Convention '09 slated for Coralville, Iowa Jan 12-15

    As fall approaches, much of your attention is aimed at harvest, along with the business of marketing your production. But once you're out of the fields, we urge you take time to make plans to attend National Farmers Convention '09, Jan 12-15.
     The rapidly approaching convention will be held in the agricultural heartland, Coralville, Iowa-just east of the Quad Cities and Iowa City.
     The Iowa City-Coralville area population boasts more than 70,000, and is a vibrant academic community, cultural center, and the state's healthcare capital. But, what may be the most important for you-is it offers quite a bit to see and do that could make your annual farm business meeting into a mini-vacation getaway.

Time to Relax
     When it's time to take a break from Convention '09 ag business, you will have a slate of things to see and do in the Iowa City area.
     Just across the street from Convention '09 headquarters Marriot Hotel is the Antique Car Museum of Iowa. It is committed to the preservation of antique automobiles and their history.
     The museum opened in the fall of 2006, and showcases 70+ automobiles as well as a replica Skelly gas station, and a model train exhibit operated by the Hawkeye Model Railroad Club.
     The Amana Colonies, just 20 miles east from convention central in Coralville, offer the best of the German heritage of colonial America. An entire colony of local artists produce craftwork and contemporary-designed items. Whether it's Amana wool and cotton blankets, old world lace, antiques, arts and crafts or furniture and clocks, you won't be disappointed.
     The Amanas are divided into seven separate colonies. On the web, visit: www.amanacolonies.org/shopping.htm.
     And everyone's favorite subject...eating is taken care of no matter what your favorite cuisine. Amana's oldest restaurant is the Colony Inn, opened in 1935, in the former Amana Hotel by Jacob Roemig.
     Today his son, Dennis and his wife, Kathleen, own the restaurant and cook too, dishing up all the tried and true Colony Inn favorites, plus new menu items - fast becoming the new Colony Inn tradition.
     The Ox Yoke Inn is so much a part of the Colonies that just walking in the door you feel like you belong. Today, Bill Leichsenring, Jr. and his family own and manage the Ox Yoke Inn and the Ox Yoke Innterstate, where they take great pride in maintaining their heritage serving a complete menu of handcrafted foods.
     And you won't want to miss the amazing Amana bakery and smokehouse, where time-tested recipes have been passed down to generations.
     Wine-making and brewing are as deeply rooted in the Amana Colonies as the vine stock the Colonists brought with them to Iowa when they came here in 1855.
     Planting vineyards, hops and barley, the German settlers transplanted their heritage and opened wineries in each of the seven villages.

For more Convention information click here:
National Farmers Convention '09 Information

And, National Farmers convention attendees can stay for The American Corn Growers Association's (ACGA) 22nd annual convention in Coralville, Iowa on Friday Jan. 16. It's the Food, Conservation, Energy and Trade conference scheduled at the Marriott Convention Center. Jim Hightower, author and populist will deliver his seriously funny message calling farmers, consumers and just-plain-folks to get involved and make a difference in their own lives and communities.