WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE COURSE TO BE OFFERED IN WEST BURLINGTON & MT. PLEASANT

Managing for Today and Tomorrow

Farm women have a key role in successful farm transitions. Planning ensures the farm can continue to the next generation as a productive agricultural business. Managing for Today and Tomorrow offers sessions, taught by Extension specialists and local professionals, that focus on how decisions made during business, estate, retirement and succession planning all combine to form a farm transition plan. This course is taught in the tradition of Annie’s Project and incorporates a comfortable and supportive learning environment. Course participants of all ages and experience levels will be empowered to confidently set goals, nurture effective family or non-family conversations, and define the farm legacy.

The course is being offered jointly by the Des Moines and Henry County Extension Offices. Classes will meet on Thursday evenings- January 27, February 3, February 10, February 17 and February 24, 2022 from 6:00-9:00pm. A meal will be provided prior to each class starting at 5:30pm. The class location will alternate between West Burlington and Mt. Pleasant. The first session will meet in West Burlington on January 27.

“Farm women in our area will greatly benefit from this program,” said Darbee Lewis, Ag & Youth Educator for Henry County Extension and Outreach, “This course empowers women to gain knowledge and become an active voice in both farm and life decisions.”

Online registration is required by January 20. To learn more or to register, visit the website https://www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag/2022/henry.html, contact Charles Brown, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist, at crbrown@iastate.edu or 641-673-5841, or contact the Henry County Extension Office at 319-385-8126.

Herman Clark Hays, 83, of Mount Pleasant, died Friday, December 31, 2021, at Park Place Elder Living in Mount Pleasant.

Clark was born November 20, 1938 in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Francis and Barbara (Westfall) Hays. He was raised on a farm southeast of Mount Pleasant and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1957. Clark was united in marriage to Peggy Sue Riley on February 28, 1960, at Wesley Chapel, in Mount Pleasant. He served in the Army Reserves during the Berlin Wall Crisis. Clark worked in southeast Iowa as a welder and steamfitter through Local 212 and 125 Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. He was a 60-year member of the union and served on the executive board, health and welfare board, and taught welding classes. He was a 60-year member of the Congregational Church where he served on the trustee board. Clark was also a taxidermist for 45 years and was a founding member of the Iowa Taxidermist Association, serving as president for four years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his granddaughters, attending auctions, mushroom hunting, checking deer on trail cameras and was a devoted bow hunter for deer.

Clark is survived by his wife Peggy, daughter Tracy (David) Owens of Ely; two granddaughters, Emily (Jim) Gratner of Indianapolis, IN, Suma Janecek of Cedar Rapids; three great grandsons, Lance, Miles and Nolan Gratner; a sister; four nephews and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and a sister.

A Funeral Service will be held, 1:30 pm, Saturday, January 8, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Pastor Bryan Ketchay will officiate. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 6:00 pm Friday, January 7, 2022, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. The service will be livestreamed at Powell Funeral Homes Facebook page and at our website www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Masks are required for attendance. A memorial fund has been established for Pleasant Hill Cemetery and EveryStep Hospice.