Agritourism Event in Western Iowa Changes Perception of Rural Iowa and Agriculture

Manning, IA – Eating yak meatballs, holding a week-old ostrich, seeing fish jump for scattered food, and exploring a 1600’s authentic German hausbarn were just a few unique highlights of a brand new agritourism event hosted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park. The ‘Evolution of the Heartland’ experience immersed attendees into the heart of America’s rural communities, showcased the evolution of agriculture, and highlighted the advancements in rural Iowa.

“Evolution of the Heartland renewed my spirit, reignited my creativity and confirmed my belief that Iowa’s farmers, entrepreneurs, and community volunteers give us all hope for the future,” shared Darcy Maulsby, a local farmer, author, photographer, and entrepreneur who attended the event.

Participants from the Des Moines area traveled to Manning on a Windstar bus and locals drove themselves to the Hausbarn-Heritage Park for a fun-filled day of immersive, rural Iowa tours. In total, 91 people from three states participated in the unique event sponsored by Travel Iowa, Audubon and Carroll County Farm Bureau organizations, the Iowa Food & Family Project, and Iowa Corn Growers District 4 Committee, among others. Participants were also made up of event staff and volunteers, sponsors, farmer ambassadors, and the Audubon and IKM-Manning FFA officer teams.

“Agriculture is the engine that drives our local rural and urban economies. We, as a grassroots Farm Bureau organization, saw this as a valuable opportunity for farmers to share their stories and educate consumers,” shared Iowa Farm Bureau Regional Manager, Jim Heithoff. “The Evolution of the Heartland event showcased the pride, care, and evolution of family farm operations in Western Iowa. It was interesting to see the ingenuity, creativity, and evolution of several multi-generational family farms as well as how farmers collect and use science-based information to produce more wholesome food with fewer resources.”

Tour options included a Swine Immersion at PigEasy, Templeton Family Farms, and AMVC Management Services; a Niche Farm tour at Aquatic Resource Management, Brinkman Ag Solutions, Irlmeier Ostrich Farm, and Iowa Yak Ranch; and a Main Street ‘Shop ‘Til You Drop’ tour in Manning and Audubon. Each group also toured the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park.

“Farm Bureau was proud to support this event that showcased the amazing things that are happening in our rural communities, businesses, and our local agriculture producers,” said Iowa Farm Bureau Regional Manager, Beth Bornholdt. “It was an amazing opportunity for all attendees to interact with farmers in the Manning and Audubon areas and learn about what is happening on their farms and what their day-to-day life entails.”

Participants of the Swine Immersion tour learned about the development of products to improve the efficiency of the swine breed to wean operation at PigEasy; the unique approach to caesarian-derived, colostrum-deprived pigs with Dr. Rexanne Struve at Struve Labs; grain, swine, and even popcorn production at Templeton Family Farms; the innovative products and services of MSS Ag; and the entire lifecycle of swine production at AMVC Management Services, a local company that has grown from four veterinarians with a local presence to 750 employees nationwide and ninth in U.S. pork production.

The Niche Farm tour participants learned about farm pond management, the importance of ag business diversity, and the life cycles and market possibilities of ostriches and yaks. Participants even had the opportunity to taste ostrich and yak meat.

Small business owners opened their doors to the Main Street ‘Shop ‘Til You Drop’ tour participants and discussed their close ties to the community. Participants had the chance to shop local and have conversations with small business owners about the ways they are helping transform their community and revitalize Main Street in rural Iowa.

Participants also got a taste of rural Iowa at the Farm-to-Table lunch accompanied by conversations with local agricultural ambassadors as well as a Community Tailgate supper provided by the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association and Jan’s Catering.

About 35 local community members joined the Community Tailgate and Iowa Vendor Showcase, in which people were able to browse handmade items and other Iowa-based products. Vendors included Ignite: Be the Light, Shabby Refined, Home Tree Leather, The Sew Silo, Noble & West Co., Smudge, Darveau Designs, Elizabeth Brittain Designs, Taylor Hill Lodge, and Holistic health. After a day of networking and learning, it was evident that people were headed home with a renewed appreciation for rural Iowa.

The Farm Babe
Social media influencer, Michelle Miller, aka ‘The Farm Babe’, who boasts more than 184,000 followers on Facebook, 17,500 followers on Instagram, and a reach of more than 300 million monthly, attended the Evolution of the Heartland event thanks to the support from a Manning Hotel/Motel Tax grant.

“This was an amazing event I attended in Western Iowa to promote agriculture, small businesses, and opportunities in the smaller towns west of I-35,” said Miller.

The Future of Evolution of the Heartland
“We feel that Evolution of the Heartland, and more events like this, will become a catalyst for farm families to share their message, progress in agriculture, strides in the production of wholesome, nutritious food, and the pride that farm families experience when caring for their land and operations,” said Heithoff.

After a successful first-time event, the Evolution of the Heartland committee is eager to set a date and begin planning for the next event in 2023. More details will be shared once a date is set.

“If you eat, you have a connection to agriculture at least three times a day. So, why not immerse yourself in all things rural by experiencing Evolution of the Heartland? If you’re from a city or a small town but don’t know much about the farm-to-fork connection, you’ll discover a whole new world.” said Maulsby. “Even if you have a strong ag background, you’ll be amazed and inspired by all the things you’ll learn. An unforgettable travel experience like Evolution of the Heartland leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller.”

