I think my husband would cook more often if he could avoid one obstacle in our kitchen.

That would be me armed with disinfectant and constant food safety warnings.

I might as well be a walking, talking, disinfecting caution symbol. My husband loves to grill steaks and broil fish and bake chicken. And, as much as I love to eat those offerings, I go a little overboard when it comes to handling raw meat.

I’ve seen enough of those undercover news shows that bring a black light into someone’s seemingly spotless kitchen and nearly give them a heart attack with the revelation of all types of residue everywhere.

“Make sure you wash your hands.”

“Did you soak that pan in hot, soapy water before putting it in the dishwasher?”

“Please use separate dishes and utensils for, well, everything that you are doing.”

Despite my crazy ways, food safety is very important, especially when you are handling raw ingredients. Meat must be prepared properly. Vegetables need to be washed and dried. Leftovers should be refrigerated if necessary.

September is actually food safety education month. U.S. farmers raise the healthiest food in the world, but we, as consumers, must also do our part by employing healthy habits when preparing that food.

Here, why don’t you quiz yourself on your own food handling habits at the American meat Institute’s website at www.meatsafety.org?

How did you do? I clocked in at 73 percent for my first testing. I guess I have a bit more to learn myself. (Just don’t tell my husband.)

When it comes to consumer responsibility, I’ve read some concerns from organizations that are offended that food industry folks are putting so much on their plates. A safe food supply takes an entire team effort, from the farmer to the processor to the retailer to the crazy lady with the Clorox in the kitchen. You can’t be slogging raw chicken across the stovetop and expect to have a completely safe dinner.

It’s being smart, and not overzealous with paper towels, that will keep you, your family and your food as safe as possible. Arm yourself with knowledge and let your husband make dinner, for goodness’ sake.

To download a brochure about food safety practices, check out this site. (http://www.meatmattersinfo.org/ht/d/sp/i/49922/pid/49922.)

There’s even a Meat News Network on YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/MeatNewsNetwork.

For more food safety info, check out the Partnership for Food Safety online at www.fightbac.org/.

Written by Heather Lilienthal
Heather is an Ag Commodities Writer for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Serving their country; feeding the world

Members of the Winnebago Honor Flight gather for a group photo at the Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima in Washington D.C.

It’s hard to imagine that nearly 70 years ago men far younger than me left their farms and the small Iowa towns like Sheffield, Meservey and Manly that dot the Iowa map to fight in a war half a world away in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. I recently joined some of those men as they made another monumental journey. This time it was a one-day trip to Washington D.C. to see the World War II monument built in their honor.

I was lucky enough to be asked to go along to help the veterans on the Winnebago Honor Flight and take some photos to document the trip. For me it was a deep honor to give some of my time and skill back to the men who defended our liberty and democracy.

The trip was a pilgrimage for me too. When I was young I spent many days after school researching information about my family’s involvement in World War II. That research years later led me to the very courtroom where my great uncle stood watch over the top Nazi generals during the Nuremberg trial in Germany. I was never able to talk to him or my grandfather about their experiences in the war; sadly they both had passed away just after my birth.

It was a warm day in Washington. As I pushed wheel chairs, helped the men on and off buses, I made sure they had plenty of water. I also asked questions and most of all I listened to their stories. Each had plenty of stories about their experiences in the war.  Those experiences were still vivid in their mind as they visited the WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iwo Jima and Lincoln Memorials. With all of the joy and excitement wrapped around that day it was hard not to think that at some point these heroes will be gone. Without the stories that they share with their children, grandchildren, teachers and students all the memories and perspectives they hold will be lost to the passages of time.

Later that week I drove through small communities and the countryside while taking photos and working on stories for Iowa Farm Bureau. It was hard not to think of all the soldiers from those very towns and their untold stories; boys that left their homes in the bread basket of the world during one of the pivotal moments for America in the 20^th century then came back as heroes who quietly went about their business raising their families, building their communities and feeding the world.

I know that I will never forget all the veterans that I met that day on the Winnebago Honor Flight to Washington D.C. I have already started to share their stories with my children so another generation can appreciate the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms.

A veteran is welcomed to Washington D.C. by volunteers.

The World War II memorial in Washington D.C.

Photo of myself on the Honor Flight with my mother and a good family friend.

The veterans visited Arlington National Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Veterans make a heroes return to Mason City late that night to find over 200 people there to welcome them home.

You can view more photos from the Honor Flight here: Honor Flight Gallery

Written by Joe Murphy
Joe is a photographer and writer for Iowa Farm Bureau.