Iowa County Farmer to Receive Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

04-17-2013 in Cattle

West Des Moines, Iowa – April 17, 2013 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends John Schulte of Iowa County for his outstanding efforts as a neighbor and community leader. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to Schulte on Wednesday, April 24 at the Norway community building, 210 South St., in Norway.

“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 John 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:

JOHN SCHULTE OF IOWA COUNTY NAMED WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNER

Award to be presented on April 24 at the Norway community building

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that John Schulte from rural Norway has been named the April winner of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Northey will present the award to Schulte on Wednesday, April 24 at the Norway community building, 210 South St., in Norway. 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. on April 24th.

“John Schulte is another example of the tremendous livestock farmers we have in Iowa that go out of their way to care for their animals and the land while also serving their neighbors and the community,” Northey said.

Schulte raises cattle and uses flash grazing on his pastures, moving cattle at least once a day, twice if it is raining. Schulte was in the dairy industry until 2000 and now helps his son who owns a dairy operation. He and his son have installed monoslope buildings to replace open feedlots, which have drastically reduced runoff from their operations.

Rose Danaher, the Price Creek Watershed Coordinator for the Iowa County Soil and Water Conservation District, nominated Schulte for the award. In her nomination she said, “He was one of the first cooperators in the Price Creek Watershed Project. Price Creek has benefitted immensely from John’s conservation practices including; flash grazing, livestock exclusion from the creek, creek stabilization, gully and sensitive area stabilization, cover cropping, conservation crop rotations, CRP management and much more.”

Danaher went on to say, “In addition to his dedication to the land, water and his animals, John has also show dedication to the agricultural community by sharing his knowledge. He has hosted many field days on his innovative pasture system, participated in a farmer-to-farmer outreach program and helped spread the word about the Price Creek Watershed project.”

“The involvement and support of farmers like John is critically important to the success of watershed projects like Price Creek,” Northey said.

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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