RAGBRAI Rolls through Templeton, Practical Farmers of Iowa gives away FREE local produce

On Monday, over 500 riders detoured through the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) tent in front of PFI members Art and Rose Behrens’s “Templeton Veterinary Clinic” in western Iowa. Fifty signed up for more info and will receive the first e-newsletter from PFI in the coming weeks.

Some photos below describe the fun; time spent listening to great folks from around the country that love Iowa – and fresh blueberries it turns out. $118.00 worth of the fruit was consumed in less than two hours. Riders downed two dixie cups at a time, their bodies demanding nutritious food.

“I didn’t know you could grow blueberries in Iowa!” exclaimed riders from as far away as Washington, D.C. Riders enjoyed the blueberries purchased from longtime Practical Farmers of Iowa member farmers Dean, Judy, and Mike Henry, grown at Berry Patch Farm near Nevada, IA.

Grape Tomatoes was the next most popular produce consumed, grown by Julie and Scott Wilbur of Wilbur’s Northside Market.

“You can eat green beans raw?” questioned another rider. Beans cared and harvested near Ames by Nature Road Farm’s Linda and Randy Naeve.

“Mmmmm carrots and summer squash! This is the food we are looking for on the route but all we see is State Fair food – deep fried or grilled on a stick,” exclaimed rider after rider throughout the afternoon. Gary Guthrie (Growing Harmony Farm, Nevada, IA) and Joe Monahan (Heavy Horses Farm, Boone, IA) supplied carrots, fresh, sweet, and crunchy.

Here is to a safe ride for everyone on the route this year, thanks for sharing your energy, and investing your money across the state each summer.

Note: Joe Monahan also sold his tasty cherry tomatoes to the enjoyment of riders.