Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized three organizations and one business that have made exceptional contributions to the continued success of Iowa agriculture.
The honorees received awards during the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held on March 31 in Ankeny.
The event culminated the state’s weeklong Iowa Ag Week celebration and included remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and a keynote address from United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
Five years ago, our Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) programming changed dramatically.
When the pandemic forced us to pivot away from in-person programming, we didn’t pull back. Instead, we decided to ramp up our webinars from monthly to weekly.
Farmers who depend on custom work or provide custom services can review rates charged by others across the state in the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.
The 2025 report was published in the March edition of Ag Decision Maker and includes 193 responses and 3,703 custom rates provided by Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers.
The February meeting of the Scotch Grove Challengers was called to order by Lilly Stoll at 5:03 p.m. Roll Call Question: Favorite Valentines Candy. Seven members, two guests and two leaders were present. The pledge to the American flag was led by Jhett Jacobs.
Porter Campbell has developed a strong dedication to FFA, leadership, working with a team, and agriculture as a whole.
Those qualities recently came together, enabling him to be voted a vice president in the Northeast Iowa FFA District.
As one of six elected officials out of 38 total candidates, Campbell will help guide the Southeast Sub-District – one of four sub-districts – during his one-year term.
Emily Meyer said her travels and work with the National Red Angus Association fueled her passion for advocacy, policy-making and the legal aspect of the agriculture industry.
Soon, she will get to take that passion to a new level.
Meyer, 20, has accepted a position as a legislative intern with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. She said she will leave for Washington, D.C. May 19, and return to Iowa July 5, where she will spend the rest of the summer working at the ICA headquarters in Ames.
Wes Meyer said that last winter, he heard about State 4-H Recognition Day, which the State of Iowa offers for 4-H members to get involved in 4-H at a higher level.
It’s safe to say he was interested.
“When I heard about these opportunities, I was super intrigued, and wanted to try to get involved at a higher level,” Meyer said. “So I applied to attend the National 4-H Congress and to be a member on the State 4-H Council.”
A Hall of Fame induction, scholarships, the annual auction, a special recognition, and a ribeye steak meal were all part of the Jones County Beef Banquet Saturday, March 15 at the Berndes Center in Monticello.
Inducted into the Jones County Cattlemen Hall of Fame was Don Hardersen of Anamosa.
Raising cattle has been an important part of Hardersen’s life and farming operation for about 65 years.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig invites eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS)
