Ag Tours have long been a staple program of the Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce and its Agribusiness Committee. Over the past several years, we have traveled outside of North Iowa to experience operations such as Iowa State University, Hanson Dairy, and more.

After some reflection and discussion, the Agribusiness Committee decided it was time to bring these tours back to North Iowa. By doing so, it increases accessibility, improves scheduling, and makes it easier for more people to participate. They also restructured the traditional annual tour into multiple mini tours throughout the year, creating more opportunities for members and community residents to experience the incredible businesses and industries right here in North Iowa.

The first tour is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Golden Grain Energy. Golden Grain Energy is a privately held company dedicated to adding value to northern Iowa's corn production by turning locally grown corn into clean-burning ethanol.

The second tour will take place at SkyView Market on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 2 – 4 p.m. We are also finalizing plans for a third tour at CR Aquaculture in Garner.

The best part? These experiences are completely free for Chamber members and community members to attend, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.

You can register to attend by visiting our website at www.masoncityia.com. Simply click on Programs, then Calendar and search for "Ag/Industry Tours" to find event details and registration information.

Ag industry tours are coming back to northern Iowa.