The Iowa Farm Bureau is seeking to crown its 60^th Cookout Contest “Grand Champion” on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

The event, held annually on the Grand Concourse during Farm Bureau Day at the fair, hosts up to 60 backyard chefs vying for the champion title and $4,500 in cash prizes.

The contest is a celebration of Iowa-raised meats and the farmers who provide them with animal care and sustainability as a top priority. Entry categories include pork, beef, turkey, lamb, poultry, and a youth division.

“Iowa agriculture is incredibly diverse,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “The cookout contest sheds light on that diversity and the incredible efforts of Iowa’s family farms in harnessing the latest research, technology and innovation to raise an abundant protein supply with fewer natural resources than ever before.”

Backyard chefs named the overall winner of a county Farm Bureau Cookout Contest receive an automatic bid to the state competition. Those unable to make a qualifying event can sign up online for a chance to compete in the lamb, turkey, poultry, or youth competition.

Each first-place category winner receives $400. The Grand Champion takes home an additional $1,000 prize. The winner of the youth division receives $300, and a gas grill valued at $1,000, courtesy of the Iowa Propane Gas Association.

For rules, county contest locations or specialty category sign-ups, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/CookoutContest.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a potential severe line of storms moving our way late tonight. Currently, damaging winds are the main threats with potential to be 50mph-60mph. Isolated tornadoes are possible as well. It seems that these storms will hit anywhere between 12am and 6am tomorrow morning.

As always, have multiple ways to receive alerts and warnings, and seek shelter if the storms approaches.

The Iowa Department of Education announced a graduation rate of 87.5% for Iowa’s class of 2023. Lower than graduation rates reported in previous years, the 2023 rate was calculated using a newly corrected code after the department identified an error in the legacy calculation code that had been used for at least ten years to determine the state’s four- and five-year graduation rates.

Using the corrected code, the Department of Education reports that Iowa’s four-year high school graduation rate for the graduating class of 2023 is 87.5%, up 0.1% from the corrected rate for the graduating class of 2022.

Iowa’s four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 is consistent with the national standard and its neighboring states. Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota recently reported 2023 graduation rates below Iowa’s, at 83.3%, 87.2% and 84.1%, respectively. Illinois’ reported class of 2023 graduation rate was 87.6%. Among neighboring states, only Missouri and Wisconsin reported class of 2023 graduation rates meaningfully above Iowa’s, at 89.9% and 90.5% respectively.

Corrected four-year graduation rates for the graduating classes of 2021 and 2022 dropped slightly from what were originally reported. The corrected four-year graduation rate for the class of 2022 is 87.4%, down 2.5 percentage points from what was previously announced last year. For the graduating class of 2021, the corrected rate is 87.8%, down 2.4 percentage points from what was announced in 2022.

Iowa’s corrected five-year graduation rate — which reflects students who were part of a graduating class but took an extra year to finish high school — was 89.7% for the Class of 2022, and 90.1% for the Class of 2021. The five-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 will not be available until spring 2025.

Corrected rates for the graduating classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023, including rates by school district and student group, are available on the Department of Education’s Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage.

Make sure to tune in this Friday for a special episode of Generation Gap, where the potential Henry County Supervisors will be asked all sorts of questions. What type of questions will be asked? Well that’s up to you, the listener. Send any questions you’d like asked to news@kilj.com or call 319 385 8728, as Paul and Kadie will be joined by the four men who are on the ballot for the primaries in June.

Dan Cook, Steve Detrick, David Muhs, and incumbent Chad White are running the race to see who will become the next county supervisor. There are two positions on the board available, with longtime member and current board chair, Greg Moeller, officially retiring. Incumbent Chad White will see his term expire and is hoping to retain his position.

Once again, make sure to tune in this Friday to hear directly from the men who want to represent you.

If you are unable to catch this special episode live, it will be posted on our Spotify page directly following.

In honor of Screen Free Week Monday, May 6 to Sunday, May 12, UScellular encourages everyone to take the Phones Down for 5 Challenge, a UScellular “Built for US” initiative meant to inspire people to take a break from technology for five days, five hours or even just five minutes.

Screen Free Week is organized by the nonprofit organization Fairplay. This is an annual event that encourages people to take a break from screen-based entertainment.

Smartphones are an essential part of everyday life that help us do so many things. But in a recent UScellular survey*, nearly 75% of respondents said they spend at least an hour on social media every day with 24% spending three to four hours per day. Nearly a third of respondents said they want to take an intentional break from their phone, which makes Screen Free Week an ideal time for people to spend time away from their screens and reset their relationship with technology.

“We encourage everyone to take a break from their devices during Screen Free Week to connect with what matters most,” said Joshua Olbricht, UScellular’s director of sales and operations for east Iowa. “By taking the Phones Down for 5 Challenge or taking a break in a way that works for you, our hope is that everyone can make the most of their screen-free time and foster a healthier relationship with technology.”

In addition to Phones Down for 5, UScellular has created the following tips to help your Screen Free Week be a success:

Reconnect with Family and Friends. Talk about your favorite memories with your partner. Take a friend you have not seen in a long time out to dinner. Invite your neighbors to a game night with board games. Try making a brand-new recipe or dish for your family. Make experiences that are unique and impossible to duplicate if you were glued to your phone.

Have More Parental Control. UScellular recently partnered with Bark to help parents and families navigate life with their digital devices. With Bark, parents can monitor their child’s social media activity, manage screen time and help prevent digital dangers including cyberbullying, unsafe websites and more with real-time alerts. Upon checkout, use code USCCARES to receive one month free.

Be a Creative Genius. Painting and drawing are activities that not only allow you to express your creativity, but they also provide a sense of accomplishment and relaxation during your unplugging session. If you are feeling crafty, you could also make your own jewelry, furniture or decor for your home.

Unplug with Your Kids. Establish healthier digital boundaries with your children with UScellular and Screen Sanity’s Smarter Start Toolkit. It includes educational and actionable tools, tips and an agreement for both parents and kids, so everyone can use technology in a more thoughtful way.

Get out. Work out. Chill out. Take a break from being on your device by spending time outdoors and getting some fresh air on a walk or bike ride. The Great Outdoors offers plenty of exercise options, as well. Try to go for a run or shoot some hoops. If technology plays a significant role in your self-care regimen, be sure to substitute it for peaceful activities during your screen-free time.