the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. WCI was one of 349 organizations requesting funds. Only 54 projects from across the state were awarded funding in 2019. Other parts of the Prairie Art Exhibit & Festival project included a one-day kick-off festival, new prairie signage, a series of botanical art classes throughout September using the prairie as inspiration, and a post-exhibit display of some of the artwork to be created in the fall and winter. WCI collaborated with Create Creston and the Warren Cultural Center on the project.

For more information, visit www.wallace.org/prairie-art-exhibit or call the Country Life Center at 641.337.5019. a

t h e Wa l l ac e c e n t e r s o f i o WaDes Moines • RuRal oRient

BIG AS A BARN NEWSEnriching Community through Sustainable Food & Civility Initiatives

Volume 13, Issue 3–Ann Taylor, editorBig As A Barn News is published quarterly by The Wallace Centers of Iowa, 756 16th Street,Des Moines, IA 50314POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wallace Centers of Iowa, 756 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and relevant news. Contact Ann Taylor at the above address or 515.243.7063. Submissions may be edited.

Autu

mn

2019

Inside this IssueFinal Know Your Farmer 2 Garden for Good Dollars 5

2 Holiday Boutiques 2 Kitchen Renters 5

Pizza on the Prairie 3 Year-End Giving 6

More Prairie Art Photos 4 New Prairie Signs 7

Nearly 80 prairie art exhibits are on display until October 7 at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. Community members of all ages and skill levels painted a wildflower scene on 2’x 2’ plywood boards. The youngest artist is three years old, and the oldest in her mid 70s. Styles range from abstract to realism, humorous to contemplative. Artists from Des Moines, West Des Moines, Creston, Orient, Altoona, Urbandale, Greenfield and other communities painted a board, following the theme of “wildflowers/flowers” All of the boards were completed by the end of August.

The completed boards are sealed to protect against the weather. Over the Labor Day weekend, a team of staff and volunteers mounted each exhibit in the nine acre restored Iowa prairie. A grass path leads visitors to each exhibit. The shorter route is ¾ of a mile; the longer route is about a mile. The exhibit is available to view each day from dawn to dusk.There is no admission. (More exhibit photos on page 4.)

In addition to the temporary display, five permanent outdoor art sculptures reflecting the life and work of Henry A. Wallace are also placed along the path. Wallace was named “most influential Iowan of the 20th century” by the Des Moines Register in 1999. He was born on the property in 1888.

The exhibit is part of a larger project supported in part with a $10,000 grant from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of

prairie art on display thru Oct. 7

The new Prairie Art Exhibit, a temporary art exhibit of more than 70 works, is placed throughout the Country Life Center’s 9 acre prairie and on display through October 7.

Page 2 Autumn 2019

final Know Your Farmer dinners

It will soon be time to make your holiday gift-giving list! WCI is hosting two Holiday Boutiques to help you find unique, Iowa-made gifts. The Country Life Center boutique is Nov. 14-16, noon-6 pm Thursday & Friday (lunch available till 2 pm), and 9 am - 1 pm Saturday. Proceeds from homemade candy sales will support the Orient-Macksburg Library. The boutique at the Wallace House will be open 1-7 pm Friday, Dec. 6 and 9 am - noon Saturday, Dec. 7. a

apple harvest

It’s time to use those fresh apples for pie, tarts, crisps, breads, cakes—or just plain eating. The harvest is abundant this year, so don’t be shy about going to the Country Life Center to pick your fill. Up to 15 pounds of Liberty or Enterprise varieties are only $8.00. These apples will be as Mother Nature made them and have some imperfections. Why? Because we do not spray. Interested? Give us a call at 641.337.5019 to set up a time to come out and do some picking! a

2 holiday boutiques

Chef Katie Porter is teaming up with Iowa farmer Mary Hillman on Thursday, October 3 for another installment of the occasional “Know Your Farmer” dinner series at the Wallace House. Hillman of Grand Junction, Iowa began her six-acre farm as a means to feed her four daughters. She regularly delivers eggs, poultry and produce to restaurants in the greater Des Moines area such as Centro, The Cheese Shop, and Trostel’s Dish. Hillman will be on hand to share her story before and after dinner.

“Mary is a fantastic person who puts her whole heart into what she’s raising,” commented Chef Katie Porter. “You can taste it in her products. We’re excited to feature Mary in our Know Your Farmer dinner series.”

The 3-course menu includes Delicata Squash Salad with Apples, Greens, Candied Pecans and Balsamic Vinaigrette. The Pan-Roasted Chicken entrée is accompanied by Sautéed Green Beans,

Honeynut Squash and Peppers, Crispy Potato Spinach Cake and Rosemary Jus. Dessert is an Elderberry Ice Cream with Triple Chocolate Cookies. Except for the green beans, squash and elderberries, which comes from Mary’s Farm & Garden, all of the produce on the menu was grown at the Country Life Center.

