140-year-old Retailer Will Anchor Perimeter Mall in North Atlanta;

Move Continues Company's Strategic Expansion Throughout the Southeast

DAVENPORT, Iowa - January 11, 2012 - Von Maur Department Stores announced today its plans to open a 234,000 square foot store at Atlanta's Perimeter Mall in November 2012.  The store will be the Company's second location in Georgia and will become one of Von Maur's largest stores in the country.

Known for its outstanding selection of brand name and specialty apparel, shoes, accessories and gifts, the store will feature products from leading brands such as Eileen Fisher, Free People, Coach, Joe's Jeans and Tommy Bahama, among many others.  Located at the mall's former Bloomingdales' location, the three level Von Maur store will be completely renovated in order to feature the Company's signature residential ambiance, complete with antiques, original artwork, open-floor plan and music from the store's grand piano. It is expected that the store will eventually employ 275-325 full-time and part-time associates, the majority of which will be full-time.

Today's announcement marks the continuation of the family-owned Company's strategic growth, targeting select markets within and beyond its traditional Midwestern roots. Von Maur opened its first Southeast location at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Ga., in November 2011, and has announced plans to open additional stores in Hoover, Ala., and Victor, N.Y., in Fall 2013.

"We're thrilled to become a part of the successful Perimeter Mall, and look forward to furthering our reputation as a retailer of choice for shoppers throughout Greater Atlanta and beyond," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur.

In addition to its selection of popular brands and merchandise, Von Maur is also widely-regarded for its superior customer service, including an interest-free charge card, liberal return policy, free gift wrapping and shipping services. The Company also offers its associates above-market wages, excellent benefits and a positive, professional work environment.

About Von Maur

Von Maur was founded nearly 140 years ago in downtown Davenport, Iowa. The Company currently operates 27 stores in 11 states. The Company also runs a successful online business at vonmaur.com, in addition to a new chain of women's specialty stores under the nameplate DRY GOODS.  For more information, please visit www.vonmaur.com.

Pregnant women are trying to be healthier.  Many take all the right steps to promote the birth of a healthy baby, including eating right, taking vitamins and eliminating alcohol and nicotine from their lives.

Unfortunately, all those efforts may be for naught if they are still being exposed to unseen chemicals in their daily lives. Dr. Doris Rapp, an experienced physician and expert on all the hidden household and environmental hazards, wants women to know about the many insidious and dangerous threats to their unborn babies. The harmful exposures can cause serious harm and damaging birth defects to babies in the womb, and they are right under our noses.

"One of the most dangerous groups of chemicals to pregnant women is known as PCBs," said Rapp, author of 32 Tips That Could Save Your Life (www.dorisrappmd.com). "PCB stands for polychlorinated biphenyls, and they are commonly used in industrial pesticides. While they may not be in your house, they may exist in your office, your water or your food, especially if you live near the Great Lakes or consume seafood caught there. These chemicals pass through the placenta into the unborn, and some exposures have been known to cause devastating birth defects.  These chemicals have also been found in the breast milk of women."

According to Rapp, some of the dangers of these pesticides include, but are not limited to:

• Lower birth weight
• Smaller head size and developmental delays
• Movement, mental, and behavioral problems
• Increased or decreased activity levels
• Slowed thought processing and "less bright" appearance
• Lower reaction times
• Compromised nervous systems

"Moreover, a group of pesticides known as organophosphates also poses a high risk for pregnant women," Rapp added.

"These include Bisphenol-A and phthalates," she said. "They are derived from World War II nerve agents and are highly toxic. Even at low levels, organophosphates can be toxic to the developing brain, and studies show that they can affect brain and reproductive development in unborn animals. While most pesticides categorized as organophosphates have been banned for household use, they are still permitted for commercial use, including in fumigation for mosquitoes.  Malathion, a common toxic organophosphate, is still allowed for use as an industrial and household insecticide.  In the US, approximately 15 million pounds of Malathion are used each year by the government, as well as by businesses and homeowners."

