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HONORING BRIGHAM HOEGH AND ERIN LAIN AS IOWANS OF THE WEEK
______
HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 13, 2021
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Brigham Hoegh and Erin Lain, founders of Corn 4 a Cause, as our Iowans of the Week.
If you are from Iowa, have heard about Iowa, or have traveled through Iowa, you know that corn is not just part of our beautiful scenery, it's also part of our heritage and culture. This cherished crop symbolizes and fosters work, livelihoods, and communities across our great state. Even though Iowa has a rich agricultural industry producing bountiful crops like corn, many families here still struggle with access to fresh produce to put on their dinner tables. That's why Brigham and Erin have come in to help.
Brigham Hoegh and Erin Lain founded Corn 4 a Cause roughly four years ago after Brigham had a surplus of sweetcorn. She teamed up with Erin to start their nonprofit organization that aims to address the issue of fresh produce access in communities around Iowa.
Brigham's family farm is in Cass County, Iowa, just north of Atlantic. Each year since Brigham and Erin started Corn 4 a Cause, they have planted, grown, and harvested sweetcorn to sell and donate across western Iowa. What's amazing about their work is that for every dozen ears of com purchased, another dozen ears are donated to different food pantries and other nonprofits aiming to provide fresh produce to those without consistent access to it. This arrangement allows for those who are purchasing the com to gain valuable, eye-opening insight into food insecurity in their own communities. Not only do people get a sense of how prevalent the issue is, but they're also able to help immediately by purchasing a dozen ears of corn that will be matched by Corn 4 a Cause's donation to local families.
One acre of sweetcorn yields roughly 15,000 ears of corn. Brigham and Erin have planted two acres of sweetcorn this year, which provides roughly 30,000 ears of corn to be sold and donated.
Corn 4 a Cause started out serving communities and pantries primarily in western Iowa. However, Brigham and Erin quickly found more demand for their yields in other areas of the state and were harvesting so much sweetcorn that they needed to start getting more pantries and nonprofits involved. With more corn to go around, they have started expanding their donations to central Iowa.
Brigham and Erin focused on delivering fresh produce to those who need it. They are passionate about making fresh, Iowa-grown food accessible to more families in a socially conscious way. They state their values as: ``Full bellies. Summer fun. Local food. Equity first.'' Corn 4 a Cause partners with organizations that serve communities of color to cultivate a more equitable food system, and a more equitable society. Brigham and Erin also encourage anyone who loves to plant their own produce to plant some extra so it can be donated to food pantries and other nonprofits fighting to eliminate food insecurity in Iowa and America.
Reliable and equitable access to food, let alone fresh, healthy produce, is a major issue across our country and in our own backyard. Organizations like Corn 4 a Cause and individuals like Brigham and Erin are tackling these problems head-on at the ground level to make a difference for their neighbors. Because of their dedication and hard work, it is my honor to name Brigham Hoegh and Erin Lain of Corn 4 a Cause as our Iowans of the Week.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 146
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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