![]() One of my favorite parts of the trip was our last night spent at the Iowa Speedway having dinner and getting to ride in a real race car. This significantly reduces the amount of pesticides used on crops because the plant can fend off bugs! I’m really glad I learned more about what GMO’s have to do with corn production and happy to pass the information onto you today. The genes for these defenses can be transferred into crops like corn or soybeans, allowing them to have internal defenses against pests. ![]() GMO corn (and other plants, as well) contain natural defenses against disease and pests. Each has it’s own role in the regulatory process, and they work together in a coordinated framework. ![]() In the United States, the FDA, EPA, and USDA all regulate genetically engineered crops. GMO refers to a crop that has been changed to improve it’s ability to survive. The Kenney’s made sure we knew that no question was off limits and I loved that about them! The Kenney family are 5th generation farmers in their county! Fun fact: would you believe that 95% of the farms in America are actually family-owned? We learned a lot of GMOs that we never knew before. We also had a beautiful 75 degree late September day to enjoy a delicious lunch right on the farm!įrom there, we headed to our second farm visit at Kenney Farm in Nevada, Iowa. They even showed us what each variety of corn looks like in comparison to the others (for the visual learners, like myself). I never really put too much thought into what each variety of corn is used for until that day! Sweet corn is the kind we eat, field corn is used for fuel and for animal feed, and white corn and popcorn are used for cornmeal. My biggest takeaway from this visit was learning the difference between sweet corn, field corn, and other varieties of corn. I wish I had their immense collection of props, that’s all I have to say!Īfter leaving Meredith Headquarters, we headed out for a visit and lunch at Blair Farm in Dayton, Iowa for a morning on the farm. There’s so much that goes into it! It reminded me, on a much larger scale, of what I do when I plan, create, photograph, and write the recipes for my blog. How exciting, right?! We got to learn how they put magazines together: the planning process, creation, photographer, and styling. We spent the first morning touring the Meredith Corporation Headquarters, home to the infamous Better Homes and Gardens. I loved the creativity they used with incorporating corn into all of the dishes – even the dessert! We learned all about the process in how they make their local spirits from the corn and I even got to taste their delicious, homemade Bourbon! I never realized how much time, thought, and hard work went into making their Iowa spirits. Cumming is a small town of only 350 people located in the center of corn country! We enjoyed a scrumptious, fancy dinner full of a variety of corn dishes. That first night after arriving we had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Iowa Distilling Company located in Cumming, Iowa. I had an enormous room with a fireplace all to myself! We stayed at the beautiful Des Lux Hotel right in Des Moines. I loved everything about this hotel: from the theme and décor to the staff that went above and beyond for our group. I left Des Moines with a wealth of knowledge about corn and was eager to learn even more.Ĭorn has always been a favorite vegetable/grain of mine and my favorite way to eat it is in a casserole or straight off the cob! I love how versatile it is because it can be added into a wide variety of dishes: sweet or savory. I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am to have the privilege to gain experiences like this one! This was my second time in Iowa ( Pass the Pork tour was my very first visit) and I fall more in love with it each time I go. I met so many amazing people including farmers, distillers, chefs, a registered dietician, and air quality experts from the American Lung Association. ![]() ![]() Throughout my time in Iowa, I learned the ins and outs of corn production and had plenty of adventures. I recently spent some time with a group of my favorite food bloggers and Iowa Corn in Des Moines, Iowa for their #IACornQuest trip. I couldn’t help but be inspired by ALL THINGS CORN after returning from the 3 day trip and to make this Old-Fashioned Creamed Corn Casserole and share it with you! This easy Old-Fashioned Creamed Corn Casserole recipe is just like Grandma used to make it! If you need an excellent side dish idea for the holidays, look no further! ![]()
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