Alexander Family to Receive Good Farm Neighbor Award

09-13-2016 in Cattle

West Des Moines, Iowa – September 13, 2016 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Alexander family of Wayne County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. They have been named recipients of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the family on Thursday, September 15th. The ceremony will be at the Alexander farm located at 1563 205 St., Promise City, Iowa.

“Iowa farm families go to great lengths every day to provide the best possible care for their animals and the environment, while still being good neighbors and active community members,” CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham said. “This award is a great way to recognize people like the Alexanders who represent who we would all like to have as a neighbor.”

The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of CSIF, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award. For more information, visit www.supportfarmers.com/goodneighbor.

The full release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is below:

PAUL ALEXANDER FROM WAYNE COUNTY NAMED WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNER

Award to be presented Sept. 15 at the Alexander farm near Promise City

Contact: Dustin Vande Hoef, 515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Paul Alexander from Wayne County has been named the winner of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the family on Thursday, Sept. 15. The ceremony will be at the Alexander farm located at 1563 205th St., Promise City. The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Paul is another great example of the livestock farmers found all across Iowa that do a tremendous job caring for their animals and protecting the land while also remaining active in their community and serving their neighbors. It is important we recognize families like this and highlight all the important contributions from livestock farms and livestock farmers,” Northey said.

Paul Alexander and his family raise around 17,000 hogs and also have some cattle and raise row crops and hay. The family also raises sweet corn.

The family was nominated for the award by their neighbor Allison Brown and her parents, Mark and Joyce Brown. In her nomination Brown highlighted the pride Alexander takes in caring for the land and protecting the environment. “He has built terraces on his crop ground to help with erosion. He is also in the Green Farmstead Partner program by planting windbreaks around his hog bars. He recently installed solar panels at his hog barns to cut down on electricity usage,” Brown said.

She also said he is great neighbor who is always willing to help. “Paul has been a great neighbor to me and my family for as long as I can remember. Paul is always the first to help out. No amount of money or words of thanks is enough for all his help,” Brown added.

Alexander is also on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is very active in his church.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Anyone interested in nominating their neighbor for the award should write a letter or e-mail explaining why their neighbor should receive this designation. Applications may be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, Henry A. Wallace Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or emailed to Communications@iowaAgriculture.gov.

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