Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Brian Feldpausch honored 398 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the Iowa State Fair Thursday.
Three Plymouth County families received Heritage Awards, recognizing family farms of 150 years. They include John Becker of Le Mars; Keith and Kristin Koerselman of Le Mars; and the Knapp Family Farm of Westfield. Joan Koskovich of Kingsley received a Century Award, as her farm has been in her family for 100 years.
From Cherokee County, Michael and Pamela Dunn of Meriden were recipients of a Heritage Award, for 150 years of continual family ownership.
From Sioux County, Jim Bonnecroy of Orange City, and Colleen White Gries of Ireton received Heritage awards. Century awards were presented to Lloyd and Lorraine Borchers of rural Le Mars; Sheila Bettendorf of Ireton; The Pete Davelaar Family Farm of Rock Valley; Wayne and Audrey Koenen of Rock Valley; Joseph C. Pohlen of Hospers; Joe and Alissa Richardson of Ireton; and Henry and Elizabeth Wolfswinkel of Rock Valley.
This year, 242 Century Farms and 156 Heritage Farms were recognized. To date, more than 21,000 Century Farms and 1,800 Heritage Farms have been recognized across the state of Iowa. The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. The Heritage Farm program began in 2006.
(Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network stock photo)