Doors open at 6 pm, with dinner service beginning at 6:30 pm. The $55/person cost includes gratuity. Diners can bring their own beer or wine with no corkage fee. Seating will be community-style as space is limited to 40 people. Call 515.243.7063 for reservations. The last Know Your Farmer dinner for the season will be Thursday, Nov. 7 with Boyer Family Farms. a

Mary Hillman of Mary’s Farm and Garden will be featured at the next Know Your Farmer dinner at the Wallace House on October 3. Mary operates a six-acre chicken and produce farm near Grand Junction, IA.

Autumn 2019 Page 3

american dreamer dinner theaterWe’ll celebrate Henry A.’s 131st birthday with a dinner theatre performance of “American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace” on Monday, October 7 at his birthplace farm, now the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. The 3-course dinner begins at 6 pm with the performance following at 7 pm. Tickets are $35, which includes gratuity. At this time, there is a wait list for Tom’s performance.

Based on the award-winning book “American Dreamer” by Senator John C. Culver and John Hyde, Tom portrays Henry A. Wallace, the agricultural innovator and founder of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Corn Company, who also became US Secretary of Agriculture and later Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt. a

pizza on the prairie gets supportWCI tested an exciting new event at the Country Life Center during September. “Pizza on the Prairie” features freshly-made brick oven pizza topped with locally-sourced meats and vegetables harvested at the farm. Live music and lawn games increased the family-friendliness. From-scratch desserts, soft drinks and Iowa wines are also available for purchase. Pizza on the farm events are popular in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other parts of Iowa. The event’s launch was part of the Prairie Art Festival on September 7 and continued on Friday nights during the rest of September.

Chef Katie Porter, assisted by former Chef Sarah Mathiews, took charge of developing the pizza combinations, testing different dough recipes, and assembling the brick oven. The two chefs, along with prep assistant Jenna Stalder, overcame the challenge of frequent strong winds to feed each night’s crowd of 25 to 75 people. One couple from Humbolt, IA commented, “This is the best pizza we’ve ever had!”

Lead sponsor MidAmerican Energy provided $5,000 in kick-off funding for the new effort and Farmers Electric Cooperative added an additional $2,500. State Travel Iowa staff attended a “Friends & Family” event in August and posted photos and event details to state-wide social media.

Tentative plans are to expand the event in 2020, potentially starting in June and continuing into the fall. This new initiative is an effort to attract more people, especially families, to the Country Life Center. a

Pizza on the Prairie is a new initative designed to attract multi-generations to the Country Life Center with brick oven pizza made with the veggies grown and harvested on site. Mid American Energy and Farmers Electric Cooperative provided initial funding.

Tom Milligan performed his one-man play, “American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace” in April at the Wallace House. Milligan will perform again for Henry A. Wallace’s 131st birthday on Monday, October 7 at his birthplace, the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. The dinner theater includes a 3-course meal.

Page 4 Autumn 2019

garden volunteers tea, anyone?

Like to garden? Volunteers are always welcome in the garden at the Country Life Center. The work is focused on the Garden for Good donation garden and the flower beds around the grounds, but there might be other tasks as well. We’ll provide sunscreen, water & tea. Bring your favorite gloves & bottled water if you prefer. Call ahead to let us know you’re coming (especially if you’re part of a group) or just show up. Staff will especially need help harvesting sweet potatoes on October 16 to benefit the Food Bank of Iowa. Contact Lisa to get on the volunteer garden email list: 641.337.5019. a

One of the first female journalists in Iowa, Nancy Cantwell Wallace edited the Hearts & Homes women’s column at her home in Sherman Hill from 1892 to 1909. WCI’s 90 minute Hearts and Homes Historic Tea program includes readings from Nancy’s column that lead to great table discussions. A 3-course locally-sourced lunch is included. Fall dates include October 18 (wait list), November 15 and December 18.

Got a big group? You can also book a private tea for at least 20 people. Reservations: 515.243.7063. a

prairie art exhibits samples at CLC

Autumn 2019 Page 5

grant support for garden for good

shared use kitchen impacts food festivalRootz Afro Caribbean Chicken and Lumpia, two of the food businesses that rent space at the Mickle Center’s Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen, recently participated in the Des Moines World Food and Music Festival. This is Des Moines’ premiere, international culinary event with more than 90,000 people attending the three day event.

