DES MOINES, IA (07/07/2014)(readMedia)-- Six Iowa farm families will be honored as recipients of The Way We Live Award at the 2014 Iowa State Fair. Each family will be recognized for their love of the land and the product they produce in award ceremonies during the Fair. "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, August 7-17.
The Way We Live Award recognizes Iowa families for their hard work and love of farming. The families each exemplify dedication to animal agriculture and strong farm values. Each entrant was asked to submit a short essay describing how the occupation of farming and living on a farm has shaped their lives. Six families were chosen out of 38 entries from a variety of commodities and areas in Iowa.
Each family will receive a prize package including $250 cash, Fair tickets, free parking and recognition in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center during the Fair at 10:30 a.m. on various days. The Way We Live Award is sponsored by WHO NewsRadio 1040 and Tractor Supply Company.
Adams Family, Waucoma
Sunday, August 17
The Adams Family Farm has been operating in Waucoma since the early 1900s. Scott Adams, the current owner, was preceded by his father in the late 1940s after his return from World War II and Scott's grandfather in the 1900s. In 1981, Scott and his wife Jeanie took over the operation full-time after working alongside Scott's father for several years. In 2009, they began Adaway Dairy with their oldest son, Nathan. Nathan currently lives on Adams Century Farms, which was the first dairy to have a DeLaval robotic milking system in the state of Iowa. Nathan handles the dairy management with his wife, Annie, and two children. Scott and Jeanie's oldest daughters, Nicole and Jackie, often return to the farm to help out, and their younger children, Katie and Joey, plan on running the family farm one day. Katie graduated from Iowa State University (ISU) in 2013 with a degree in dairy science, and her brother, Joey, currently attends ISU and is also studying dairy science.
Clemsen Family, Brayton
Tuesday, August 12
Bryan and Shari Clemsen and their five boys, Dillion, 25, Aaron, 23, Emmet, 21, Garnner, 18, and Jarrid, 16, live on a farm that has been in their family for 59 years. They currently own 1,700 acres of land, 1,500 of which are used to grown corn and soybeans, and the rest is for hay and pasture. They also feed out approximately 1,000 head of beef cattle and have a herd of 40 cows. When they are not farming, the Clemsens take time for church, school and family meals. They also like to perform music when they can. Often hosting children without farming backgrounds, the family tries to educate them on the importance of hard work and agriculture.
Feldman Family, Honey Creek
Saturday, August 9
Thomas and Janna Feldman, along with their children Matthew, 22, and Mia, 19, are owners of Doe's and Diva's Inc., a goat and sheep dairy. The family purchased a goat to aid in Mia's health-related digestion issues and, over time, more goats and sheep were added until they had an excess of milk. They found an outlet in cheese making and built their own goat and sheep dairy. The milk from Doe's and Diva's does not contain any artificial growth hormones or antibiotics, and their goats and sheep are raised using natural herd management. The Feldmans also create natural goat milk soap products. The family provides tours of the dairy and takes goats and lambs on the road to Omaha and local stores to demonstrate farm life.
Grier Family, Guernsey
Saturday, August 16
Ron and Christine Grier and their son, Ryan, began their farming journey in 2005 when they decided to buy a farm and go back to their roots. Ryan had goats for a 4-H project and those goats soon developed into a 77 Boer goat operation. The Griers also have three bee colonies and grow corn, soybeans and hay on their 154 acres of land. In addition to the farm, both Ron and Christine have full-time jobs away from the farm. They keep the operation going with hard work and help from family members. Ryan, a computer science major at Iowa State University, often comes home to help out when needed. Ron is currently the vice president of the Tall Corn Meat Goat Wether Association, and both Ron and Christine are youth leaders and members of the American Boer Goat Association, the Iowa Meat Goat Association, the Iowa Honey Producers Association and the Farm Bureau.
Randolph Family, Goose Lake
Friday, August 8
Seven generations of Kruse family members have lived and worked on the same plot of land, a Heritage Farm, in Goose Lake. Now the Randolph Family Farm, its day-to-day operations were maintained by Leroy and Hannah Kruse until 1955 when they handed the reins to their son, Wally, and his wife, Joan. The two raised four daughters, Barb, Lynn, Kelly and Julie, on the original farm and continued living there until 2000. Today, farm operations are handled by Barb, her husband Todd, their son Daniel, his wife, Laurel, and their four children, Brandon, Sean, Joana and a new baby. Daniel's sisters, Jessica and Emily, also help out. Todd farms 115 acres of corn, soybeans, hay and oats. Forty-five acres of Todd's pasture are rented to his son Daniel for his cows. Daniel has 95 head of stock cows and farms more than 330 acres of corn, soybeans and hay. Over the years the Kruse family members have been involved in Farm Bureau, 4-H and church.
Van Regenmorter Family, Inwood
Sunday, August 10
Chad and Jody Van Regenmorter and their two daughters, Rebecca, 16, and Emily, 13, farm approximately 1,800 acres of corn, soybeans and oats and manage a 160-sow farrow operation. The farm has been in their family for three generations beginning in the 1950s. Chad and Jody have been members of Farm Bureau, the Corn Growers Association and the Pork Producers Association as well as several church groups and local and state boards. Rebecca and Emily both attend West Lyon Community Schools and are active in 4-H and showing hogs Rebecca also serves on the county council and participates in FFA.
"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.
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