Lansink Family to Receive June Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

06-10-2013 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – June 10, 2013 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends Roger and Amy Lansink of Sac County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. They have been named the June recipients of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award. Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jay Johnson will present the award to the Lansinks on Friday, June 14 at the Odebolt Community Center located at 116 E 2nd St.

“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 Lansinks 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:

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Roger and Amy Lansink, who are turkey farmers from Odebolt in Sac County, have been named the June winners of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jay Johnson will present the award to the Lansink’s on Friday, June 14 at the Odebolt Community Center located at 116 E 2nd St. 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 June 14th.

“The Lansink family does a great job raising livestock and caring for the land while still actively supporting their community,” Northey said. “Since June is ‘National Turkey Lovers Month,’ it is great to be able to recognize one of our state’s outstanding turkey farmers with this award.”

The Lansink family raises turkeys for Hillshire Brands in Storm Lake and also raise corn, soybeans, barley and alfalfa on their farm. They are members of the Iowa Organic Association and have been raising crops organically for over twenty years, using the animal nutrients as natural fertilizer.

Roger and Amy were nominated for the award by Dan Roeder from Ida Grove, who grew up with both Roger’s and Amy’s families in the Odebolt area. In his nomination Roeder highlighted the importance the family places on caring for their animals.

“They take livestock production very seriously and never cut corners, animal welfare is their number one priority. Roger has adopted new technology and has made improvements to his turkey barns to help with better ventilation; this will keep the birds even more comfortable in the summers,” Roeder said.

In closing his nomination Roeder said, “The Lansink’s are caring, hardworking and honest people. They know how to care for their livestock, the environment, their community and their farm. We all benefit from them living and working here and being involved with our community.”

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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