Iowa Farm Bureau and the University of Iowa Athletics will celebrate America’s farmers at the eighth annual America Needs Farmers (ANF) Game Day, Saturday, Sept. 22 at Kinnick Stadium. The highly anticipated game against the University of Wisconsin kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will showcase why Hayden Fry’s famous ANF decal is still important today.

As part of Iowa Farm Bureau’s 100th anniversary, fans will have the opportunity to win exclusive ANF/Hawkeye prizes such as clear ANF bags, koozies, lighted bracelets and more, while learning how Iowa agriculture plays a major role in our daily lives. Fans can learn more by stopping by the ANF Legends Tent, located in the Krause Family Plaza, where they can play tailgate games for a chance to win prizes. 

“Wisconsin may be known for its cheese, but Iowa agriculture leads the nation in corn, pigs, eggs and ethanol production,” says IFBF President Craig Hill. “The annual ANF game is a great opportunity for fans to meet Iowa farmers and learn about the diversity of Iowa agriculture while celebrating its impact in Iowa and around the country. We are excited to celebrate with fans while showing them firsthand that farmers produce more than just produce.”

Visitors to the ANF Legends Tent can also meet former Hawkeye greats including this year’s ANF Wall of Honoree, Aaron Kampman. Kampman, a Kesley native and star defensive lineman for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1998-2002, spent a decade in the NFL following his outstanding career at Iowa and this year joins an esteemed list of former Hawkeyes to be enshrined on the ANF Wall of Honor.

Kampman says it was a special honor when he was notified about being the latest former Hawkeye to be recognized on the ANF Wall of Honor at Kinnick Stadium. As a native Iowan with family farm ties, the honor was particularly rewarding for the former lineman, because he knows firsthand the story behind the sticker on the helmet.

“My connection to farming is through my grandparents. Both of my grandparents farmed, as did my aunts and uncles, and that’s what formed my memories about Iowa agriculture,” Kampman said. “Having the ability to wear that ANF sticker on my helmet and represent the University of Iowa and the state of Iowa was a way to honor them, and it was always an honor for me.”

Kampman is the seventh recipient of the America Needs Farmers (ANF) