Some days on this trip are bound to be so packed with activities that limiting their description to a single blog entry will prove impossible.
This was the first of those days.
We began by breakfasting with our host families, who then delivered us to Immanuel-Zion Church where Pastor Mike showed us a very comprehensive and helpful episode of “Modern Marvels” that was all about corn: how it’s grown and harvested; the difference between sweet corn that we eat as kernels and “dent” corn that is processed for just about everything else, from ethanol to plastic to corn flakes cereal; what genetic modification has meant to modern corn production; and the debate over high fructose corn syrup. Present at the viewing were Paul and Jeryl Kettelson, corn and soybean farmers who are members at Immanuel-Zion. The Kettelsons shared their thoughts and experiences related to farming and in contrast with the video, giving a real human voice to the challenges and realities of modern farming.
Soon we standing on the very land the Kettelsons own and farm, listening to Paul explain their methods of irrigation that keep nearly every drop of water on their land and prevent any runoff that would remove the valuable topsoil, observing the remnants of the corn and soybean harvest, and getting up close and personal with the Kettelson’s machinery, their combine and tractors. They treated us to a splendid lunch in their beautiful home while we heard tell tales about the county fair and the history of the Immanuel-Zion congregation.
This was the first of those days.
We began by breakfasting with our host families, who then delivered us to Immanuel-Zion Church where Pastor Mike showed us a very comprehensive and helpful episode of “Modern Marvels” that was all about corn: how it’s grown and harvested; the difference between sweet corn that we eat as kernels and “dent” corn that is processed for just about everything else, from ethanol to plastic to corn flakes cereal; what genetic modification has meant to modern corn production; and the debate over high fructose corn syrup. Present at the viewing were Paul and Jeryl Kettelson, corn and soybean farmers who are members at Immanuel-Zion. The Kettelsons shared their thoughts and experiences related to farming and in contrast with the video, giving a real human voice to the challenges and realities of modern farming.
Soon we standing on the very land the Kettelsons own and farm, listening to Paul explain their methods of irrigation that keep nearly every drop of water on their land and prevent any runoff that would remove the valuable topsoil, observing the remnants of the corn and soybean harvest, and getting up close and personal with the Kettelson’s machinery, their combine and tractors. They treated us to a splendid lunch in their beautiful home while we heard tell tales about the county fair and the history of the Immanuel-Zion congregation.
Above: Paul Kettelson (in red coat) explains the basics of water, soil and planting to the students in the middle of a corn/soybean field.
The immensity of one of the Kettelson's tractors is evident!
And it was cold. Really cold. Just take my word for it. I won’t say more about the cold right now, because if the weather predictions are correct, you’ll be reading plenty more about the cold next week… there’s a cold snap coming that is worthy of writing home about. Brrrrr.
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