Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a Virginia Tech poultry expert is returning to lead Ames’ egg hub

And check out Mannheim Steamroller Christmas on the Ames Patch calendar

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Hey hey Ames! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a Virginia Tech poultry expert is returning to lead Ames’ egg hub
  • How did a rare Hilton loss fuel a national hoops rant?
  • How Ames-based ISU experts are shaping 2026 farm decisions statewide

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Colder with snow, 1-3", with a high of 9 and low of -13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, temps: high: 6, low: 1.
  • Monday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 35 and low of 15 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Persia named new Egg Industry Center director (feedstuffs.com) — A key agricultural research center based in Ames is getting new leadership, as former Iowa State faculty member Michael Persia will return to direct the Egg Industry Center starting June 1, 2026. Persia’s background in poultry nutrition and industry collaboration is expected to strengthen the center’s research, education, and outreach work with egg producers across the U.S. and beyond.
   

Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

2. College Basketball Conference Tournaments Need To Go (sportsradio977.com) — A national sports commentator calls out how college basketball conference tournaments can overshadow regular-season success, then highlights BYU’s upset win in Ames, where Iowa State had gone 33–1 over two years. For local fans, it’s a reminder of Hilton Coliseum’s recent dominance and how one surprising road loss fits into broader debates about fairness in March basketball.
   

3. 2026 Crop Advantage Series meetings to be held at 12 locations in January (farmforum.net) — From Ames-based Iowa State Extension, farmers across Iowa are invited to January’s 2026 Crop Advantage Series meetings at 12 locations statewide, offering research-based updates on markets, climate, and crop challenges. Sessions cover topics like nitrates in drinking water, nutrient management, disease issues, and new technologies such as robots and drones, with registration including lunch and certification credits.
   

4. Rising Global Milk Production (americanagnetwork.com) — From a vantage point in Ames, this piece explains how surging global milk production is putting downward pressure on wholesale dairy prices, even as some U.S. grocery items like Cheddar remain high. It breaks down how supply, processing costs, retailer strategies, and local production along the I-29 corridor shape what Ames shoppers ultimately pay for milk.
   

5. Alan Kruthoff of Ames formerly of Lake View (1380kcim.com) — Ames residents are mourning the passing of 83-year-old Alan Kruthoff, who lived in Ames and died December 11 at Israel Family Hospice House. Services will be held next week in Lake View, where he long served families as a funeral director and community leader. His wife Barb remains in Ames, along with a large extended family across Iowa.
   

📸 Around Ames

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Recently we spotted a pair of bald eagles 🦅 over our neighborhood and another pair of them when we exited Hwy 30 onto Duff.
    Is it usual to see them in this area? These are the first we’ve seen since moving here. (Nextdoor Sunset Ridge)
  • J. C. Penney Company, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier - North Grand Mall in Ames. Apply here.
  • Kohl's posted a job opening for Full-Time Customer Service Supervisor in Ames. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ames here.

Ok Ames! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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