Secretary Naig to Present the Fara Family with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award
Shelby County farm family recognized for stewardship, animal care and decades of community leadership
DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 14, 2026) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Mike and Kathy Fara family of Shelby County on Friday, Jan. 16. The event and award presentation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Irwin Community Building in Irwin.
The Fara farming operation is led by Mike Fara, who farms alongside his wife, Kathy. They have three children. Their oldest son, Steve, is nearing retirement from the U.S. Army after a distinguished career as a pilot, achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5, and is currently stationed in Huntsville, Alabama. Steve and his wife, Leigh, have two children. Their daughter, Sharon, teaches Business Administration at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. She and her husband, Burke, have three sons. Their son, Eric, lives nearby and plays an active role in the farming operation, while also managing his own farming enterprise that includes custom cover crop seeding and custom baling. Eric and his wife, Katie, have one son. The family is also supported by two long-time part-time employees who have been with the operation for more than 20 years.
“Being a good farm neighbor starts with respect for your land, your livestock, and the people around you, and the Fara family exemplifies that mindset,” said Secretary Naig. “Through their long-standing conservation practices, commitment to animal care, and decades of community leadership, they set a strong example for Iowa agriculture. I am pleased to recognize the Faras with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”
The Fara family’s agricultural roots span multiple generations. Mike gradually took over the operation from his parents, Orland and Ona Fara, who purchased portions of the farmland in the 1970s. Orland was a Korean War veteran and Iowa State University graduate with an agricultural background, and together Orland and Ona owned and operated the Manning Ag Center in Manning for more than 40 years. Mike previously farmed with his brother, Alan. Orland passed away in 2018, and Ona, now 94, resides in Manning.
Today, the diversified farm includes corn, soybeans, alfalfa, grass hay, pasture, and small grains such as oats and cereal rye grown for seed, with straw marketed in small square bales. The livestock side of the operation includes a commercial cow herd with both spring- and fall-calving cows bred to Wagyu bulls.
Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of the Fara operation. The family utilizes no-till, terraces, grass waterways, headlands, buffer strips, and rotational grazing. Cover crops have been part of the operation for decades, with oats and rye grown for seed for more than 50 years. Over the past 25 years, they have expanded cover crop use to include rye, oats, radishes, and turnips, often grazing those acres in the fall and winter. In recognition of these efforts, the family received the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2013.
Animal care is a priority across the operation. Mike has completed BQA training (Beef Quality Assurance) and works to ensure cattle care practices meet high animal welfare standards through low-stress cattle handling techniques.
Community involvement and service are defining characteristics of the Fara family. Mike has been active in his church for more than 40 years and currently serves as congregational president. He has served on the Shelby County Farm Bureau Board since 1992, including terms as secretary, vice president, president, and voting delegate. He is also a long-time National Weather Service observer, with more than 32 years of service, and has served nine years on the Shelby County FSA Committee. Additional leadership roles include service on the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Board, the Loess Hills Ag in the Classroom Board, the Shelby County Republican Central Committee, and past involvement with the Shelby County Pork Producers, the IKM Foundation Board, and the Iowa Seed Association. Kathy also plays an active role in the community, serving as church treasurer and chair of the Shelby County Extension Council.
The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, The Big Show on WHO Radio, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Now in its 22nd year, the award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who demonstrate exceptional animal care, environmental stewardship, and strong community involvement.
