Turkey Farmer Steve Kier From Newell Named November Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award Winner

10-31-2011 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – October 31, 2011 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends Steve Kier of Newell for his efforts to be a good neighbor. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award” to Kier Nov. 4 at DFS, Inc. 167 W. 1^st St., in Newell.

“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,” says CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham. “This award is a great way to recognize farmers like Steve who represent who we would all like to have as a neighbor.”

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.

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

TURKEY FARMER STEVE KIER FROM NEWELL NAMED NOVEMBER WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNER

Award Presentation to take place on Nov. 4th in Newell

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Steve Kier from rural Newell in Buena Vista County is the winner of the November “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Northey will present the award to Kier on Friday, Nov. 4^th at DFS, Inc. 167 W. 1^st St., in Newell.  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.

“November is a great month to recognize one of Iowa’s many turkey farmers who take great pride in caring for their animals and the land while also going out of their way to be a good neighbor,” Northey said.  “Steve is a great example of the farmers we have in this state who go above and beyond to care for their community.”

Kier began raising turkeys in 1987 and currently operates two turkey farms for Sara Lee Foods, on is a brood hub and the other a finishing site.

Kier’s neighbor Mike Christianson nominated him for the award sighting the outstanding care he shows for his animals and effort he puts forward to help his neighbors.  In his nomination Christianson said, “As a neighbor he has always been considerate of my fields, home and our community.  Communication with me is exceptional.  For example, after the tornado and large wind storm that went through our farms this spring Steve picked up all the debris from my fields without me asking him.”

Christianson also site Kier’s service to the community in his nomination.  “Steve is very community minded; supporting the local school, serving on the local bank board and is very involved with his church,” Kier added.

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.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his second term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for our air, soil and water, and reaching out to all Iowans to tell the story of Iowa agriculture.

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