Bring the Whole Herd to Iowa!
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GroupGroup TourTour ItinerariesItineraries Bring the whole herd to Iowa! Agriculture . Fresh Food . Eco-friendly & more! iowagrouptravel.org page 1 Bring the whole herd to Iowa for an ag tour! hen it comes to feeding the world, Iowa is an agricultural superpower. Iowa is perennially #1 nationally in W production of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs, and in the top 10 in virtually every other commodity. We’re home to the world’s #2 top seed company and a unique precision farm learning center— the only one of its kind in the world. The American farmer produces enough food to feed about 155 people worldwide, making them among the most efficient producers From posing for selfies at in history. This compares to 73 people in 1970, due to the the American Gothic house to grazing on fresh food at innovations in agriculture and biotechnology. a farmers market, groups visiting Iowa will taste, Enjoy our Midwest hospitality as you explore a wide range of tour and take away a experiences featuring ag innovation and heritage sites, exotic whole new appreciation livestock, sustainable farming and ―green‖ techniques, farm for where food comes from implement manufacturing, farmers markets, wineries, craft beer, and how it gets from the fresh food and natural beauty. Use our suggested itineraries, mix farm to the table. and match them or let us help develop a customized one for you! Contact: inside- Iowa Group Travel Association Introduction .................. 2 641.420.9003 iowagrouptravel.org Itineraries ...................... 3-13 Member Directory ...... 14 iowagrouptravel.org page 2 Farm to Table Itinerary Iowa feeds the world! On this tour, learn where your food comes and watch it through the stages of production to your fork. Whether you’re CENTRAL IOWA—3 days a foodie, an agriculturalist or an interested consumer… this is for you! Greater Des Moines area, Ames Day 1 . Des Moines — Altoona Catch the famous Maytag blue cheese east of Des Moines. See how the cheese is made and learn the history of the farms. Samples available! Visit a corn, soybean or cattle farm. Learn from the farmers where your food comes from and the importance of the process. Not able to fit a farm tour in your schedule, have the farmer come to you! Whether at a restaurant or your hotel, get the full experience. World Food Prize Hall of Laureates- Catch an educational tour to learn the history of the World Food Prize, as well as Norman Borlaug’s lifelong passion to feeding the world. Dine at a local restaurant that serves local food! May we suggest… . A restaurant that is the first 100% compostable restaurant in Iowa. A restaurant in which 90% of their ingredients come from local farms. A restaurant that serves group gourmet meals Dr. Borlaug evaluating wheat plants in Mexico, Courtesy of The World Food Prize in a French, bistro style fare with local foods from Iowa. A restaurant that is farm-themed and their motto is, ―Dedicated to the American Farmer‖. Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau Tour one of the only plants in the world producing sprayers, cotton pickers and tillage equipment for John Deere or learn from one of the leaders in agriculture why precision farming is so important to feeding the world at the Monsanto Learning Center. iowagrouptravel.org page 3 Visit a local shop that serves over one hundred artisan and farmhouse cheeses. In their Cheese Tasting Bar, enjoy craft beer and wine or cured meats with the proprietor. Make this a stop with your group as they peruse the Shops of 42nd Street. As a licensed 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, Prairie Meadows Racetrack, Casino Hotel is unique to the fact of how much they contribute back to the community, especially with agriculture. Take a tour of the newly renovated casino, watch live horse racing or try your luck on the slots or tables games. They are also home to a new hotel and a fabulous buffet and restaurant. Prairie Meadows Racetrack Casino Hotel Day 2 . Des Moines—Urbandale Visit the worldwide headquarters of a life science company that develops specialty ingredients for the global feed and food industries as well as the health, nutrition and beauty markets. Learn how these ingredients help solve hunger, reduce food waste and improve nutrition and health of people and pets. (*Note: tours available on a limited basis and aimed toward student and/or groups with specific interests in ag-science, personal care, pet food or dietary supplements.) Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market - If you are in town on a Saturday from 7am-Noon, May - October, visit one of the top 5 farmers markets in the country! Producers from 58 counties in Iowa are represented. Living History Farms–Catch an outdoor interactive museum with more than 500 acres of education and fun. Catch the history surrounding Midwestern rural life in Farmers Market courtesy of the Greater Des Moines CVB period costumes. Day 3 . Des Moines—Ames Iowa State University in Ames is a leading college in agriculture. See firsthand on the BioCentury Research Farm where it teaches integration of biomass production or visit the ISU Meats Laboratory, a federally inspected facility where you can see the latest design in thermal process equipment. Visit the chemistry laboratories to view an analysis of the physical and chemical properties of meat. Contact: Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau 515.699.3439, 800.451.2625 CatchDesMoines.com Iowa State University Campus courtesy of the Ames CVB Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau 515.232.4032, 800.288.7470 visitames.com iowagrouptravel.org page 4 itinerary Dig In! Iowa’s Ag Innovation Tour for Professionals EASTERN IOWA, CENTRAL IOWA- Varies 5-9 Days Dubuque-Waterloo-Ames-Quad Cities Tours are designed for agricultural professionals and make a great addition to ag-related trips; customize the tour for your next group and add local wineries, scenic train rides, casino gaming stops and other attractions. Based on a two -day stay at the Farm Progress Show®, this is a nine-day/ eight-night tour. This tour can be arranged anytime between May and November. Day 1 . Dubuque We’ll start in Iowa’s oldest city, Dubuque where you will visit the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, the majestic botanical gardens, ride up the bluff on the world’s steepest railroad and take a river cruise. National Mississippi River Museum, Dubuque Day 2 . Dubuque—Waterloo Next, you will travel to Waterloo (1.5 hours). Here, you’ll tour several John Deere facilities, including the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations and John Deere Engine Works. End your evening by dining under the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling at Galleria de Paco. Aerial view of Iowa State University research plots. © 2013 BioCentury Research Farm Above: Dubuque Arboretum and Fenelon Place Elevator courtesy of the Dubuque CVB; Galleria de Paco and John Deere Tour courtesy Waterloo CVB. iowagrouptravel.org page 5 itinerary Day 3 . Waterloo—Ames The following day, head to Ames (1.5 hours) and tour several research farms and Iowa State University facilities. Stay a second night in Ames and travel to the Central Iowa Expo Site for the Farm Progress Show®. Spend two days exploring the grounds and enjoying your Iowa Agricultural experience. Day 4 . Ames—Quad Cities On your way to the Quad Cities (3 hours), stop at Kinze Manufacturing’s world headquarters, manufacturing facility, offices and training center. Farm Progress Show®, Ames CVB In the Quad Cities, enjoy a lunch and tour at Cinnamon Ridge Farms with the Maxwell Family. This is an exclusive all access tour to a world class family owned farm. After your tour, explore the John Deere Pavilion and Store, take a tour of the John Deere Harvester Works or Seeding Division, and marvel at the Deere & Company World Wide Headquarters. You can also include a tour of the Monsanto Company, and learn how grain is moved down the Mississippi River by barge. End your stay with a sunset dinner and dance cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Celebration Belle. Courtesy Quad Cities CVB Contact: Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau 515.232.4032, 800.288.7470 | visitames.com Dubuque Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 563.845.7698, 800.798.4748 | traveldubuque.com Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau 309.277.0937, 800.747.7800 | visitquadcities.com Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau 319.233.8350, 800.728.8431 | travelwaterloo.com iowagrouptravel.org page 6 August Ag-venture including the Iowa State Fair CENTRAL IOWA - 2—3 days Des Moines, Urbandale Day 1 . Des Moines Arrive at the country's most famous state fair - Iowa State Fair, listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Greeters will board the coach to give you the day's highlights, answer questions and provide daily programs and coupon books to all guests. From here, endless fun awaits. Learn about the animal birthing process, witness a live birth, or hold a newborn piglet in the Animal Learning Center. Next, visit the Agriculture Building, home to Iowa's finest agricultural commodities, an apiary exhibit and the World-Famous Butter Cow—an Iowa State Fair tradition that began in 1911. As you head south on Rock Island Avenue, you can't miss the Livestock Pavilion on your left. Take a seat inside and witness the finest livestock the Fair has to offer from one of the world's largest livestock shows. Break for lunch - Taste delicious Fair food classics, including foot- long corndogs, elephant ears and blooming onions. Don't leave without sampling something unique on-a-stick! Courtesy Iowa State Fair iowagrouptravel.org page 7 Courtesy Iowa State Fair Save room for dessert and head to the Dairy Parlor, seated on the north side of the Cattle Barn.