Tom's Iowa Journal

Tom's Iowa Journal

Floyd Boulevard Food Market

Senator Harkin visited Floyd Boulevard Food Market in Sioux City to talk to community leaders and residents about Sioux City's wellness initiatives. In 2005, the Siouxland District Health Department received a $187,500 Harkin Wellness Grant to help them create the Floyd Boulevard Food Market and several other wellness initiatives. In 2005, 28 Iowa communities received nearly $3 million in Harkin wellness grants to develop creative approaches to promote prevention and wellness.

In the midst on some much needed rain on Tuesday, I made my way to the Floyd Boulevard Food Market to see how the Siouxland District Health Department's Harkin Wellness Grant was being put to use.

When I arrived, I was treated to a warm reception inside a great old firehouse, which houses the farmers market. I was glad to get the chance to talk with so many of the officials and administrators who worked to make the Floyd Boulevard Food Market a reality. This food market is truly a great addition to the area. It's exciting to see how people in Sioux City, and all over Iowa, are creating programs that will help Iowans live longer, healthier, lives.

During my visit, I met Jordon Hobbs, Lily Resendez and Mikayla Steeg, three young artists who work was selected to promote healthier eating for kids through the state. I also heard great reviews from some of the kids who are participating in Kids A Cookin', another Sioux City Harkin Wellness Grant initiative. This program helps kids develop healthy eating habits by teaching them how to make great tasting healthy food.

I'm sure it will come as no surprise that we were treated to a great buffet breakfast during our visit. Our meal featured two types of quiches, fresh fruit, banana bread and carrot cake. It was delicious!

Sioux Center, IA

Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative

Senator Harkin joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns at the Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperation to announce the recipients of USDA's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency grants. The funds were awarded to farmers and small town businesses to help them invest in energy saving technology and renewable energy systems such as wind turbines, ethanol biodiesel production, anaerobic digesters, wood burners, and energy efficient grain dryers. Harkin established this grant program in the 2002 farm bill when he was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

I visited the Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to hear firsthand about the progress the industry has made and how we can move forward. A great crowd of more than 150 people gathered together in field adjacent to the ethanol plant. Huddled beneath a small white tent to escape the chilly summer rain, guests heard Bernie Punt, the General Manager of the cooperative, say that with continued progress, "ethanol has the potential to be much more efficient than gasoline." He even had a nifty chart to illustrate his point.

The biofuels industry has come a long way recently. Production of renewable fuels is quickly expanding. And I'm working here in Congress to make sure that we maintain this momentum. I recently proposed a plan that would ensure roughly 30 percent of our fuel comes from ethanol and biodiesel by the year 2030. While this is an ambitious goal, it is one we can meet.

George, IA
George Recreation Trail

Senator Harkin met with city leaders in George to walk down part of the town's new recreation trails and talk about the city's wellness initiatives. In 2005, George received a $63,750 Harkin Wellness Grant to create a 3.1 mile long trail. Approximately one-third of the trail is complete. In 2005, 28 Iowa communities received nearly $3 million in Harkin wellness grants to develop creative approaches to promote prevention and wellness.

After stopping at City Hall to talk with some of the residents who worked to develop George's new walking trail, I hopped in the "Gator" and took a ride to the start of the trail. I think it's great that the whole town helped get this project off the ground. "This type of fellowship has never happened in the town of George before," George Mayor John Stegeman said to me.

After taking a short walk along the trail, I stopped by the town's assisted living home, which also has access to the new trail. Bernie Weier, the George City Clerk, told me that many of the nursing homes residents are taken for walks along the trail. "The residents absolutely love to spend time out there," she said.

Tour of Osceola Community Hospital

Senator Harkin met with administrators and students at Osceola Community Hospital to discuss the new Master of Arts in Physical Education program. Throughout his time in Congress, Harkin has worked to promote wellness initiatives that can help Americans live longer, healthier lives and lower spiraling healthcare costs. In 2005 he sponsored the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act, which seeks to combat obesity and other preventable chronic conditions by providing communities and organizations with the tools and incentives they need to make America a healthier place.

Our final stop of the day was a great one. Continuing on our wellness theme, I toured the beautiful new cardio facility at Osceola Community Hospital and met with the nine students enrolled in the new Master's in Physical Education. I was very impressed with the hospital's forward-thinking approach to helping our kids live healthier lives. I think Hospital Administrator Janet Dykstra was right when she told me "We are ahead of the curve here at Osceola."

By training people how to help our kids be more physically active, the new Master's in Physical Education program does exactly what we need the entire country to do. It focuses on helping our citizens adopt healthier lifestyles that can help prevent illnesses before they start. I often say that in America, we don't have a health care system, we have a sick care system. Far too often preventable diseases go untreated until they develop into serious illnesses. We've simply got to turn that around. I was proud to see today that many communities across Iowa are leading the way.

http://harkin.senate.gov/index.cfm