DES MOINES, IA (08/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Horseshoe champions vied for the winning title in the Iowa State Junior Championship, the Iowa State Women's Championship and the Open Singles divisions of the Horseshoe Pitching Tournament held Sunday at the 2012 Iowa State Fair.

The State Fair hosts both Championship and Open Class competitions every Fair day. Division winners are crowned daily. All Horseshoe Pitching competitions take place on the clay courts just east of Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall.

Complete results below:

IOWA STATE JUNIOR'S CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS

1) Austin Witt, Washington

2) Derek Bloodgood, Creston

3) Hunter Clark, Windsor Heights

4) Kyle Hines, Prole

Class A

1) Dakota Havemann, Muscatine

2) Michael Witt, Washington

3) Kylie Clark, Windsor Heights

IOWA STATE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS

1) Cathy Carter, Council Bluffs

2) Kristy Klejch, Creston

3) Shirley Sprague, Berwick

4) Sheila Brody, Marion

5) Deb Davis, Ankeny

6) Sheryl Mason, Grinnell

Class A

1) Vickie Elliott, Muscatine

2) Leona Gaines, Cedar Rapids

3) Chris Jordan, Des Moines

4) Pam Slippy, Ankeny

5) Rhonda Dalton, Madrid

6) Kelly Turbett, Tama

OPEN SINGLES

Class A

1) Rod Langstraat, Hospers

2) LeRoy J. Law, West Des Moines

3) Meredith Kahrig, Woodsfield, Ohio

4) Tom Cranston, Keswick

5) BJ Benjamine, Tucson, Ariz.

Class B

1) Randy Johnson, Ogden

2) Rick Davis, Indianola

3) Terry Stiles, Maxwell

4) Chris Jordan, Des Moines

5) Jim Formaro, Des Moines

Class C

1) Jenn Blanchard, Altoona

2) John Ghrist, Des Moines

3) Kevin Klejch, Creston

4) Steve Fini, Des Moines

5) Lynn Gilmore, Des Moines

Class D

1) Amy Rothermund, Omaha, Neb.

2) Jason Rothermund, Omaha, Neb.

3) Melissa Vraspir, Omaha, Neb.

4) Dan Vraspir, Omaha, Neb.

5) Matt Vraspir, Louisville, Neb.

Class E

1) Mike Strait, Des Moines

2) Jeff Carstens, Des Moines

3) Zach Stiles, Maxwell

4) Scott Wicks, Pleasantville

5) Robert Stiles, Maxwell

Class F

1) Ben Wicks, Pleasantville

2) Mark Verwers, Cumming

3) Ethan Verwers, Cumming

4) Kirk Wicks, Pleasantville

5) Jacob Wicks, Pleasantville

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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DES MOINES, Iowa, August 14, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that 41 community-based organizations have been selected for funding to create jobs and support rural business development.

"USDA has a strong partnership with rural citizens and communities to bring increased economic opportunity," Vilsack said. "These grants are investments that will help organizations build the capacity and expertise of local businesses, which in turn will spur economic activity and strengthen rural economies. "

For example, in Polk County, the Iowa Economic Development Authority is receiving a $200,000 grant to help revitalize the historical commercial district. The authority will work with businesses on ways to highlight local events and community attractions, take advantage of tax credits, and promote local attractions through branding and marketing campaigns.

In Longmont, Colo., the First Nations Development Institute has been selected for a $50,000 grant to provide training and technical assistance to a Native American non-profit organization and two tribes to assist with capacity building. Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is receiving a $183,862 grant to train unemployed, rural Alaskan members in of seven Federally recognized Tribes for environmental technician jobs.

The funding announced today is being provided through the Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). It helps community-based development organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes and other groups promote economic growth in low-income, rural communities. Recipients are required to obtain matching funds, which increase the value of the grants.

Funding for each project is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement. For a complete list of projects, click here.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

DES MOINES, IOWA, August 14, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 106 projects in 29 states, Guam and Puerto Rico have been selected for funding to produce renewable energy and make energy efficiency improvements. Funding is made available through USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Obama Administration is helping agricultural producers and rural small business owners across the country reduce their energy costs and consumption," Vilsack said. "This is part of the President's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, which involves expanding support for traditional as well as alternative energy sources. Stable energy costs create an environment for sustainable job growth in rural America."

For example, in Washington County, Iowa, Andrew McCall is receiving a guaranteed loan to construct a 50 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine at his agricultural business. The turbine is expected to generate approximately 103,200 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually, enough to meet the annual requirements of nine homes. In Adair, Iowa, Meadow Ridge Wind Energy, LLC is receiving a guaranteed loan that will be used to purchase and install a 1.5 million kW wind turbine. The turbine is expected to generate 5.77 million kWh of electricity annually, enough to meet the annual electricity requirements of more than 500 homes.

In Calumet, Wis., WTE-Dallmann LLC is receiving a REAP grant to help fund the installation of an anaerobic digester that will generate more than 4.8 million kWh of electricity, enough to power 420 homes annually. The power will be sold to the local electric utility.

Anaerobic digester technology is a proven method of converting waste products, such as manure, into electricity. Anaerobic digesters are in concert with an agreement Secretary Vilsack signed with U.S. dairy producers in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 to accelerate the adoption of innovative manure-to-energy projects on American dairy farms.

REAP provides grants and loan guarantees for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to reduce energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy technologies in their operations and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. For a complete listing of recipients announced today, click here: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/rdREAPRecipientsAugust2012.pdf.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).