Her advice for women is to do all they can to avoid contact with these chemicals, starting before conception.

"Stay as far away as possible from pesticide-treated areas," Rapp said. "Do not eat pesticide-laden food or any fish from the Great Lakes. Try to eat only organic foods. Further, if your job requires you to be in contact with any chemicals or pesticides, insist that other tasks be given to you for the duration of your pregnancy. Half the battle is knowing these dangers exist, but the other half is being informed and conscientious enough to be able to avoid contact with these dangerous and toxic agents."

About Doris Rapp, M.D.

Dr. Rapp is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric allergy and environmental medicine. She was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo until she moved in January 1996 to Phoenix. She practiced traditional allergy for 18 years and then, in 1975, began incorporating the principles of environmental medicine into her pediatric allergy practice. She is a certified specialist in environmental medicine. She has published numerous medical articles, authored chapters in medical texts and written many informative and "how-to" books and booklets about allergy for the public. She has also produced numerous educational videos and audiotapes for the public, educators and physicians.

END TO DIRECT PAYMENTS, CHANGES FOR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FLOODWATER PLAN, AND CROP ESTIMATE TOOLS AMONG KEY ISSUES DEBATED AT 93rd ANNUAL AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION MEETING

Hill Elected to AFBF Board of Directors

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Jan. 11, 2012 - In a move which began with Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) voting delegates last year, the nation's largest grassroots farm organization voted to end direct payments in the 2012 Farm Bill, during the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) 93rd Annual Convention this week in Honolulu.

"Iowa Farm Bureau members took a stand a year ago and led national discussion on the importance of achieving a fiscally responsible position which acknowledged our nation's budget concerns, yet maintained a safety net for our nation's food producers," said IFBF President Craig Hill.  "This week our national delegation of farmers agreed; the time is right to take a stand."

IFBF farmers also led a national discussion on Missouri River flood control measures, the accuracy of the nation's crop reporting system and conservation.

"Iowa lost more than 350 homes and suffered more than $207 million in damage when the Missouri River went out of its banks this year.  We're pleased the national delegation recognized the need to encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to adjust their formula for retention of water for consideration of future weather events and the impact of people in these counties," said Hill, an Iowa voting delegate. "Their release of overflow created flooding in 280,000 acres, many of which were not in the floodplains. The end result was total devastation."

AFBF delegates adopted Iowa language opposing any linkage of crop insurance with conservation compliance, Hill said.  While Iowa farmers lead the nation in conservation, linking the programs could cause financial disasters for Iowa farmers, he said.  "Because of torrential weather events like we've seen in recent years, we also know that linkage of conservation to crop insurance simply risks too much at a time when the stakes have never been higher for farmers.  There are already 15 farm programs that link to the conservation title in the Farm Bill, so to deny crop insurance to farmers because of weather events beyond their control could put a farmer out of business in a single year's event."  Eighty-five percent of Iowa farmers have crop insurance.

Iowa voting delegates also led discussion to improve the way the government does crop reporting estimates, which are so influential on national and international markets.  Iowa farmers won agreement from Farm Bureau members across the nation to urge the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) to use improved technology and methodology such as satellite imagery to estimate crop numbers, not just because it's more accurate, but also because new technologies are more cost effective.

IFBF also received several awards during the 93rd Annual AFBF meeting in Hawaii.  Iowa President Hill was elected to a one-year term on the AFBF Board of Directors, and young Page County crop and livestock farmers Justin and Jennifer Dammann won Top 10 Young Farmer Achievement award honors for their knowledge and farming achievement and commitment to sharing agriculture's message.  Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization also received national Awards of Excellence in five categories including ag education and promotion, leadership development, member services, policy implementation and public relations and information.

For more information on AFBF resolutions, leader awards and to hear IFBF leaders discuss Iowa farming priorities, visit the Media section of the IFBF website, www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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CHARITABLE GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR 2011 ANNOUNCED

Club's annual "Lobsterfest" shares $20,000 with 12 area not-for-profit organizations