Terry Gleaves to Receive March Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

03-04-2014 in Cattle

West Des Moines, Iowa – March 4, 2014 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends Terry Gleaves of Pottawattamie County for his outstanding efforts as a neighbor and community leader. He has been named the March recipient of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to him on Monday, March 10 at the Oakland Community Center, 614 Dr. Van Zee Rd., in Oakland.

“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 Terry 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:

TERRY GLEAVES FROM POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY NAMED WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNER

Award to be presented March 10 at the Oakland Community Center

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Terry Gleaves, who is a cow/calf farmer in rural Pottawattamie County, has been named the March winner of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Northey will present the award to Gleaves and his family on Monday, March 10 at the Oakland Community Center, 614 Dr. Van Zee Rd., in Oakland.  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 March 10th.

“Terry clearly cares about his farm, his animals and his neighbors and it is great to be able to present him with this award to highlight the tremendous contributions of our state’s livestock farmer,” Northey said.

Gleaves is part of three-generation farm that raises crops and livestock.  Terry farms with his father Eugene and son Evan.

Gleaves was nominated for the award by Becky Lockwood who works for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at the East Pottawattamie Soil and Water Conservation District office.  In her nomination Lockwood highlighted the work by Gleaves to help organize a neighborhood harvest to help Phil Killinger, a farmer who had been stricken with cancer.  Gleaves helped arrange combines, grain carts and drivers as well as lunch and refreshments over the two day harvest.  A local elevator donated trucks for transport as well.

In addition to his work on the farm, Gleaves works as a soil technician for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and been active applying those conservation principals to his farm.  The Gleaves family no-till their corn and soybeans, plant on the contour, and have installed terraces, waterways, field borders and grass buffer strips.

Gleaves is also a member of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and serves as a Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner.

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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