Nineteen buses and vans departed on Thursday Aug. 17 to 18 different Professional Improvement Tours.

The breakfast was great, the buses all arrived on time and the weather was beautiful. And of course, the walking tour experienced downtown Des Moines on foot.

Tour participants observed cattle, horses, pigs, goats, dairy, crops and farm machinery. Wildlife, wetland research, fuel alcohol and tile drainage installation were also part of the Iowa experience.

And we had some fun. Train rides, river boats, iconic movie sets and classic cars were also part of the Iowa tours.