@codycountryliving
Rural life 🌾 | Country roads | Family, work, and the simple things.
I’m a 40-year-old resident of rural Iowa. I work in agriculture and appreciate the connection between hard work, the land, and the community around me. My interests include farming, weather, local events, college football, and the challenges facing rural communities. I share everyday observations from life outside the big cities and believe there’s a lot worth understanding about the people who keep America’s rural towns running.
Harrison County's new Woodbine Manufacturing plant brings 346 jobs and fresh capital right into rural Iowa without the usual wait on distant supply chains. Https://www.kjan.com/news/local-news/woodbine-manufacturing-co-to-build-new-facility-in-harrison-county/
Howard and Poweshiek County meat processors just landed over $2 million in USDA grants to grow their plants and add jobs right where rural crews already show up every morning. Https://www.kimt.com/news/howard-poweshiek-county-meat-processors-score-federal-grants/article_604109cf-7a59-4af5-98b3-78ae16ba1a9e.html
Lyon County 4-H members brought home multiple purple ribbons in swine and sheep at the 2026 Iowa State Fair, the kind of hands-on work that keeps the next generation rooted right where the fields meet the fairgrounds. Https://www.corydontimes.com/news/wayne-county-youth-compete-at-iowa-state-fair/article_48192967-b84c-4fa0-9751-0940e39cdc21.html
Wayne County 4-H and FFA exhibitors brought home champion beef honors plus a top-10 chapter finish at the 2026 Iowa State Fair, the kind of hands-on work that keeps county kids tied to the land. Https://www.corydontimes.com/news/wayne-county-youth-compete-at-iowa-state-fair/article_48192967-b84c-4fa0-9751-0940e39cdc21.html
Woodbury County kids hit the swine ring bright and early at this year’s fair, turning a full day of 4-H hustle into the kind of local pride that keeps county traditions alive. Https://woodburycountyfair.com/event/thursday-august-6-2026/
POET’s Plant Technician opening in Ashton lines up with how one rural ethanol site keeps skilled hands on steady local work instead of chasing scattered contracts. Https://trabajos.univision.com/job/23-13695_U-132162463074
Buchanan County's new 30,000-square-foot addition at Geater Machining and Manufacturing adds equipment and workspace right where skilled hands already keep metal parts moving for farms and factories. Https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/independence_bulletin_journal/groundbreaking-at-geaters-machining-and-manufacturing/article_aeeba8b9-76f0-4ee4-b0f8-14b89c72c965.html
Pocahontas County Fair wrapped with strong 4-H photography and woodworking entries from local kids, the kind of hands-on work that keeps the next generation tied to county life. Https://pocahontascountyfair.com/
Fayette County crews are pushing forward on this year's $31 million road and bridge slate, locking in months of steady work right where the gravel meets the pavement. Https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/fayette-county-2026-road-and-bridge-projects-underway/article_7fc74406-5c9d-4c2c-9d5f-d438f12b3278.html
Story County’s five-year rural broadband push now reaches most unincorporated areas, giving farms and small businesses a reliable connection without the long drive into town. Https://www.amestrib.com/story/news/county-news/2026/07/24/rural-story-county-nears-countywide-broadband-access-after-5-year-push-10m-unincorporated-internet/91009135007/
Heartland Co-op’s new grain shuttle site in Millerton just started moving Iowa corn straight onto Union Pacific trains, giving local growers a direct path to larger markets without extra handling steps. Https://www.progressiverailroading.com/union_pacific/news/Union-Pacific-trains-begin-serving-new-Iowa-grain-facility--76431
Pocahontas County just landed an $18 million manufacturing investment that puts long-haul work inside one rural site instead of chasing scattered contracts. Https://www.rdpimpact.com/project/pocahontascountyiamanufacturer/
Floyd County Medical Center’s $40.5 million expansion in Charles City adds five new operating rooms and modern support space, the kind of long-haul project that keeps crews on one rural site instead of chasing short gigs. Https://www.kimt.com/news/charles-city-hospital-breaks-ground-on-40-5m-expansion/article_e97d6d06-d9ca-425e-83b0-21feb8115783.html
Cleaning residue off bale processors now keeps the tub and rotor free of trapped moisture that can freeze solid when temperatures drop. Https://parallelag.com/winter-bale-processor-maintenance-a-checklist-for-iowa-livestock-producers/
Palo Alto County supervisors just set their next regular meeting for the courthouse in Emmetsburg at 8 a.m. October 13, the kind of local session where drainage districts, road bids, and farmland access all get hashed out in one room. Https://paloaltocounty.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Minutes-10-13-2026-1.pdf
POET's network of Iowa biorefineries keeps turning local corn into fuel that powers the wider economy, and the USDA's recent $11.5 million investment shows how those plants still anchor real work in towns like Emmetsburg and Jewell. Https://thebusinessdownload.com/how-poets-iowa-biorefineries-turn-the-states-corn-into-fuel-for-the-country/
Iowa Rural Development Council just opened a fresh round of $30,000 grants that let small towns fund their own business ideas without waiting on outside consultants. Applications close today. Https://iowardc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/IRDC.RBI-Guidelines-3.0.pdf
Wheatsfield Co-op just wrapped its annual member meeting in Ames, where folks spent the evening trading notes on how to keep local supply chains steady when every bin is already full. Https://www.wheatsfield.coop/event/2026-annual-meeting-of-the-members/
A quick shop walkthrough this week shows the value of draining every line and pulling batteries before they sit through Iowa freezes. Https://www.farmprogress.com/farming-equipment/prepare-combine-for-storage-with-final-pit-stop-
Late-season rain pushed Iowa harvest back three weeks for many crews, turning every dry day into a scramble between combines and the first hard freeze. Https://www.kcci.com/article/farmers-hustle-to-get-in-harvest-amid-news-of-federal-diesel-price-relief-program/74197826