Agriculture is in North Iowa woman’s blood

MASON CITY | Farming has changed a lot since Linda Anderegg's days of growing up on a dairy farm north of Mason City. However, one thing has remained the same her passion about agriculture.

"It's where I grew up, and I really liked growing up on a farm," said the co-coordinator of North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom. "I wouldn't trade that for anything."

"I guess you could say it's kind of in your blood," she added.

North Central Iowa Ag in Classroom was formed in 1998 when Farm Bureau boards in Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Winnebago and Worth counties decided ag education was important to them.

Having been with Cerro Gordo County Farm Bureau since 1988, Anderegg, and Brenda Adams in Hancock County, were asked to lead the program.

Classroom visits were sporadic in the beginning and often wherever they knew teachers, but eventually word spread about the program.

"One school would hear about something or see it in the newspaper and then ask how they got us to visit," Anderegg said.

Now four co-coordinators visit more than 27 schools in north central Iowa teaching hands-on lessons about various aspects of agriculture including livestock, corn, soybeans, embryology and ethanol. Each spring area schools pick their Ag Week for the next school year.

The program officially became a non-profit organization in 2004, and Kossuth County Farm Bureau became a member in 2008.

It's a very rewarding job," Anderegg said. "It's fun to go out in the community and a little kid will look at you and give a little smile like they know you."

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Agriculture is in North Iowa woman's blood