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Iowa City, Iowa — Former Sheldon resident, and the mother of Olympic medalists Tom and Terry Brands has written a book chronicling her adventures in raising her twin Olympians.

The book, entitled, “I’m The Mom” tells the story of the Brands Boys from their birth in Omaha, through their years in Sheldon, and into adulthood.  KIWA talked with Bonnie Brands and she told us how this book came about.

She says she thinks the growing up years in Sheldon were good for her twins.

Bonnie says Tom and Terry’s fierce competitive spirit was evident from a very early age.

She does concede that sometimes, growing up, the boys could be a handful.

She says that raising the twin Olympians, while sometimes challenging, was a pleasure for her.

Tom Brands won a Gold Medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and twin brother Terry won Bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics.  Tom is currently Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Iowa, and is a 3-time Big 10 Coach of the Year.  Terry Brands is Associate Head Coach of the Hawkeye Wrestling program.

Bonnie’s book, “I’m The Mom” is available online, and can be ordered by clicking here.

Sheldon, Iowa — It’s time once again for Sheldon’s Golden Egg Hunt. The egg hunt, which is usually a week or so before Easter is your chance to win Sheldon Dollars.

Sheldon Chamber Director Allison Cooke gives us the details.

For further details, feel free to contact the Sheldon Chamber.

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Orange City, Iowa — Iowa farmers have under a week remaining to decide which federal farm program is best for them. Jeff Davis, the Farm Service Agency director for Plymouth and Sioux counties, says March 31st is the last day farmers can elect between the three farm bill programs. Davis explains the provisions of the ARC-co which is based on county figures.

[klem24a] :20 “commodity or not”
(As above) “So, you use your county yields and prices to create a revenue,” Davis says. “If our county doesn’t reach that, you get paid on whatever base you have in that commodity and you can receive the payment no matter whether you plant the commodity or not.”

Davis says farmers may want to inquire about the ARC-ic program which allows farmers to place all farms under one program.

[klem24b] :18 “with that one”
(As above) “That deals with the revenues for the entire farm, which can mean two or three different farm numbers,” Davis says. “It’s everything that’s in that program. That’s a little more difficult to explain. You’d have to just sit and go through the numbers with that one.”

Farmers have another option, too.

[klem24c] :22 “see on that”
(As above) “We have the PLC program which is all based on price,” Davis says. “If price goes for corn below $3.70, then there would be a payment, but that would be an average price for the marketing year. At this point, they are projecting a little bit, possibly, of a payment but we’ll have to wait and see on that.”

Davis says whatever farm program a farmer decides upon, they will remain with that program through 2018. He says farmers can also sign up one farm with one program and another farm with a second program, or they can split the programs with different crops. Davis encourages farmers to visit their county FSA office prior to next Tuesday’s deadline in order to have all of the options explained.

Story from Radio Iowa