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5 things to know about the Harkin Steak Fry

By WTOP Staff

CATHERINE LUCEY
Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Democrats gather this weekend for Sen. Tom Harkin’s annual Steak Fry fundraiser, headlined this year by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The event has long been considered a highlight of the political social calendar in the state, but what is it all about? And do they actually fry the steaks?

Five things to know about the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola:

1. OUT OF THE FRYING PAN

First things first. Nothing actually gets fried.

“In 37 steak fries, they’ve never fried a steak,” said Democratic consultant Jeff Link, a longtime Harkin adviser. But they called it a steak fry at the first, in 1972 near Winterset, Iowa, and the name stuck. It later turned into an annual event.

And there isn’t just red meat on the menu. In addition to steak, the thousands of expected attendees can sample chicken, veggie burgers and sides like baked beans.

2. HITTING THE BIGTIME

The Steak Fry has become a high-profile event, in part because of Iowa’s role as the leadoff caucus state. In the past two competitive Democratic presidential campaigns, it has served as a valuable opportunity for candidates to practice getting their supporters mobilized — the most important aspect of a winning caucus campaign.

The Steak Fry has also become a place to rally Democrats ahead of a fall election. Some have been key to activating supporters for Harkin, who faced strong challenges in three of his four re-election campaigns. Others have been closely watched for their attendance and enthusiasm ahead of presidential elections, especially since Iowa has become a battleground state.

3. STAR POWER

Who has attended? More like who hasn’t.

Bill Clinton will be making his fourth Steak Fry appearance on Sunday. He was the headliner in 1992, weeks before he was elected president, and was back in 1996 with Vice President Al Gore during their re-election bid. He came again in 2003 ahead of the 2004 presidential caucuses, along with the entire slate of Democrats running for president.

In 2006, Sen. Barack Obama’s appearance drew a packed crowd, a sign of his rising popularity. A year later, Obama and Hillary Clinton were among six presidential candidates to be the featured guests.

In 2002, Harkin invited Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, who had switched from a Republican to independent, giving Democrats control of the Senate. Ten years later, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, viewed as potential presidential material, took the stage.

4. NOTABLE MOMENTS

1991: Harkin announces his own bid for president.

2003: Thousands sit through hours of driving, cold rain to hear seven Democratic candidates for president, and wait for a late-arriving Bill Clinton in a muddy event later termed “Harkinstock.”

2006: Obama, then beginning to discuss a possible presidential bid, is Harkin’s guest. He vastly overshadows outgoing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who also is weighing a presidential bid.

2007: More than 15,000 attend on a sun-splashed September Sunday to see seven candidates, including Obama, who famously leads thousands of supporters on a march from a nearby field to the Steak Fry.

5. WHAT’S NEXT

Harkin is retiring, and for a lot of Iowa Democrats, the very idea of a world without a Harkin Steak Fry is confusing. And it’s not completely clear what will replace the event.

Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Braley, a four-term congressman, has a fall fundraiser called “Bruce, Blues and BBQ.” He has held the event for nine years and moved it to Des Moines last year. His campaign spokesman, Jeff Giertz, demurred when asked if that event could replace the Harkin Steak Fry, stressing that the focus was to win this fall’s election.

“I don’t think anything can replace the Steak Fry,” Giertz said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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