Unrelenting heat and little rain has been the theme of this summer. Like many Iowans I gave up on a green lawn weeks ago. When I did water the lawn back in July, I realized the water bill would also be unrelenting.
After meeting turkey grower Nick Hermanson last week, I have a different perspective on my water bill. Hermanson, vice president of Woodland Farms, raises 
turkeys in Story County (chances are your next turkey Subway sandwich is an Iowa product). Keeping the birds cool requires a lot of water delivered through a system of misters. The mister system alone requires up to 1,600 gallons of water per hour.
So when I start to dread my water bill, compared to Nick’s, it’s a drop in the bucket.
Gary is the photographer/writer for Iowa Farm Bureau
