Since its inception, The Wallace Centers of Iowa has received generous support from the community in many ways: volunteer efforts, financial contributions, in-kind support, memberships, and artifact donations. We are pleased to feature these generous contributions for 2011-12:

First National Bank contributes $7,500 at year-end
Headquartered in Fontanelle, Iowa, First National Bank made a year-end contribution of $7,500 in November 2011. President Mike Cass authorized the contribution after reviewing WCI's many successes in 2011 and its plans for 2012. The bank has also been a strong supporter of tourism efforts in Adair County and will continue to underwrite the cost of bringing motor coach tours to local tourist attractions, which include the Country Life Center.

Pioneer Hi-Bred Contributes in Three Ways
The Wallace Centers of Iowa received three generous contributions recently from Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. The company donated a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan for WCI to use, especially for the Prairie Harvest Community Supported Agriculture program. A box of fresh produce grown at the farm near Orient is delivered each week for 20 weeks to subscribers in Des Moines, Johnston, Creston, West Des Moines, Winterset, and Greenfield.

A $5,000 grant will be used to support a new program targeting teens and food issues. Real Soil, Real Food, A Real Difference immerses teens in a week-long study of current food issues such as food insecurity, obesity, technology’s impact on food production, and how the environment is affected by food production. The teens develop a year-long food-related project involving their peers that encourages systemic change.

A $2,000 contribution sponsored a new annual farm-to-table dinner at the Wallace House, Celebrating the Harvest, in October 2011. The meal showcased the fruits and vegetables produced on four acres of land at the Henry A. Wallace birthplace farm near Orient.

Willard Olesen of Greenfield is always ready to help where needed: mowing the Country Life Center grounds, painting the birthplace home, cleaning gutters at the Wallace House, and delivering produce for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Willard also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors.

Grant Awards Announced
In November 2011, the Empowering Adair County Foundation awarded WCI $6,400 to support WCI's new Chef/Food Programs Manager with a new office space inside the Gathering Barn at the Country Life Center.

In October 2011, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced investments through the Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) program which supports regional planning activities to improve economic conditions in rural areas. The Wallace Centers of Iowa will receive $50,000 for a two-year project to develop a holistic value-added support program to assist local farmers and growers in developing, processing, and packaging new food products in a 12-county area. The outreach area includes Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, and Warren counties. WCI was one of only four Iowa organizations to receive a grant. The highly competitive program awarded just 39 grants nationwide.

The Fleming Family Foundation
A $30,000 contribution in 2011 for general operating support celebrates The Wallace Centers of Iowa's successful year of operations, deepens the Foundation's long-time commitment, and encourages new initiatives.

Family Foundations commit to WCI
The Wallace Genetic Foundation and the Wallace Global Fund made significant contributions towards program development and organizational operations. Thank you to both of these major donors as WCI expands existing programs and develops new initiatives.

New Signs Point the Way
Thanks to a designated gift from David Wallace Douglas and his wife Deborah, visitors to the Country Life Center can more easily find their way. WCI staff developed and implemented a three-phase plan to direct traffic to the Center, increase visibility of the organization, promote various special events held at that location, and direct travelers to the parking area. To accomplish these goals, staff worked with state and local officials and a local vendor. An approved application to the Iowa Department of Transportation will result in four large state highway directional signs on Iowa highways 25 & 92. Nine directional signs located along county highways P28 and P33 (Henry A. Wallace Road) were placed in late September. Four sturdy “real-estate” type signs will promote the Scary Prairie, Garden Workshop, Gardens of Quilts, and Holiday Boutique special events. A new site identification sign with the signature circle “W” logo and a parking sign were also added.

Donation builds endowment and helps annual operations
A very generous $12,000 gift in December 2011 was divided between general operating support and The Wallace Centers of Iowa endowment fund, which is held at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. "We're very fortunate to have incredible donors who understand the need for both day-to-day support and investment for the future," said Diane Weiland, President & CEO of The Wallace Centers of Iowa.

Implement Dealership Lends a Gator
Barker Implement, with eight locations in southwest and south central Iowa, has loaned a new John Deere gator utility vehicle to The Wallace Centers of Iowa for the second year. The gator will be put to use immediately at the Country Life Center with its four acres of vegetables and ten acres of restored prairie. In addition, Barker Implement continued their financial support with $1,000 for operations. Our thanks to Todd Barker and all of Barker Implement's staff.

Artifact Donation
Marion James of Creston recently donated a historic photo of Henry A. Wallace accompanying President Franklin Roosevelt on whistle-stop campaign in October 1936 that paused in Creston, Iowa.(See the photo on the Henry A. Wallace page.) Marion is chair of WCI's board of directors. He and his wife Nancy are long-time donors and strong program participants of WCI.

Iowa State Savings Bank connects WCI to community
Iowa State Savings Bank of Creston, Iowa is in the third year of a 3-year financial commitment in support of operations. Bank president Karl Knock and marketing director Jan Knock connected WCI staff to local high school teachers who are interested in finding out more about the new Real Soil, Real Food, A Real Difference teen food program. Iowa State Savings Bank sponsored a local teen who participated in the program. Karl and Jan also personally participate in WCI's Community Supported Agriculture program. Our thanks to Karl and Jan for their generosity and support.