The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award, which recognizes farm families who demonstrate outstanding leadership in conservation and stewardship. Recipients will be honored during a ceremony Aug. 19 at the Iowa State Fair as part of the state’s America250 celebration. The award highlights farmers who voluntarily adopt conservation practices that protect soil and water resources while supporting Iowa’s agricultural productivity. Prior awardees have implemented practices such as cover crops, no-till or reduced-tillage, nutrient management, wetlands, saturated buffers, and bioreactors to improve water quality and prevent soil erosion. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “I encourage Iowans to nominate farmers in their communities who are helping us accelerate the adoption of proven conservation practices that filter water, strengthen soil health, and protect our natural resources. Clean water is non-negotiable, and protecting our natural resources requires a system-wide approach that delivers solutions from field to faucet. Let’s honor the farmers and farm families who are doing their part as leaders in environmental stewardship.” Nominations may be submitted by farmers, landowners, conservation professionals, commodity groups, or members of the public. The deadline to submit nominations is May 4, and details on how to do so are included below.
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Farm Environmental Leader Awards | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
