ORANGE CITY, Iowa — In response to high levels of both personal and financial farm stress, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach is making available a Northwest Iowa “Farm Couple Getaway” aimed at farmers wanting to take advantage of activities to improve farm family communication, farm and family goal-setting, farm transition, or just would like a weekend away to discuss farm and farm family priorities.

The first “getaway” will be held Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22 at the Lakeshore Center at Okoboji near Milford. It is one of four getaways scheduled across the state.

The “getaways” run from 12:30 p.m. on the first day to 3:15 p.m. on the second day. There is no cost to attend the program as food, lodging and other expenses are being paid for by sponsorships; however, there is a $50 per couple deposit to hold each reservation, refundable on the second day of the getaway.

Past “Farm Couple Getaways” have proven to be very beneficial to farm couples.

“They are a very productive and delightful time to discuss items of importance to help farms and families be successful,” said Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist.

Each “getaway” will consist of ten farm couples and ISU Extension and Outreach facilitators. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis with registrations due two weeks prior to each session.

A registration brochure for the Feb. 21-22 Milford “getaway” can be obtained at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/sioux/farm-couple-getaway.

Registration brochures for and more information about the other sites can be obtained from Jenn Bentley (jbentley@iastate.edu) at the ISU Extension and Outreach Winneshiek County Office at 563-382-2949; Fred Hall (fredhall@iastate.edu) at the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County Office at 712-737-4230; and/or Larry Tranel (tranel@iastate.edu) at the ISU Extension and Outreach Dubuque County Office at 563-583-6496.

— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

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