Clayton County Extension and Outreach Information for March 19th
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Clayton County ISU Extension & Outreach Media Packet for 3/19/26
March 28
9:00AM Clover Kid Day Elkader, IA
March 31
12:00PM Money Smart: Prioritizing Bills, Credit, and Debt Online
April 4
8:30 AM Derby Swine Weigh In Elkader
April 8
7:30 PM Clayton County Extension Council Meeting Elkader
4-H Omelet Brunch Showcases 4-H Work
The Clayton County 4-H Omelet Brunch & Silent Auction was held March 8 at Johnson’s Reception Hall in Elkader. The annual event, sponsored by the 4‑H County Council and the Extension 4‑H & Youth Development Committee, serves as an opportunity for 4‑H members to showcase their program and highlight the youth and volunteers who make it successful. A total of 495 people enjoyed a breakfast of omelets, pancakes, applesauce, milk, coffee, and juice. The silent auction featured 47 donated items from clubs, members, families, and 4‑H alumni, raising $2,937. Winning bids ranged from $5 to $350. Proceeds from the event will support Clayton County 4‑H by helping maintain and promote youth activities, as well as covering a portion of the Iowa 4‑H Youth Development fees.
For more information about 4‑H programs and upcoming events, contact the Clayton County ISU Extension & Outreach office at 563‑245‑1451.
4-H County Council members cooked made-to-order omelets at the 31st annual 4-H Omelet Brunch & Silent Auction.
Free Tax Prep Available for Qualified Taxpayers
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) and Northeast Iowa RSVP offer tax preparation help for seniors, low-income and disabled citizens. Filing federal and state income tax forms can be expensive and complicated. But with the help of a group of local tax-specialist volunteers, you can submit your 2025 tax forms hassle-free, eliminating both the cost and the worry.
Who qualifies
The local Northeast Iowa RSVP program cooperates with VITA to provide free tax preparation and filing services to low-income, senior, and disabled members of the community.
Guidelines to qualify for VITA assistance are:
● Persons with income of $69,000 or less,
● Persons with disabilities
● Persons with limited English-language fluency
How to get started
Call the VITA appointment line at telephone number 563-277-7246 and a VITA volunteer will help you determine if you are eligible for tax preparation services and the best method for submission of your materials. Each eligible client will receive assistance from a VITA volunteer to process and submit their tax filing information
There is no charge for VITA tax-filing services; however, RSVP and VITA recommend that you call soon. The last date to call for an appointment is March 31st.
Services available
VITA volunteers offer four types of client service:
Face-to-Face – taxpayer client (and spouse) meets with two tax-law certified volunteers who will prepare your return while you wait.
Drop-off – taxpayer client meets with a tax-law certified volunteer, discusses client’s tax documents and an intake form, then leaves. At a later scheduled time, the client picks up the completed tax returns.
Virtual – client scans all the required tax documents and intake form to the tax-law certified volunteers who prepare the tax return. When completed, the volunteer sends the completed returns to the client online.
FREE software to do it yourself– VITA provides free software access for both federal and state returns to anyone making less than $89,000 adjusted gross income. The taxpayer completes his or her own return. VITA volunteers are available to answer any tax-law questions you might have as you prepare your return.
Appointments are needed at all locations. Call 563-277-7246 or email NEIVITA.Assist.@gmail.com to make an appointment.
The regional VITA sites include:
Decorah ISU Extension office
2316 Sweet Parkway Road, Decorah
Decorah Public Library
202 Winnebago Street, Decorah
Waukon ISU Extension office
218 7th Avenue SE, Suite 102, Waukon
Howard County Farm Bureau
124 1st Ave W, Cresco
Postville Public Library
235 W Tilden Street, Postville
Elkader ISU Extension Office
120 S. Main St., Elkader
VITA has provided tax filing assistance for more than 50 years and is a reliable and trusted service. All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information.
In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing. Each filing season, tens of thousands of dedicated VITA volunteers prepare millions of federal and state returns.
The RSVP Volunteer program matches people who are age 55 & older with needs in their community. Volunteers choose where they would like to volunteer and how much time they will spend volunteering.
For more information about the RSVP volunteer program and to learn about other volunteer opportunities in your community, contact Deana at the Decorah Public Library 563-277-5181 or rsvp@decorahlibrary.org
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Additional Stories Published Online
The following news releases have been published on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.
Five Iowa communities have been selected to participate in the 2026 First Impressions program, which gives communities fresh perspectives on their tourism assets, resident engagement and visitor appeal. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers the program in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority/Iowa Tourism Office.
Farmers who depend on custom work or provide custom services can review rates reported by others across the state in the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.
Farmers, rural landowners and natural resource professionals can attend the in-field and hands-on Windbreak School on April 8 at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville, Iowa. The workshop is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and aims to provide the knowledge and skills needed to effectively plan, implement, maintain and renovate windbreaks. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m.
3/16/2026 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Releases Urban Agriculture Publication Series
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Urban Agriculture Program has released a new series of publications covering key topics that influence urban farm success.
The next three sessions of Community Matters Live have been scheduled. The monthly webinar series is for people involved in housing, planning and community development work across Iowa, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development.
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Rock Creek Watershed and Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crop and Conservation Reserve Program field day in Carpenter on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carpenter Community Center. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost.
The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, surveyed 945 farmers and found that they are increasingly concerned about soil compaction and that their views on management approaches are changing over time.
The Beef Ribeye Grid and Pork Loin Eye Grid are used to estimate the size of ribeye and loin eye muscles on harvested animals. Each product is offered as a pack of five grids and can be purchased for $20.
A new series of publications from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides brewers with practical guidance for identifying, understanding and preventing common beer faults that can affect flavor, aroma and overall product quality.