Back to Home page NEWSLETTER Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Wehage. 26 Members in attendance. Guests: None Birthdays: None Anniversaries: None Announcements: Doug Dix announced the slate of officer candidates for the second week in a row: Kelly Moore – President; Bob Hatala – 1st Vice-Pres.; Dan Breitbach – 2nd Vice Pres.; Sister Charmaine – Secretary; and Gerry Kneeland – Treasurer. Board nominees are Rod Thorpe, Bob Dye and Katy Hiatt-Braasch. Voting will take place at our next meeting, May 30. Happy Bucks: .Duane Kurrelmeyer - $1 for a birthday, $1 for an anniversary and $1 just thankful to be here; Don Grimm - $1 for RCRB receiving the State of Iowa Shining Star award in Des Moines; John Anderson - $1 for Duane and begrudgingly $1 for Breitbach; Dick Boardman - $1 for Duane; Chuck Wehage - $1 for Duane being back to explain the pinball machine status; Ray Vaughn - $1 for being back after the hand/arm incident; Jim Doyne - $1 for Duane; Kevin McCarville - $2.50 each for Duane and Ray; Bob Dye – $1 for our club’s sponsorship for KAA camp; Joe Schmall - $1 for Xavier’s state team track championship; Kevin Carlson - $1 didn’t catch what he said but he was happy; Steve Walrath - $1 for his son’s pending high school graduation; Mel Rhodes $1 for Duane; and Dan Breitbach - $1 for a great family photo oppty at Read’s.
Meeting Note: June 13 – Gary Dolphin Speaker: Kevin Carlson introduced Todd Willey, a third generation farmer who operates a pork production company just north of us. Todd is on the speakers’ bureau for Operation Mainstream whose purpose is to help educate the general public about pork production. He did mention a connection to our club – his uncle farms Eldon Hans’ farm.
Todd gave a very informative and interesting talk. He mentioned two major changes that have occurred in the past 28 years that have impacted the pork industry and how they do business. One, the demand for a healthier, leaner meat due to the health concerns in the late 70s and early 80s about fatty meats causing heart disease forced farmers to move pigs into climate controlled confinement buildings to protect them from extremes in weather temps. Two, agriculture in general has followed the corporate model of consolidation so we see fewer farmers producing the same number of pigs or more. Todd stressed that as a third generation farmer, he is committed to being good stewards of the environment. The sophistication in today’s pork production from waste disposal to odor control to factors involved in purchasing sows has come a long way from the days of old.
Thanks Todd for your presentation. Word for the day: ululate: a verb meaning to howl or wail; to lament loudly Submitted: Dan Breitbach | 