adults, but participants should limit to one entry.
Lally’s Eastside Employees Testify At Bibler Murder Trial
(Le Mars) — Testimony continued Thursday for the Thomas Bibler trial. Bibler of Le Mars is accused of fatally stabbing his sister Shannon Bogh in June of 2016. The focus from Thursday morning was featuring co-workers of Bibler from his work place at Lally’s Eastside restaurant. Donna Hestermann of Remsen testified saying she has known Thomas Bibler since he began working at the restaurant. Hestermann says she considered Bibler to be a friend, and they would often visit during employee work breaks. Hestermann says she and Bibler would talk about various topics, including Bibler’s sister, Shannon Bogh. Hesterman noted the day of the stabbing incident, Bibler seemed to be emotionally troubled and upset when he arrived at Lally’s to begin his work shift.
Bibler was once married and has children, but his ex-wife has custody of the children. Hestermann says Bibler was always excited when he talked about his children, and when he would be able to see his children. Based upon conversations with Bibler, Hestermann says Bibler’s ex-wife would often be munipitive and mean to Bibler.
Hestermann says Bibler would often speak fondly of his sister, and she classified the relationship between Bibler and Bogh as a close relationship. Hestermann says it was Shannon Bogh who served as a mentor for her brother often times assisting Bibler acheive his goals of becoming more independent, which included moving from a Pride Group housing facility to an apartment, and gaining access to his pickup truck.
Hestermann says from her observations, she believed Bibler and Bogh had a close relationship.
The Lally’s Eastside waitress says it was a hot day on that Saturday in June of 2016. She says the heat outside and inside the kitchen made for uncomfortable conditions. Hestermann says what made it even worse was a co-worker who would bully other employees. She says Bibler was the target of intimidation and harassment during the day in question. Hestermann says Bibler appeared sad and ready to cry since his ex-wife was forbidding him to see his children on Father’s Day. Hestermann says Bibler wasn’t focused on his work that evening, and the co-worker pushed Bibler’s emotional buttons.
Hestermann says Bibler’s reaction to the co-worker’s bullying was he was upset and sad, and didn’t care for the continued comments of ridicule, and he was bothered by the comments that night. Court action has been suspended until Tuesday.
