On Wednesday August 20th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would begin to formally implement legislation that I introduced to lower the cost of crop  insurance for the next generation of Iowa farmers and producers. My bill – the Crop Insurance  for Future Farmers Act – was included in President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” that was 

It’s spinach planting time again. Growing spinach in the fall is ideal. Spinach doesn’t like it hot and the trend is cooler. I even just read that spinach germinates faster at lower temps than at higher summer ones. Weeds are less competitive in the fall.

On July 4th, President Trump signed one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in 

American history into law. Among a wide range of benefits, H.R. 1—commonly known as the 

“One, Big, Beautiful Bill”—shielded Americans from the largest tax hike in history, expanded on 

the successful tax cuts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), funded security at our 

For over a hundred years opiates have been illegal. Lawyers make laws and lawyers make money navigating law so the laws have become more numerous and complex over the years. The year that started the failed War on Drugs was 1914. That’s a long time to run an experiment hoping for better results.

“Your children will become who you are, so be who you want them to be. ” - David Bly

I’ve seen this thing floating around the internet, the idea that you only get 18 summers with your kids. Just 216 summer weekends.

But if you're a parent who shares custody, like my husband and I, that number gets cut in half. About 108 weekends in 18 years.

Farming requires things to be lifted and carried… a lot. To help with that we had a loader on our first tractor, a John Deere 4010 Diesel.
Our old 40’ x 20’ cattle shed had pretty good concrete inside. The luscious black dirt of Iowa makes awfully sticky, deep mud when wet, so concrete is nearly as revered as God.  

I’m sure most people haven’t even thought about this year’s election.  Yes, there is an election on November 4th and our office is busy starting to plan and prep already.  This year is the city-school election in which voters will elect city council members, mayors, and school board members.  This is my plug for you to consider serving your community in one of these capacities.  There is always a need for candidates and until you serve in a ca

On Wednesday July 16th, I had the privilege of being at the White House when President Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. Joined by families who have tragically lost loved ones and children to an overdose, the ceremony was a sobering reminder that too many Americans – especially young people – still lose their lives to the illicit drug trade orchestrated by criminals who have no regard for human life.

I’ve been visiting with people lately about the ICE raids. An Instagram video showed a man at Angel’s Tacos in Los Angeles being led away in handcuffs by typically over-accessorized authorities who were wearing masks.
We have visited this business before when in LA and found focused perfectionists trying to keep up with a long line. It was emblematic of a system built for the benefit of “the common good.”

Wow! It’s been a while since I’ve been here writing, but I’m happy to report that’s because I’ve,been super busy. Things keep chugging along at the County and we keep working away at all

the daily tasks as well as the things that tend to “pop” up. But digress…

On Tuesday July 8th, the Trump administration announced the rollout of the National Farm Security Action Plan. This is a comprehensive, seven-point initiative to defend American farmland from foreign adversaries, secure our agricultural supply chains, and ensure the long-term success of family farms and agriculture in Iowa and nationwide.

Some weeks, writing this column feels a little like shouting into the void. Like, "Hello? Is this thing on?"

I don’t have a newsroom full of writers and creative brains helping me brainstorm weekly content for The Monitor. I don’t even have an office (unless you count the corner of the library I guard with my laptop). There's no creative meeting, no whiteboard filled with weekly vision.

Donald Trump has decided that MAGA donations will be used to “primary” Thomas Massie because he is literate and understands his oath of office. Well whadayaknow, he took an oath to uphold the Constitution. He voted against the Big Beautiful Bill because it contained huge amounts of unconstitutional spending and increased the national debt.

Traveling across Iowa on my 36 County Tour, I hear from so many small business owners and workers who want a government that works for them, not against them. For the last four years, the Biden administration was playing ball with foreign nations, outsourcing American manufacturing, and stifling domestic industry with red tape and burdensome regulations.

Tucker Carlson said Donald Trump has abandoned his “America First” stances. Trump said that he was first to use the term and he, exclusively, can define it. The one who originated “America First” was Woodrow Wilson when he ran for president as the peace candidate in 1912. Wilson then took us to war. Sound familiar?