First of its Kind Agritourism Event Cultivated from Western Iowa Roots

Manning, IA-The Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park is excited to host a premiere agritourism event called ‘Evolution of the Heartland’ on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. This experience will showcase the heart of America’s rural communities, the evolution of agriculture,and the advancements in rural Iowa, especially within agriculture.

All are welcome to register for this unique event sponsored by Travel Iowa, Audubon and Carroll County Farm Bureau organizations, the Iowa Food & Family Project, and Iowa Corn Growers District 4 Committee. Participants have the option to travel from the Des Moines and Omaha metro areas on Windstar buses or drive themselves to the Hausbarn-Heritage Park in Manning for a fun-filled day of immersive,rural Iowa tours. Tour options include: General Agriculture, Livestock Management, Beef Immersion, Swine Immersion, Niche Farms, Innovation & Technology, Spirits of the Heartland, Main Street ‘Shop ‘Til You Drop’, and a Historical Church Architectural Tour. For more specific tour details and registration, visit www.germanhausbarn.com/evolution.

Participants will also get a taste of rural Iowa at the Farm-to-Table lunch accompanied by conversations with local agricultural ambassadors as well as the Community Tailgate supper provided by the Carroll and Audubon Cattlemen’s Associations.

Community members are welcome to join the Community Tailgate supper for $15 a plate and browse local produce and goods at the Iowa Vendor Showcase. There will be two locations for the Community Tailgate and Iowa Vendor Showcase, one at the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park and one at the Audubon County Fairgrounds from 6:30-8:30pm.

After a full day of learning and networking, participants will have the option to stay overnight for another immersive tour the following day or head home that same evening. The cost to attend the event is $100 for the day or $250 for an overnight stay and the second day’s immersive tour.

Vendors & Volunteers Needed

Evolution of the Heartland is currently seeking local vendors for the Iowa Vendor Showcase as well as local volunteers for the event. For more vendor showcase information,please reach out to Paige Hepp at mrspaigehepp@gmail.com. Participants and volunteers can register at www.germanhausbarn.com/evolution.

The Farm Babe

Social media influencer, Michelle Miller, aka ‘The Farm Babe’, who boasts more than 184,000 followers on Facebook and 17,500 followers on Instagram will be attending the Evolution of the Heartland event thanks to the support from a Manning Hotel/Motel Tax grant.

“The ability for Michelle to showcase the communities, businesses,and agricultural advancements happening in western Iowa to the world is well worth the cost to bring her to Manning,” said Shelly Greving, event creator and owner of Emerge Marketing Solutions.

Join the Evolution of the Heartland Tour and discover what the future holds for rural Iowa and the agricultural industry. See first-hand how agriculture has evolved from its early roots in Germany in the 1600’sto 1900’s farming and now to advanced technology in many Iowa agricultural businesses and Main Street communities.

About Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park

The Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park was preserved by the Manning Community Foundation. From the 1660’s German Hausbarn and Historic Trinity Church to the Freedom Rock and the Leet/Hassler Farmstead, the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park is full of attractions to take you back in time to the beautiful German heritage and agricultural roots. This unique and memorable venue has eccentric décor in a historical setting. Take a step back in time by visiting this gorgeous landmark and get a glimpse of the German heritage in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Locals Invited to Join Evolution of the Heartland Event on August 31st

Manning, IA-The Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park is excited to host a premiere agritourism event called ‘Evolution of the Heartland’ on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. This experience will showcase the heart of America’s rural communities, the evolution of agriculture,and the advancements in rural Iowa, especially within agriculture.

All are welcome to register for this unique event sponsored by Travel Iowa, Audubon and Carroll County Farm Bureau organizations, the Iowa Food & Family Project, and Iowa Corn Growers District 4 Committee. Participants have the option to travel from the Des Moines area on Windstar buses or drive themselves to the Hausbarn-Heritage Park in Manning for a fun-filled day of immersive,rural Iowa tours.

Tour options include a Swine Immersion at PigEasy, Templeton Family Farms,and AMVC Management Services;a Niche Farm tour at Aquatic Resource Management, Brinkman Ag Solutions, Irlmeier Ostrich Farm, and Iowa Yak Ranch;and a Main Street ‘Shop ‘Til You Drop’ tour in Manning and Audubon. The cost to attend the event is $50 and includes transportation between tours, lunch, a t-shirt and swag bag, supper, and two drink tickets. To register and learn more specific tour details, visit www.germanhausbarn.com/evolution.

Participants will also get a taste of rural Iowa at the Farm-to-Table lunch accompanied by conversations with local agricultural ambassadors as well as a Community Tailgate supper provided by the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association and Jan’s Catering. Local community members who do not wish to join the immersive tours are still welcome to attend the Community Tailgate, purchase supper for $15 a plate,and browse local produce, handmade items, and other Iowa-based products at the Iowa Vendor Showcase at the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park from 6:30-8:30pm.

Join the Evolution of the Heartland Tour and discover what the future holds for rural Iowa and the agricultural industry. See first-hand how agriculture has evolved from its early roots in Germany in the 1600’s to 1900’s farming and now to advanced technology in many Iowa agricultural businesses and Main Street communities.

About Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park

The Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park was preserved by the Manning Community Foundation. From the 1660’s German Hausbarn and Historic Trinity Church to the Freedom Rock and the Leet/Hassler Farmstead, the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park is full of attractions to take you back in time to the beautiful German heritage and agricultural roots. This unique and memorable venue has eccentric décor in a historical setting. Take a step back in time by visiting this gorgeous landmark and get a glimpse of the German heritage in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s