Four local farm families were presented the 2025 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award during the Iowa State Fair earlier this week. The award was created to recognize Iowans who go above and beyond to protect and improve Iowa’s soil and water quality and serve as leaders in their communities. Awardees often participate in multiple voluntary conservation practices, ranging from cover crops and wetland restoration to buffer strips and no-till farming. Presenting the award on Wednesday were Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Kayla Lyon. Reynolds says, “Here in Iowa, we know that agriculture and conservation go hand in hand. Our farmers feed and fuel the world – and they also lead the way in protecting soil, improving our water quality, and adopting innovative practices that will keep our state striving for generations to come.” Recipients are selected by a committee made up of members from the state’s many conservation and agricultural groups. Local awardees include James Hepp of Hepp Farms in Calhoun County, Ryan Bowman in Carroll County, Justin and Lacie Robbins of Robbins Land and Cattle in Greene County, and Tom, Kaitlin, John, and Cathy Geake in Sac County. The complete list of this year’s recipients is included below.
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Ross Havens
Nichols Farms
Adair County
Nick Helland
Helland Farms
Boone County
James and Jenny Adams
Buena Vista County
James Hepp
Hepp Farms
Calhoun County
Ryan Bowman
Ryan and Kelsey Bowman Family
Carroll County
John Black
Cedar County
Jeff Rooney and Karla Rooney
Rooney Farms LLC
Cerro Gordo County
Bruce Husman and Cindy Husman
Husman Farms
Cherokee County
Brent Swart and Steve Swart
Swart Farms
Clay County
Joe Sass
Clayton County
Nathan Goedken
Delaware County
Lillie Beringer Crock
Beringer Family Farms
Dubuque County
Rick Matt and Damien Matt
Varykino, Inc
Fayette County
Doug Alert and Margaret Smith
Ash Grove Farm
Franklin County
Justin Robbins and Lacie Robbins
Robbins Land and Cattle
Greene County
Doug Christiansen
Grundy County
Grant Johnson and Vernon Johnson
Grundy County
Lance Moeller and Jerry Moeller
Grundy County
Michael Murphy and Jason Murphy
Grundy County
Lynn Knutson and Joyce Knutson
Lund Heritage Farm
Hamilton County
Mike and Michelle Coleman
Humboldt County
Chris Lee
Ida County
David Dermody and Travis Dermody
Iowa County
Dirk Van Wyk and Jourdan Van Wyk
Van Wyk Family Farms
Jasper County
Rick Vos
Jasper County
Clinton Mikesell
Keokuk County
Sara Hanson Pearson and Robert Pearson
Prairie Sky Farm
Kossuth County
Bill Benjamin
Lee County
Nathan Nieuwendorp
Emery Creek Inc.
Lyon County
Jerry Kincade and Becky Kincade
Kincade Farmland Trust
Madison County
Jackson Drost and Amanda Drost
Drost Farms
Mahaska County
Tony Brink and Roberta Brink
Marshall County
Mike Deahr
Deer Haven Farms
Muscatine County
Patrick Dipple and Katherine Dipple
Muscatine County
Terry Gleaves
Pottawattamie County
Wesley Henry
Pottawattamie County
Tom and Kaitlin Geake and John and Cathy Geake
Sac County
Taylor Kats and Jessica Kats
Sioux County
James Harrison and Sheri Harrison
Story County
Russell Olson and Hayden Olson
Olson Farms
Worth County
