Iowa Agriculture Department officials opened a 21-year-old time capsule Tuesday. The time capsule sat under an old-fashioned plow at the southwest corner of the Henry Wallace building in Des Moines. The Iowa Plowing Association donated the time capsule when the Wallace building, which houses the Ag Department’s offices, was dedicated. Ag Secretary Patty Judge says it was time to replace the capsule. She says time took its toll on the plow and the Plowing Association decided it needed to be refurbished. An electric saw was used to cut open the time capsule, and Judge read some of the pamphlets inside. One calling for the introduction of the metric system drew loud laughter.Ag Department employees contributed materials for a new capsule. Sharon King included a report on the latest grain prices.A computer disc with digital pictures, a mini John Deere tractor, an ethanol key chain and samples of Iowa grain will also be placed in the new time capsule. The plow and the new time capsule are being moved inside the Wallace building. The new capsule will be opened in 2025.
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