Renewable Energy Group

Christopher Anderson {pictured}, Senior Analytics Analyst for Ames based Renewable Energy Group {REG}  recently spoke at the Thursday weekly Ames Golden K meeting, which continues to be held via ZOOM. 

REG, formerly known as West Central Cooperative, has been in business for 20 years. Ames has been its headquarters since 2007, where 300 are currently employed.  They have an international presence in Germany and the Netherlands where 850 employees support two bio refineries 

Reg’s main energy initiative is to become a major provider of renewable fuels produced domestically, reducing reliance on the Mid East for fuel.  Fuels produced and distributed at 45 nationwide terminals and 13 bio refineries, encompassing 49 states, include biodiesel, renewable diesel, and a startup Jet biodiesel operation located in Louisiana.  REG’s operations produce 25% of the total yearly USA supply of 2.4 Billion gallons. Biodiesel is environmentally friendly, as it reduces carbon by 85%.

In response to one of many questions from Golden K members, Mr. Anderson noted that government regulations can sometimes hinder progress in the renewable fuels industry.  Anderson also stated that REG and its employees are heavily involved in many Ames area philanthropies.

The Bridge Home

Jodi Stumbo, Executive Director of The Bridge Home {formerly Emergency Residence Project} was the guest speaker at a recent weekly Thursday meeting of the Ames Golden K Kiwanis via ZOOM.
 
The Bridge Home {TBH} serves the Two Rivers Area which includes 5 counties, Story, Boone, Greene, Hardin, and Marshall.  They are MORE than just an emergency residence service.  Ms. Stumbo reviewed the “Continuum of Care” outline {pictured}, which clearly depicts the varied services offered by TBH. A “point in time” census to identify homeless individuals is taken in January and July in all 5 counties.  There are currently 500+ homeless people in Ames/Story County on any given day and a total of 700+ in the entire 5 county area. The Story County homeless count is higher due to a higher cost of living for individuals when compared to the other counties.  TBH works closely with Iowa State University to carry out the Story County homeless census.
 
There is a misconception that the homeless are overwhelmingly male, however 40% of the homeless population served by TBH is female and 20% children.  Funding for TBH includes–45% donations, 27% owned assets, 21% Government, and 5% Grants.  COVID has caused a funding challenge due to the need to shelter the homeless in local hotels/motels rather than in the normal group home setting. The TBH budget is close to exhausted, but additional state and federal dollars will hopefully be available soon.
 
All present readily noticed that Ms. Stumbo is very passionate about seeking positive outcomes for the homeless. She is a model for TBH’s slogan “helping you navigate through life’s hardships”.

Sample Meeting Video

Are you curious about one of our meetings?  Below is a full meeting recorded November 5, 2020, when Dr. Stephanie Clark of ISU gave an outstanding presentation about the 100+ year history of the ISU Dairy and ISU Creamery, and what’s happening there today.

Note:  The first four minutes of the meeting is missing from the video unfortunately.  During that brief span, we welcomed everyone, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and prayed.  If we had been face-to-face rather than on Zoom, we would have sung the Star Spangled banner also.

All About Bugs

ISU Professor of Entomology, Donald Lewis presented a program titled “All About Bugs” at the Thursday weekly Ames Golden K Kiwanis meeting, which continues to be held remotely via ZOOM on October 1, 2020.
Professor Lewis  described in detail, and often humorously, several types and species of bugs common and not so common in Iowa.  He included the several species of Milkweed bugs, Japanese Beetles, Grubs, Termites, Silverfish, Lightning Bugs/Firefly’s, Stink bugs, and Box Elder bugs.
Professor Lewis cited the decline of the very beneficial Milkweed bugs due to loss of breeding habitat caused by intensified farming and pesticides–as there has been an 81% loss of agricultural Milkweed in the U.S. over the past 20 years.
He also described the very destructive effects of the Japanese Beetle, who arrived in the Eastern USA in 1916 and have moved into Iowa during the past decade, feeding on everything in their path, especially Linden trees. Spraying is only partially effective so it may be best to tolerate the damage. Lewis also noted that Termites do exist in Story County but are not as numerous as in other Iowa locations.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Lewis replied to many questions from Golden K members in his always entertaining manner.

Sustainable Fish Farming in Iowa

Paul Skartvedt of Eagle’s Catch Fish Hatchery located in Ellsworth, IA, was the featured speaker at a recent Thursday weekly meeting of Ames Golden K, which continue to be held virtually.  Mr. Skartvedt formerly owned Buckeye Fish, Radcliffe, IA, which was divested in favor of building a larger, better, and different facility in Ellsworth.  Eagle’s Catch is family owned and includes 58 investors, 90% of whom are involved in agriculture.  Their main product is Tilapia. Their mission is to provide American families with the safe, fresh, and sustainable seafood they need by engaging rural communities as providers.

Skartvedt explained that Eagle’s Catch is one of the largest on-land fish farms in the world, with Tilapia being the 4th largest U.S. seafood product by volume. He also noted that marketable “wild caught” seafood is unsustainable as most oceans are becoming overfished. Skartvedt stated Eagle’s Catch goals for the future include selling their product to live fish wholesalers located in large U.S. metro areas, building a new model of fish production that is forward looking, becoming more environmentally sustainable and advanced technologically.  Mr. Skartvedt concluded his presentation by inviting Golden K members to a virtual and/or in person tour of the Eagle’s Catch facility in the Ellsworth Industrial Park.

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