This is Rootz’s second year participating. They featured their signature Jerk Chicken and West African Peanut Butter Chicken with a side of Jollof rice. According to co-owner Amara Sama, “What makes our food unique is the mixtures of herbs and spices that is utilized to make mouthwatering dishes. Our food fuses two great cultures (Jamaica/Liberia) that are known for cooking and producing flavorful food. We aim to be as authentic as possible in every dish, which often requires ordering some ingredients from Jamaica, and shopping around locally to find the freshest produce. The process of cooking each of our food items has many steps to it but in the end, the results are what makes us unique.”

Lumpia is a Filipino food company making its debut at this year’s festival. Besides their signature lumpias (Filipino pork spring rolls), they offered Pork Belly Tocino and Beef Pares. Owner Earvin Idio said, “What makes our food unique is the love, passion and care that we put in to cook and share our amazing flavors of the Philippines. We want Iowans to experience the beautiful, diverse and outstanding food that Philippine offers. We’re looking forward to an amazing weekend, sharing our food with all Iowans and meeting other vendors that inspired us to be a part of this event.” a

Lumpia preps pork spring rolls in the Mickle Center.

The Wallace Centers of Iowa recetnly received $7,000 in grant funding for its new Garden for Good initiative. The Callum Foundation provided $5,000 and Farm Credit Services of America’s (FCSAmerica) Working Here Fund for Hunger and Nutrition gave $2,000. WCI was one of 73 organizations to receive a Working Here Fund grant in the second quarter of 2019.

One acre of the Country Life Center’s production garden is being used to grow 10,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, which will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa and distributed to food insecure families throughout 55 Iowa counties.

“Supporting projects that positively impact the communities in which we live and work is one way we can give back to the people we serve and the rural life we value so highly,” said Cheryl Mannetter, vice president of retail operations at FCSAmerica’s Perry, IA office.

Deb Houghtaling, WCI President & CEO, noted that sweet potatoes were chosen for the new partnership because “they grow especially well in the conditions at the Country Life Center and they store well, reducing the risk of spoilage. They’re also really easy to prepare, which is important for those with limited cooking skills, equipment or time.” Sweet potatoes are commonly consumed by many different cultures and are highly nutritious.

Volunteers will be needed on October 16 and after to harvest the crop. Potential volunteers should contact Lisa Swanson at 641.337.5019 for details. Groups are welcome and high school silver cord hours available. a

Do you have causes that you care about? Have you thought about how to continue that support even after your lifetime? A charitable bequest can provide on-going support to non-profits and offer these benefits to you:• Simplicity: Just a few sentences are all that is needed. If you choose to support WCI, your estate planning attorney can find the official bequest language on our web site (www.wallace.org/support/donate/). • Flexibility: Because you are not making an immediate gift, you can change your mind at any time.• Versatility: You can structure the bequest to leave a specific item or amount of money, make the gift contingent upon a certain event, or leave a percentage of your estate.• Tax Relief: If your estate is subject to estate tax, your gift is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift’s full value.

WCI accepts both unrestricted gifts and gifts for specific

As 2019 ends, you might be looking to maximize next year’s tax deductions with a year-end gift. Of course WCI accepts gifts at any time of the year, but year-end gifts are particularly welcome as we analyze past fundraising goals and develop next year’s budget. A year-end gift can sustain WCI during the first few months of a new year when seasonal programs take a break. Operations still continue during the winter, and funds are needed for salaries and benefits, utilities, and insurance. Almost 51% of our donated funds comes from individuals

Autumn 2019 Page 6

programs and purposes. Gifts can be used for annual operations all at once or placed into one of two endowment funds at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines: 1) The Wallace Centers of Iowa Endowment Fund and 2) The Wallace Centers of Iowa Endow Iowa Fund, which is eligible for a 25% Iowa tax credit. Both funds distribute a percentage for annual operations which include community-building educational programs, facility improvements, and staff support.

A planned gift is a thoughtful and easy way to continue the generosity that you’ve demonstrated throughout your life. If you’d like to talk more about planned giving, please contact Ann Taylor, VP Marketing and Resource Development at 515.243.7063 or anntaylor@wallace.org.

All inquiries are confidential and without any obligation. You should also consult your trusted professionals for legal, financial, insurance, or estate planning advice. WCI staff are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. a

give now, get a tax deduction later

planning your legacy

just like you who want to help provide the programs and services WCI offers the community.

Join our family of supportive donors with a contribution of any size. Simply fill out the form below and send it with your check. Or you can contact either location and make a contribution by credit or debit card. All members receive invitations to programs and events, regular newsletters and acknowledgement in the annual report. You can also choose to remain anonymous. Thank you! a

Type oF GiFT: (circle one)• Annual Gift Levels: Grower ($50) Believer ($100) Thinker ($250) Innovator ($500) Dreamer ($1,000+)

• endowment Funds: Contact me with more information about endowment giving. (no obligation)

The Wallace Centers of Iowa | 756 16th St., Des Moines, IA 50314

Name: _________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________

City, State: ______________________________________

Zip: ____________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________Please help us reduce mailing costs by providing your email address. WCI does not rent or sell its mailing list.

