Perry Creek Dairy To Hold Open House Today
(Le Mars) — Western Iowa Dairy Alliance will celebrate June Dairy month with an open house scheduled for this afternoon and evening at the Perry Creek Dairy Farm located west of Le Mars on county road K-22. The open house will take place between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. Attendees of the open house will have the opportunity to view an active milking operation. The dairy operation is a state-of-the-art milking facility and will showcase its carousel milking parlor. Scott Thoms serves as the herdsman for Perry Creek and tells of the unique milking procedure.
More than 3,500 Holstein cows are milked three times a day at Perry Creek.
Along with its sister dairy farm Plymouth Dairy, located south of Le Mars, together, Perry Creek Dairy and Plymouth Dairy milk more than 6,000 cows each day. Perry Creek is located at 20243 county road K-22. Simply follow Highway 3 going west of Le Mars until the intersection with county road K-22, turn left or south, and travel for nearly two miles. Perry Creek is on the west
side of the county road K-22.
Perry Creek Dairy is owned by Allan Feuerhelm along with his sons Brad and Scott. KLEM news spoke with the Feuerhelms about hosting the dairy open house. Allan Feuerhelm talks about expanding the milking operation a couple of years ago to now include the Perry Creek Dairy farm.
Brad Feuerhelm says currently Perry Creek dairy farm milks approximately 3,500 cows and will soon increase its production to include 4,000 cows. He tells of how much volume of milk is produced at the dairy farm.
Holding close to 4,000 cows requires a large building, Scott Feuerhelm says the barn used to house the cows at Perry Creek covers a large area.
Even during the hot days of summer, like we have encountered during this last week, the cows remain cool, calm, content, and comfortable. Scott Feuerhelm explains the ventilation and cooling system in place to keep the temperature at a constant comfortable setting.
Scott Feuerhelm says when the cows are not actually being milked, they are laying on sand with easy access to fresh drinking water.
With both Perry Creek and Plymouth Dairy, a total of nine semi-tanker trailers full of milk, are hauled away from both farms on a daily basis. Scott Feuerhelm says many people would not realize the amount of data that is recorded each day with the two dairy farms. He says it can be overwhelming.
The question of why hold an open house has been discussed? Kurt Wierda is the general manager for Perry Creek Dairy. He says one reason to have the open house is to call attention to the importance of the dairy industry, but to also show people the origin of their food.
Allan Feurerhelm says they are anticipating more than 3,000 people to attend today’s open house. Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg will take a tour of the facilities, as well as deliver a proclamation signed by Governor Kim Reynolds that proclaims June is recognized as Dairy Month. The open house will be from
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is free. A meal will also be provided. Perry Creek Dairy farm is located on county road K-22 between county road C-38 and Highway 3.
Governor Reynolds Signs GOP Absentee Ballot Restrictions Into Law
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New Law Confirms Iowa Casinos Can Simulcast Races Outside US
(Des Moines, IA) — The governor has signed legislation that makes it legal for Iowa casinos to take bets on horse and dog races that are being run in foreign countries as well as in the United States. Iowa casinos have featured live broadcasts of races outside the U-S for years, but in December state regulators suspended the practice and asked legislators to make it clear it’s legal under Iowa law. During debate last month, Senator Roby Smith of Davenport said state regulators have used safeguards in the past to exclude simulcasts from some foreign tracks and will do so in the future. It’s been legal since 1989 to simulcast horse and dog races at Iowa casinos and take bets on the races. In addition to the so-called “triple crown” in America, the world’s most-watched horse races are staged in places like Paris, Tokyo, England, Australia, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
Southeast Iowa Chemical Plant Will Use Corn to Make Fabric
(Eddyville, IA) — Cargill and a German company are teaming up to build a chemical plant in southeast Iowa to make fabric. Cargill development manager Jon Veldhouse says, “Cargll and Helm have formed a joint venture investing up to 300-million dollars in this new facility in Eddyville to produce B-D-O from corn.” He says B-D-O is used to make Spandex and elastic in shirts and socks. Veldhouse says the new technology Cargill and Helm will be using will drastically reduce greenhouse gases. Using corn sugars instead of petroleum or coal to make B-D-O is expected to reduce emissions and C-O-2 production by up to 93 percent. Cargill expects construction on the new Eddyville facility to begin later this year and it should be up and running in 2024.
Nebraska Man Accused of Striking Pedestrian in Mason City
(Mason City, IA) — A Nebraska man is accused of hitting a pedestrian in Mason City while driving drunk. Officers were called to Mills Fleet Farm Tuesday afternoon for a person who had collapsed in the parking lot. Police learned the victim was struck by a pickup driven by 35-year-old Christopher Rathfon from Omaha. Rathfon was arrested and charged with O-W-I, reckless driving and serious injury by vehicle. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital for treatment. The incident is still under investigation.
