Sustainable Fish Farming in Iowa

Last Updated: June 7, 2024 by Joe T Leave a Comment

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.

[evp_embed_video url=”https://amesgoldenk.org/wp-content/uploads/Eagle-Catch-tour.mp4″]

Cyclone Country AKTION Club Support, 2020

Last Updated: October 4, 2022 by Joe T Leave a Comment

The Cyclone Country AKTION Club has as its mission to be a community service club for adults living with disabilities.  AKTION clubs are a sponsored learning program within the family of Kiwanis Clubs thru Kiwanis International.  The club allows its members to develop initiative and leadership skills in serving the Ames community while enabling its members to integrate into society.  The Cyclone Country AKTION club is sponsored by the three local Ames Kiwanis Clubs; Ames Golden K Kiwanis Club, Ames Noon Kiwanis Club, and Ames Town and Country Kiwanis Club.  The AKTION Club plans its own community service programs and has been actively involved in food collection drives, Kiwanis Pancake Days, assisting with TEEN MAZE, Miracle League Park, and many other projects.  Current membership is 15 members. Meetings are held twice a month with a program planned by the club members, their officers, and sponsors.  Pictured with Ed Gillott, AKTION Club Coordinator, are Larry Vallery and John Abrams who currently serve as representatives from Ames Golden K Kiwanis Club on the sponsoring advisory committee for the AKTION Club.

Many Donations 2020!

Last Updated: October 4, 2022 by Joe T Leave a Comment

Ames Golden K (AGK) contributed MANY donations in 2020.  Because of the COVID-19 limitations, we did these “by delivery” instead of our normal in-meetings presentations to each agency.  Here are some just some of the year’s donations:

 

Ames Golden K Kiwanis donated $600 to the Central Iowa chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness –NAMI– whose mission is to support people affected by mental illness, educate the public about mental health topics, and advocate for mental health concerns.  Pictured from left: Cheryl Abrams, AGK, Terianne Marsh NAMI Peer Support Assistant, Angela Tharp, Executive Director Central Iowa NAMI, and John Abrams AGK.

 

Ames Golden K recently presented a check for $500 in support of Friendship Ark which offers two programs for adults with disabilities–Housing and Supported Community Living and a Day Habilitation Program. Friendship Ark provides housing and supported living for adults with intellectual disabilities to 30 residents in Ames. There are currently 5 homes in Ames with a 6th home under construction with expected completion in 2020.  Each home houses 6 adults and one staff member.  Pictured from the left, AGK members Keith Folkmann and John Abrams, Jennifer Ellis, Executive Director, Friendship Ark, and AGK’s Cheryl Abrams.

 

Northwood Preschool Center (NPC) received $600 to support their children education endeavors to help buy school supplies. Ames Golden K’s donation will be used to provide books for students. Pictured, from the left: AGK’s John and Cheryl Abrams, NPC Principal Kristin Barber, and AGK’s Tom Baas and Larry Trede.   

 

Child Serve Managers at Ames Golden K Kiwanis

Last Updated: June 7, 2024 by Joe T Leave a Comment

Kate Reynolds, Ames Area Director of ChildServe {pictured left}, Erica Axiotis, Executive Director, the ChildServe Foundation {pictured center} and Dr. Teri Wahlig, Chair of the ChildServe Board of Directors {pictured right} were featured speakers at a recent Ames Golden K weekly Thursday meeting, which continues virtually via ZOOM.  Ms. Reynolds, a 15 year ChildServe veteran expressed her thanks on behalf of ChildServe for Ames Golden K’s $13,200 in donations since 2007.
ChildServe is a 92 year old organization formed in Des Moines/Johnston in 1928, and who opened care centers in Iowa City in 1981 and Ames in 2000.  Their mission is to partner with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life.  15% {100,000} of Iowa children have healthcare needs. ChildServe’s staff of 1,400 serves 4,500 children currently, with a goal of serving 10,000 by their 100th anniversary in 2028. The Story County/Ames location began with 150 children in 2000 and currently serves 600 children.
Dr. Wahlig noted that ChildServe is not a hospital, but is focused on efforts such as Pediatric Rehabilitation Programs, Post Acute Services, Speech Therapy, Behavioral Health, and Complex Medical issues.  Their recently drafted Strategic Plan will concentrate heavily on Program Growth in Child Health, doing better as an Organization, and establishing further partnerships with other organizations–profit and non-profit. All 3 speakers shared details on the challenges presented by COVID-19 and how ChildServe has successfully adapted.
Ms. Reynolds concluded the presentation by sharing a video “Believing in The Spirit of a Child” which illustrates how a parent can be positively affected by Childserve.  She also noted that recent Ames Golden K monetary gifts have been used to purchase IPads and other classroom equipment, and some funds were also used to help finance a recent Playground renovation at the Ames facility.  For more information about Ames Golden K, please see their website www.amesgoldenk.org

Iowa Cattlemen’s Asso. 2020

Last Updated: October 4, 2022 by Joe T Leave a Comment

Matt Deppe, CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) was the guest speaker at a recent Thursday weekly Ames Golden K Kiwanis Meeting which continues to be held virtually.
The ICA is one of three organizations that work together at a single location. The other two organizations are Cattlemen Care and the Iowa Beef Industry Council.   The three organizations mission is to Protect, Promote, and Publicize Iowa’s beef industry. Mr. Deppe described how each organization is structured, funded, and their overall scope.      .
Iowa’s beef industry ranks 4th nationally for cattle “on feed”, and usually ranks in the top 10 nationally for the cow/calf industry. Iowa  is also well known nationally as being the home of the “farmer/feeder” which accentuates Iowa’s beef industry diversity. The economic impact totals $6.3 Billion annually, with $4.09 Billion the result of direct spending. Key beef export markets include Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
ICA comprises 8,500 members with 97 Iowa county affiliates in 20 geographic districts and 4 regions. They work on issues on the “cattle” side of Iowa’s beef industry, which includes advocacy, education, and leadership. They work very closely with USDA, EPA, and Iowa’s DNR on issues and projects common to the industry, including enhancing the Beef Industry’s public image. An ongoing challenge is developing technology to tackle Animal Disease “Traceability” because of the inherent mobility of the cattle industry. There is also a need for better livestock analytics  data to make decisions by acquiring and analyzing data from individual cattle operations.
Mr. Deppe’s presentation was followed by many questions from the 45 Golden K  and 5 Nevada Kiwanis attendees–and a virtual standing ovation at its conclusion.

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