Native Iowan returns to the family farm near Clarion

CLARION, Iowa - Iowa Corn Promotion Board chairwoman Deb Keller and her family were hard at work on a recent afternoon remodeling a farm house that will be home to daughter Emily and her husband when they marry in June.

After unloading dry wall, Keller and Emily sit down for an interview in the partially gutted kitchen. Pounding and prying sounds are heard as Keller's husband, Gary, their son, Andrew, and a family friend tear out a window.

Emily has returned home to farm. Her fiance, Matt Cook, will join her when they marry.

"You have no idea how thrilled we are," said Keller.

Emily, who graduated with an apparel merchandising degree from Iowa State University, said she never thought she'd return to her hometown.

Andrew, a Drake University senior, plans to attend law school in the fall.

Emily interned at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and then worked at a golf resort in Atlanta.

"I was living in this hub of people, and it was a completely different lifestyle," Emily said. "It wasn't for me. Sometimes the more time you spend away from home, the more you realize how great it is."

"Iowa got to you," Keller said with a grin.

While in Colorado Springs, Emily met Cook, who majored in golf and was working at the Broadmoor golf course. He told her he thought of himself as a farmer. That amused her since he was from Tampa, Fla., although his grandparents had a farm in Kansas.

"He felt a connection to the farm," Emily said. "The learning curve is going to be huge for Matt because he doesn't really know anything about farming. We'll see how it goes."

Emily helped combine this fall by filling in when Deb had Iowa Corn Promotion Board meetings or needed a break. A fall storm knocked down much of their corn resulting in a frustrating harvest.

"It took a lot more time, but it still yielded more than 200 bushels per acre," Keller said.

With Matt and Emily returning home, Keller said they will be able to change their operation from a two-thirds corn, one-third soybean rotation to a three-quarters corn, one-fourth soybean rotation.

"With our cold soils, we don't grow good soybeans," Keller said. "This is corn country. We'll be able to run two combines at harvest, and Matt will help drive trucks. It will be much more profitable to grow more corn."

Keller and Emily will work the ground in spring, run rock crews and work on upkeep.

"We'll bring Matt along," Keller said. "Emily knows far more about farming at this point, but he'll learn."

There are plans for a couple of big gardens.

"Being able to grow our own food and also feed the world is such a rewarding thing," Keller said.

Emily and Matt have joined the Wright County Corn and Soybean Growers and are looking at ways to attract more young members.

Earlier this month, the Keller family attended their precinct caucus and introduced several agricultural resolutions.

"We brought our children up to be politically aware," Keller said.

"At our house if you don't vote, you can't complain," Emily said.