Count me in! Here’s my 2019 contribution

Credit/debit card donations are also accepted via our web site: www.wallace.org/give/donate or by phone: 515.243.7063

storage at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center within six hours on October 10. Eight college students from Iowa State University gave up their Saturday to volunteer at the farm through Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. Farm Manager Mosa Shayan very much appreciated the help and stated, “It was a big morale booster for the garden staff to

have

Autumn 2019 Page 7Board of DirectorsChristine Halbrook, ChairBradshaw Law Firm

Jeff Wallace, Vice ChairSouth Coast Literacy Council

Williard Olesen, SecretaryOlesen Law Firm, PLC

Brian Zachary, TreasurerPreservationist & Owner, Create Creston

Jane Hatfield Anchusteguiretired middle school teacher

Deb CopelandCopeland Creative Talent, teacher

Nicholas DevereuxU.S. Senate

Jay HoweOlesen Law Firm, PLC (retired)

Marion JamesJames Law Office

Barb KalbachMadison County Hospital (retired)

StaffDebra Houghtaling, CEO debrahoughtaling@wallace.org

Deborah Boyer, Events Coordinatordeborahboyer@wallace.org

Mary Kapler Shared Use Kitchen Managermcsharedusekitchen@gmail.com

Adam MainMachinery Maintenance, Garden Assist.adammain@wallace.org

Karey MeysenburgBookkeeperkareymeysenburg@wallace.org

Katie PorterChef/Food Programs Mgrkatieporter@wallace.org

Mosa Shayan Farm Programs Managermosashayan@wallace.org

Lisa SwansonProgram Assistant/Gift Shop Mgr.lisaswanson@wallace.org

Ann TaylorVP Marketing & Developmentanntaylor@wallace.org

THE WALLACE CENTERS OF IOWA: www.wallace.orgWallace House : 756 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314 • Ph. 515.243.7063

Country Life Center: 2773 290th Street, Orient, IA 50858 • Ph. 641.337.5019

As part of the new Prairie Art Exhibit and Festival, WCI installed and updated more information about prairies for the public visiting the Country Life Center. A new prairie public information sign (above) is now located just at the edge of the 9-acre restored prairie. It introduces Henry A. Wallace to the reader and explains about his connection to prairies and the important role prairie plays in the ecosystem. The new signage is supported in part by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

prairie sign unveiled

One of the five permanent outdoor exhibits was also updated at the same time with new signage (below). The minimalist fence posts of “Iowa Prairie” reflect the scarcity of what was once abundant grasslands in Iowa. Signs with photos of prairie plants link the exhibit to Iowa topsoil information, Uncle Henry Wallace’s ownership of the property, and the exhibit’s construction in memory of former board member Kyle Swanson. Private donations supported this effort.

The Wallace Centers of iowa756 Sixteenth StreetDes Moines, iA 50314515-243-7063info@wallace.org

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2019 Calendar of eventsFarm to Table Thursdays, 5:30 to 8 pm, Wallace HousePrairie Art Exhibit, Sept. 7 to Oct. 7, CLC, no charge

Sept. 28, 29 Sherman Hill tour of homes, WH, 10 am - 4 pm dailySept. 27 Pizza on the Prairie, 4:30 - 8 pm, CLC

Oct. 3 Know Your Farmer dinner, WH, 6:30 pm, $55Oct. 7 American Dreamer dinner theater, 6 - 8:30 pm, CLC, $35/person, wait listOct. 7 One Pot Meals Cooking Class, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, WH, $45/person, wait listOct. 18 Hearts and Homes Historic Tea, 11:30 am - 1 pm, WH, $25/person, wait list

Nov. 7 Know Your Farmer dinner, WH, 6:30 pm, $55Nov. 14-16 Holiday Boutique, CLC, noon-6 pm Th. & Fri., 9 am-1 pm Sat. Lunch Th. & Fri.Nov. 15 Hearts and Homes Historic Tea, 11:30 am - 1 pm, WH, $25/person Nov. 18 Holiday Cooking Class, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, WH, $45/person, wait listNov. 25 Holiday Cooking Class, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, WH, $45/person, wait list

Dec. 6-7 Holiday Boutique, WH, 1 pm - 7 pm Friday, 9 am - noon Saturday

Country Life Center | 2773 290th St., Orient | 641-337-5019 • Wallace House | 756 16th St., Des Moines | 515-243-7063