Kind of a different cover pic today, but I chose it to emphasize how we are constantly trying to do things BETTER than we did the last time. This year for the first time, we are using scales in the harvest collection effort. In the past, a 50-kg bag of maize was typically a bag of a certain size filled to a certain level with maize. This year, the majority of the bags we are purchasing and storing will actually contain exactly 50 kg of maize. We have our friends at Zambia Iowa Ag to thank for this development, as those scales were used in both the seed gathering and the yield calculation processes of those training thousands of farmers in better growing practices during this growing season.
The news from Zambia includes words like "done giving funds" in one area, "finished already" in another area, and from yesterday in Livingstone "shelling tomorrow and Monday will start the purchase." After spending almost $26,000 last month, we have now distributed more than $79,000 in June on harvest related activities. The guys have been working extremely hard, and I'm sure they are excited about the light at the end of the tunnel. As are we!!
Meanwhile, back in Iowa, I am planning to represent S2S at the Zambia Iowa Ag Partners fundraiser Tuesday evening here in Ankeny. Will be good to see the ZIAP team and hear more of their vision for the next phase of their training efforts.
I don't normally mention sporting events in my blog, but I think I will make an exception this week. If I counted right, there are EIGHT African nations that advanced to the Round of 32 knockout phase. I am no expert on anything World Cup. But I know our African brothers and sisters are paying attention. Especially those in or from GHANA!! Congratulations to all these African countries, and best wishes for good play over the coming days.
