The Clayton County 4-H Youth Development Committee is seeking donations for its annual Silent Auction, held in conjunction with the 4-H Omelet Brunch on Sunday, March 8, at Johnson’s Reception Hall, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

4-H clubs, families, individuals, and businesses are encouraged to donate items for the auction. Proceeds help cover the county’s share of the 4-H Development Fee and offset costs associated with county 4-H programs.

Silent auction items may be dropped off at the Clayton County Extension Office during normal business hours.

For more information, please contact the Clayton County Extension Office at 563-245-1451.

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4-H Omelet Brunch to be Held March 8

The annual Clayton County 4-H Omelet Brunch & Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, March 8, at Johnson’s Reception Hall in Elkader. Serving will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This popular community event is sponsored by the Clayton County 4-H County Council and the Extension 4-H & Youth Development Committee. Members of the 4-H County Council will prepare made-to-order omelets, featuring your choice of ham, sausage, cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, or onions.

In addition to omelets, guests can enjoy pancakes, applesauce, juice, milk, and coffee.

The event will also feature a silent auction with items generously donated by local 4-H clubs, families, and individuals. Proceeds from the auction help cover the county’s share of the 4-H Development Fee and offset costs associated with county 4-H programs.

Ticket prices are $10 for ages 10 and up, $5 for children ages 5–9, and free for children age 4 and under. Tickets will be available at the door.

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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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Registration Now Open for Spring Planning and Zoning Workshops for Local Officials

February 16, 2026, 9:59 am | Esther Crompton

AMES, Iowa – Local elected officials and community leaders across Iowa can still register this spring for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials, a three-hour workshop focused on land-use issues that shape development patterns, business growth, farmland and access to public spaces.

The workshop will be held at eight locations across Iowa in April and May:

“The workshop is built around real-world scenarios,” said Luke Seaberg, community and economic development specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Officials walk away with examples and strategies they can apply immediately in their communities.”

Topics include comprehensive planning, variances, special uses, nonconforming uses, spot zoning, hearing procedures and ethical considerations. Participants will use case studies to see how zoning principles come into play during rezoning requests, appeals and public hearings.

“Planning and zoning can feel abstract until you’re the one making the decision,” Seaberg said. “Our goal is to make the rules clear and provide tools to manage conflict, balance interests and make sound choices for the long term.”

Registration is $75 per person, with a discounted rate of $65 each for groups of three or more from the same city, county or nonprofit organization.

Customized planning and zoning training is also available by request through ISU Extension and Outreach’s Community and Economic Development unit.

For more information, contact Luke Seaberg at seaberg@iastate.edu.

Additional Stories Published Online

The following news releases have been published on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.

2/19/2026 Guide for Selecting Forage Species Available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Cattle producers preparing for spring and summer-planted pastures can now access a new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach that is designed to assist with forage selection. “Selecting Forage Species” is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.

2/19/2026 Virtual Field Day to Discuss Manure Application and Cover Crop Planting Timing to Maximize Water Quality Benefits in Corn

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m. Central time. The event aims to provide valuable insights into the impacts of different cover crop systems and manure application methods on water quality and corn yield.

2/18/2026 Trevor Lane Joins Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to Expand Food Systems Education and Workforce Development

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Food Systems team within Farm, Food and Enterprise Development welcomes Trevor Lane as its new food systems specialist, a role focused on strengthening Iowa and place-based national food systems through education and workforce development. Lane began his role on Jan. 20.

2/18/2026 Wallace Foundation to Hold Annual Program and Meeting at Armstrong Farm

The Wallace Foundation will hold an educational event for the public, followed by its annual business meeting, on March 6 at the Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm in Lewis.

2/17/2026 North Central Iowa Research Association to Host Annual Meeting and Educational Forum March 25

Members, farmers and ag business professionals are invited to attend the North Central Iowa Research Association annual meeting on Wednesday, March 25, at the Northern Research Farm, located at 310 South Main Street, Kanawha.

2/16/2026 Iowa 4-H State Council Kicks Off Conference Planning at Winter Retreat

Planning for this summer’s Iowa 4-H Youth Conference is officially underway as youth leaders from across the state gathered for the Iowa 4-H State Council Winter Retreat at the Des Moines Y Camp in Boone.

2/16/2026 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences Begin Next Week

The 2026 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences will be held Feb. 23–26 in four locations across Iowa, offering pork producers a series of one-day, educational events to strengthen their operations.

2/16/2026 Registration Now Open for Spring Planning and Zoning Workshops for Local Officials

Local elected officials and community leaders across Iowa can still register this spring for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials, a three-hour workshop focused on land-use issues that shape development patterns, business growth, farmland and access to public spaces.

2/16/2026 Applications Open for 2026 Landowner Program: Balancing Profitability, Stewardship and Legacy

Iowa landowners may apply to participate in the 2026 Landowner Program: Balancing Profitability, Stewardship and Legacy, offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The application window is open until April 10, and program events will take place in June and July.

2/12/2026 Proper Nozzle Selection, Use of AI for Pest Identification and Current Market Trends to be Highlighted at Iowa State University Northeast Research Farm on March 18

Kevin Humke, Midwest regional sales manager of TeeJet, Wes Everman, extension weed science specialist and Chad Hart, extension crop marketing specialist, will speak at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association at the Borlaug Learning Center, Iowa State University Northeast Research Farm, in Nashua on March 18.