Rusty and I finally got away for a weekend for the first time without kids. Yep, can you believe after 6 years we finally took a long weekend to spend time together. We were invited out to the Iowa Speedway on behalf of Iowa Corn. Neither of us had ever been to a race so we jumped at the chance to go. You will remember my posts from last year when we toured the farms of Iowa to learn more about corn! Being invited to the 
Iowa Cornucopia was a wonderful experience for me and I learned a ton. I met a ton of wonderful bloggers and farmers on this trip to Iowa! One of the best parts of going back to Iowa was getting to meet up with the friends I met on the first trip.
Miss Mommy Goggles herself!!!
We started our first day back with a dinner to reunite everyone with new friends and even met some new ones. The drinks were awesome too!!
Every was so friendly and dinner was really good also!
The next morning we headed off to the famers’ market despite the rainy weather! Even in the rain I found a ton of great things that I bought to bring home. One of which I was really excited about was the homemade chocolate peanut butter that got taken by security at the airport! PHOOEY!
The vegetables and fruit stands were gorgeous and full of stock.
After our shopping trip we headed off to the Iowa Speedway to enjoy the race with friends!
We checked in at the Media office and then toured the Speedway for a couple of hours.
Looking at all of the cars, talking to drivers and investigating everything was blast! This time hubby got to ride in the pace car before the race started! How awesome!!
Rusty and I at dinner!!!
LAURIE, TANYA AND I!!
The race was awesome we got to see all of the drivers before they started the race. We were right down on the track while they were all announced to the crowd! My favorite part was seeing all of the wonderful farmers up in the Iowa Corn Hospitality tents!!
It was a wonderful trip!!
Things I learned that you should know!!
How great the Farmers’ Market is..support your farmers!
Learn more about Ethanol
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See below! Credits: Chuck Zimmerman AgWired!!
Food Bloggers Get Out On The Farm
Would you be surprised to know that many food bloggers aren’t real familiar with where the food they write about comes from? Probably not. Most people today do not understand how food is produced and have no real connection to the farm regardless of what kind of food or farm you’re talking about.
The Iowa Corn Growers have done something about this. Last week they hosted a group of “guest bloggers” to Iowa and I met them during Iowa Corn Indy 250 weekend activities. Pictured in the center is food blogger, Allison Loesch along with her husband on the right and Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher.
I know that many of you want to know how to reach out to and engage consumers more. How about reaching out to those very involved in social media on the consumer side? In this week’s program you will hear Mindy Willamson, Iowa Corn Growers, talk about the group they hosted and from Allison. I think you’ll find what they have to say interesting.
Listen in and learn more about food blogging: 
Guest Blogging with Iowa Corn Growers
If you’d like to get to know this group of guest bloggers here is how you can find and follow them. Their names are links to their blogs:
- Laurie Johckheer
- Shanda Bauman
- Allison Loesch
- Lisa Grant
- Susan Whetzel
- Tanya Gordon
- Vanessa Druckman
Hopefully they will join #FoodChat which is the Twitter conversation that takes place the third Tuesday of each month from 8-10pm, ET. All other Tuesday’s it is AgChat!
This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Food” by Deirdre Flint.
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.
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