Posted Sept. 20, 2012

 

A Midwest landmark known for its down-home cooking served family style is partnering with a purpose-driven ag awareness initiative launched by the Iowa Soybean Association to bring farming to life for people who enjoy great food and friendly conversation.

 

The combination of real farmers and real food is the idea behind “Talkin’ Farming at the Shed,” sponsored by the Machine Shed Restaurant and Iowa Food & Family Project. It will debut Saturday, Sept. 29, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Shed’s Urbandale location.

 

Lindsay Greiner, a grain and hog farmer from Keota, will be the featured guest throughout dinner. He’ll meet and greet those who enjoy great food but rarely have an opportunity to visit with the people who grow it. Contests and activities, including chances to win a four-pack of tickets to the Iowa State-Oklahoma football game or one of two overnight stays at the Comfort Suites at Living History Farms, will take place throughout the evening, and a special entrée featuring soy will be added to the menu.

 

“There’s a true renaissance of interest in food and we think that’s great,” says Mike Whalen, who founded the Machine Shed Restaurant in 1978. “We’re all about serving some of the best slow-cooked comfort food that would make mom proud and paying tribute to the American farmer.

 

“Our dedication to the Iowa farmer is our five-word constitution, and we want others to share our passion for food and farming,” Whalen adds. “We can’t think of a better way to do that than for folks to meet some of Iowa’s hard-working and dedicated farmers and to have a celebration.”

 

“Talkin’ Farming at the Shed” will be held periodically throughout the year. Each event will showcase a different farmer and commodity.

 

Greiner, wife Shelley and sons Keaton, Kalen and Kolton grow soybeans and corn and raise hogs in southeast Iowa. He’s a member of the Iowa Soybean Association and participates in the ISA’s Farm & Food Ambassador Team. The 15-farmer group seeks opportunities to rub elbows with those who don’t farm to talk about shared areas of interest.

 

“I’m not a writer and I don’t do interviews, but I do like to talk,” says Greiner. “I love to share what I do and to hear people’s perceptions about today’s farmers. At the end of the day, we’re real people always looking to do things better in a way that’s good for our land, our neighbors and communities.”

 

For more information, log on to www.machineshed.com and www.iowafoodandfamily.com.

 

The Iowa Food & Family Project (www.facebook.com/foodnfamilies) is a purpose-driven initiative created by the Iowa Soybean Association and dedicated to inspiring greater awareness, understanding and trust between consumers and farmers through personal engagement and advocacy. It proudly serves as presenting sponsor of the Iowa Games and supporter of Live Healthy Iowa and is backed by more than 30 partners including the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Farm Credit Services of America, Hy-Vee and Iowa Beef Industry Council.