The singer Fergie, at her peak, held tours worldwide to share her talent with her fans. Her tour brought her to Sioux Falls and career with the Black Eyed Peas had her even closer to the area, in Omaha. Alas, her musical career has slowed down as she focuses on her son.
    While the celebrity Fergie hasn't been in our stomping grounds, a Fergie from here has participated in tours of her own in this area performing (in sorts) as close as Ida Grove and as far as Kansas City. Granted, this Fergie looked more like a cow than a person. As a matter of fact, this Fergie belongs to Mya Boyle and lives in at her parents' farm, Mindy and Duane Boyle in rural Danbury.
    Mya became Fergie's owner in September of 2025, purchased from Dalton Smith of Charter Oak. She had a bit of work to do to get the heifer ready for the shows.
    "At first, Fergie was pretty temperamental," said Mya, a freshman at ISU. "She was definitely my wildest calf out of the three I worked with this year. The first time I tied her up to the gate to rinse her off, she got a little spunky and ended up snapping the pole! However, the more I worked with her, the more she calmed down and started to enjoy getting baths. Over time, we built a special bond."
    Mya used the cold weather months to get to know her bovine buddy and the Spring months to prepare for the big shows. Fergie's debut was in Ida Grove in June. Seven shows later, Fergie held her farewell show of sorts in Kansas City.
    Mya and Fergie had a successful four-month tour. At her first show in Ida Grove, Fergie received Reserve Champion Market Heifer. Her second show was in late July at the Best of the West Qualifier show held at the Woodbury County Fairgrounds. There, she won Grand Champion Market Beef which qualified her for the Best of the West show in Denison in early August. Unfortunately she didn't end up advancing in Denison. The following week, Fergie and Mya were present at the Woodbury County Fair where they received Reserve Champion Market Heifer and Fourth Overall Market Beef. Mya also earned Reserve Champion Senior Showman at the fair. In late August, Mya and Fergie when to the Marcus State Fair where she won Grand Champion Market Heifer and Mya placed second in our showmanship class. Then, in early September, they traveled to the Clay County Fair where she won Grand Champion Market Heifer once again. In late September, the due went to the Aksarben Stock Show in Nebraska where she earned another Grand Champion Market Heifer title. Finally, this past Saturday, they competed in their final show together at the American Royal in Kansas City. Fergie placed fourth in her class, and we earned Reserve in our Senior Showmanship class.
    "Looking back at all eight shows, it is amazing to see how far Fergie and I have come since we first started working together from being my wildest calf to becoming one I built such a strong bond with," stated Mya. "I will definitely miss stepping into the ring with her and making memories along the way. I'm thankful for everything we accomplished together and for my parents for helping with chores while I was away at college."
    While the duo had a great run, Mya won't be missing all that showmanship has to offer.
    "I won't miss the early mornings of rinsing and blowing every day," said Mya. "Although it was peaceful to listen to music while working with her, it definitely got a little boring doing the same thing over and over again."
    Mya, a freshman at Iowa State University, could theoretically continue showing cattle as an FFA member, she has chosen to focus on her future. Majoring in Animal Science, she can get involved in livestock, judging and shows and will learn more about the livestock industry. Thus, the Fergie/Mya tour has ended as Mya has hung up her show halter and Fergie enjoys her time in the pasture.
    "I will miss most the adrenaline rush of stepping into the show ring, seeing how much my skills improved, and watching Fergie improve right alongside me," she added. "I will also miss all of the fun memories made with Fergie, friends, and family at every show."
    While the story is basically about Mya and Fergie and their successes, her mom also sums up a more important aspect to raising cattle.
    "I don't think there's a better place to raise young men and women than in a barn," said Mindy. "As a saying goes, it isn't all about raising livestock, but it's about the livestock raising these young men and women! It teaches them a lot about the challenges the early mornings bring and late nights spent in the barn."
    May she and all young future farmers continue to grow and learn as they prepare to raise America's future meals.

    The drier weather has helped the fields become more and more bare, and a harvest dinner is in the works for this weekend to celebrate this important time of the year.
    A harvest dinner featuring a hot turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes and gravy, bacon green beans, stuffing, and dessert will be served at Dana Hall on Saturday from 4:30 until 7:30. The feast is only $15 per meal.
    Preorder your meal(s) by contacting Kaylee at 712-840-9866 or Jenna at 402-201-9965. Meals will also be available for carryout.
    Please plan to support this harvest dinner. Proceeds help the Carlson Frum American Legion.

    Certified Bob Ross Instructor Gary Schmidt will be teaching a painting class on Saturday, October 24th at Cord Memorial Library beginning promptly at 1pm.
    Sign up and prepayment are required for attendance. The cost is $25 per participant. Please call us at 712-883-2207 or send us an email at danburylib@gmail.com. There are only 10 seats available, first to register with payment will reserve your spot. Payments can be brought to the library during business hours or placed in our book drop box. You will go home with a beautiful outdoor scenic oil painting!
    Never painted before? Gary will help you every step of the way. Gary mentioned this program is best suited for ages 14 and up. Younger than 14 will need an adult with them. The only item each participant needs to bring is a roll of paper towels. Come find out why!

    The parishioners at St. John's United Methodist Church in Mapleton will be serving supper next Wednesday.
    From 4:30 - 6:30, supporters can pick up smoked pork chops catered by Staley's, scalloped potatoes, sweet corn, cole slaw, and apple crisp for only $17.
    This year the supper is only available as a drive thru option with limited delivery in Mapleton.
    Questions? ContactTena at 712-840-0043.
    Please consider supporting the parish.

    DES MOINES—Attorney General Brenna Bird is warning Iowans to be aware of Medicare scams during open enrollment.
    "Open enrollment season for Iowans means it's scam season for criminals," said Attorney General Brenna Bird. "If you or someone you love is on Medicare, please be very careful of Medicare scams. If someone is calling you about Medicare, it's almost definitely a scam because Medicare does not initiate calls to people directly. Scammers will prey on older Iowans to steal their Medicare numbers and other personal information so they can commit fraud that can harm an innocent Iowan's good name. If you believe you are being scammed, please hang up and contact my office."
Some Medicare Scam Red Flags to Watch For:
    Unsolicited Calls or Texts: Remember, Medicare will not initiate a call or text message chain with you. Hang up, don't answer the text, and never click on any links in a text.
    False deadline: By law, Open Enrollment for Medicare is from October 15-December 7th. If a caller invents an earlier deadline than December 7th, it's a scam.
    New Card: If a caller claims to be sending you a new card and just needs to "check" your number first, it's a scam. Free card replacements come by mail after a request through your Medicare online account or through 1-800-MEDICARE. Nobody calls you to "confirm" the number first.
    Free tests or medical devices: If a caller offers you free genetic screening for cancer that involves a cheek swab or any other free medical device, it's a scam.
    Official phone calls: If someone calls claiming to be an officer with a Medicare Fraud Unit about your card or number being used, it's a scam. No real federal officer calls to demand your number or a payment to "clear" your file.
    Switch with no changes: If a caller claims you can switch your plan and promises everything stays the same, it's a scam. Any plan switch during Open Enrollment can change your network, drug coverage, or out-of-pocket ceiling.
    Remember, Medicare and those offering Medicare coverage (e.g., private insurers offering Medicare Advantage Plans) will not initiate a call with you. Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans never call to ask for your Medicare number, bank account, or a payment to keep your coverage. If a caller pressures you during open enrollment, hang up, and contact the Attorney General's office at 515-281-5926, consumer@ag.iowa.gov, or through the website at iowaattorneygeneral.gov. You can also report any suspicious call or scam directly to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).