89 Families Receive Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards at Iowa State Fair

Awards presented by the Iowa Governor’s Office, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Department of Natural Resources to families embracing environmental conservation practices

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 18, 2021) Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Julie Kenney and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon recognized 89 farm families for their environmental stewardship during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. Recipients are from the last two years, including 42 from 2020 and 47 from 2021. The award acknowledges farmers who take voluntary actions to improve and protect the environment and our state’s natural resources while serving as leaders in their farming communities.

These farm families use scientifically proven practices like cover crops, wetlands, bioreactors and saturated buffers that support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The recipients recognize the benefits of conservation practices extend beyond their fields to residents downstream, and their leadership encourages others to adopt similar conservation practices.

“For generations, Iowa farmers have led in conservation efforts and continue to be excellent stewards of the land,” said Gov. Reynolds. “They go above and beyond improving water quality and soil health, serving as a model for others to follow. The 2021 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards is one way we say thank you, and recognize farmers for all they do.”

“These are the farmers and landowners who are making significant, long-term investments to protect their farming legacies. As leaders in their own communities, they’re showing others how to do the same,” said Secretary Naig. “This program is a great opportunity to honor these individuals for their hard work. They’re making meaningful, impactful changes to our soil and water and helping the state advance the goals outlined in the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”

“We always have great joy in honoring and recognizing these leaders in our farming communities throughout our state that put healthy conservation practices on the forefront of their operations,” said Director Lyon. “It’s now more important than ever that we focus on protecting and enhancing our natural resources—especially our water quality and land quality.”

Since the creation of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012, more than 650 Iowa farm families have been recognized by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Department of Natural Resources. A list of previous recipients can be found at iowaagriculture.gov/farm-environmental-leader-awards.

The awards were sponsored by Bayer CropScience. The winners were chosen by a committee representing both conservation and agricultural groups. High-resolution photos can be downloaded at flickr.com/photos/iowaagriculture/albums.

The 2020 and 2021 award recipients, listed alphabetically by last name, include:

Eric and Darla Andersen and Family, Grundy County
Tom Barry, Kay Barry, Harrison County
Murray and Connie Beinhart, Wapello County
Sam and Danielle Bennett, Ida County
Adam and Kristine Binder, Clay County
Thomas and Linda Bindner, Cherokee County
Blough Dairy - Richard, Sue, Josh and Rachel Blough, Black Hawk County
Wayne Brunsman, Delaware County
Richard A Burger, Appanoose County
Genesus Farms, Fayette County
Bruce Carney, Carney Family Farms, Story County
Tim Couser, Greenfield Farms, Story County
Luke and Linda Croghan, Shelby County
Long-Crow Farms, Marshall County
Kirk and Diane Den Herder, Sioux County
Larry and Kim Deppe Farm, Jackson County
Red Fern Farm - Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl, Louisa County
Dan, Annette, Drew, and Shannon Dietz, Chickasaw County
Trent and Jerri Dight Family, Floyd County
Glenwood Century Farm - Wade Dooley, Marshall County
Ra Ra Farms: Ralph and Becky Dorale, Crawford County
Eivins Evergreen Pond Farm, Marvin and Lillian Eivins, Madison County
Roger Fullenkamp, Lee County
Jake and Dellisa Geisler and Geisler Pork Farms, LLC, Webster County
DJ Goodman Farms, Darin and Jamie Goodman, Pottawattamie County
Earl B., Tanya and Jeromy Greiner, Keokuk County
Hatlen Family Farms, Buena Vista County
April Hemmes, Franklin County
Prairie Skye Productions - Chris Henning, Greene County
Hermiston Farms Incorporated - Colin and Shannon Hermiston, Morgan Hermiston, Cedar County
Jamie Hostetler, Jackson County
Eric and Jessica Hunziker, Sac County
Ben and Amy Johnson, Andy and Abbie Johnson, Floyd County
Brent and LuAnn Johnson, Calhoun County
Jóia Food Farm and Center View Farms; Wendy Johnson and John Rafkin, Erwin and Yoshiko Johnson, Floyd County
Kadner Farms, Grundy County
Kevin Kelly, Cedar County
John Kerkove, Buchanan County
The Jim and Jody Kerns Family, Delaware County
Eric and Susan J Knapp and Sons, Davis County
Patty Koller, Lee County
Glenn and Michelle Kreuder, Decatur County
Rodger and Karen Krogmeier, Jefferson County
Sam Kvidera, Tama County
AJ Lackore Farms, Inc., Winnebago County
Daryl Landsgard, Clayton County
Dale Launstein, John Launstein, Ray Launstein, Grundy County
L3 Farms: Nathan and Laina Legler, Humboldt County
Kurt Lehman, Lynda Lehman, Tony Lem, Ashlea Lem, Polk County
Lance and Heidi Lillibridge, Benton County
Mark, William, and Jerome Loutsch, Plymouth County
Hawkeye Buffalo and Cattle Ranch, Martha McFarland, Chickasaw County
Monck Farms Inc., Jones County
Art Moss and Sons Inc. - Craig and Hayley Moss - Arlan and Ruth Moss, Sioux County
Paul Mugge, O'Brien County
Neff Brothers, Marshall County
Brad and Lynn Ohrt, Grundy County
Olson Farms, Brian and Katie Olson, Pocahontas County
John and Jill O'Neal, Montgomery County
Craig and Mary Pfantz, Marshall County
Steve and Tracy Pickhinke, Sac County
E A Price Farms, Pocahontas County
Kevin and Lisa Rasmussen, Humboldt County
Tim and Darla Recker, Fayette County
Jerry and Georgia Rice, David and Julie Rice, Keokuk County
Jim and Donna Robinson, Montgomery County
Rosmann Family Farms - Ron Rosmann and Maria Vakulskas Rosmann, David, Daniel, and Mark Rosmann, Shelby County
Roth Farm, Black Hawk County
Edmund and Barbara Ruff Family Farm, Clayton County
Casey and Lisa Schomaker, Clay County
Austin Schulte Dairy, Benton County
Greg and Aimee Shepherd, Henry County
Phil Short, Buchanan County
Green Iron Farms, Tim and Ethel Sieren, Washington County
Jeremy Sills, Tama County
Adam, Lindsay, Clara, Culee and Canon Smith, Davis County
Dennis and Patty Staudt, Floyd County
Dennis J. Strother, Franklin County
Stuart Swanson, Wright County
Clark Thompson, Story County
Treinen Cattle Co., Buena Vista County
David and Paula Trevitt, Des Moines County
Valley View Farms: Roger and Louise Van Ersvelde, Poweshiek County
Van Horn Farms, Carroll County
Vander Wilt Farm, Arvin and Carolyn Vander Wilt, Mahaska County
Kirk and Lynell Vorthmann and Kelby and Jennifer Vorthmann, Pottawattamie County
James and Stacie Wendel, Howard County
Larry K. Winkelpleck, Larry L. Winkelpleck, Jon Winkelpleck, Zach Winkelpleck, Tama County
Wright 5 Farms, Taylor County