Fans of Iowa Tourism have lots to cheer about

Fans of Iowa Tourism will have a lot to cheer about the next five weeks during the “Give Me an I.O.W.A Giveway.”

Starting Monday, May 6 Facebook fans of Travel Iowa were able to register for the opportunity to win weekly prizes. This week is “Give me an I” and features a package of indulgent treats from Maytag Dairy Farms, Jaarsma Bakery, Amana Meat Shop, Wells Blue Bunny and more.

During the week of May 13 – “Give me an O” – fans can register for a chance to win an Iowa outdoor experience at a luxury county park cabin. During the week of May 20 – “Give me a W” – one lucky winner will receive a weekend getaway package to the Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport. During the week of May 27 – “Give me an A” – fans can register for a chance to win a piece of Iowa art. The final week will contain items from each of the previous four weeks.

“As the weather warms up, Iowans are ready to get out and explore their home state,” said Shawna Lode, Manager of the Iowa Tourism Office. “This contest exposes Iowans to the many unique travel destinations here and encourages them to get excited about an Iowa getaway.”

People may enter once per week at the IowaTourism Office’s Facebook page; winners will be announced on the page each Friday.

Enter here now! Best of luck!

Brooke Miller, Iowa Tourism Office

Going Inside the Blue: Kinze Innovation Center

Growing up on an Iowa farm, tractors and combines and plows are just a part of your life. Their constant thrum and the smell of diesel blends into the background. You don’t think about where those monster machines came from or who decided how a planter should fit together.

But a visit to the recently-opened Kinze Innovation Center will remind you just how much technology and creativity goes into one of Iowa’s oldest industries.

Kinze Manufacturing is an Iowa-based, family-owned company that started as Jon Kinzenbaw’s small-town welding shop and is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of planters and grain carts. The Innovation Center is located at the company headquarters just off I-80 between Williamsburg and Ladora. If you’ve ever driven this stretch of interstate, you’ve probably seen their aerial agricultural “sculptures:” a grain cart stack and rotating planter.

Much like these sculptures, the exhibits inside the building are awe-inspiring to a wide range of visitors, from farmers who have been using Kinze machinery for years to those who don’t know the first thing about planting corn.

After a short video about the various inventions and patents created by Kinze – which will make you believe Jon Kinzenbaw has the most common sense of any person ever – you’ll get to browse the displays which include Kinze grain carts, plows, tractors and “Big Blue” – a massive, Kinze-designed twin engine tractor.

Kid-friendly interactive displays allow you to browse the company’s timeline, watch Kinze products in action inside a grain bin video dome and build your own Kinze grain cart – complete with a brontosaurus grain chute and monster truck wheels.

For the serious agricultural buffs, you can get an up-close look at Kinze’s grain carts and planters, check out the “Tractor of the Season” – a rotating display of antique tractors from Jon Kinzenbaw’s personal collection – and check out Kinze’s newest innovations like the autonomy project (or, what I call robot tractors).

The Kinze Innovation Center is free to visit and open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call in advance to schedule group tours and tours of the entire Kinze factory.

Amy Zeigler, Iowa Tourism Office

Your Next SUP Adventure Is In…Iowa?!

Oceans, waves and warm salt water...not exactly the way to describe the Midwest, but that hasn't stopped a group of Iowans from enjoying stand up paddling (SUP). While most of us have been thinking that SUP is a coastal sport only practiced in an ocean, Midwesterners have been wading out and enjoying some paddling of their own. Not even being landlocked could stop these SUP junkies.

So how, exactly, did Iowa get involved in stand up paddling? With endless rivers and lakes - it was only a matter of time before outdoor enthusiasts felt the call to paddle. SUP isn't just for the ocean anymore; it has transcended the traditional surf culture and found itself here in Iowa.

There are many physical benefits of SUP, but there are also spiritual and mental benefits to reap as well.

• Balance the body
• Calming the mind
• Appreciate the outdoors and Iowa's waterways

Iowans are banding together to make SUP a group activity. There are plenty of locals looking to meet others in their area and paddle. These groups are young - but the trend appears to be strong and gaining momentum. Find or start a group near you by visiting this website: www.nocoaststandup.com

Hopefully, this has gotten you excited about trying SUP this summer! Check out Iowa's SUP Facebook page for a peak into the lake paddle-boarding world. If you fall in love with it and need a board, there are plenty of retailers for you to take a look at. We all know how addicting water sports can be, so it's only natural that you'll try it and love it - I promise!

Surfs up, Iowa!

Camille Mitchell, SUP enthusiast at Legends SUP and Guest Blogger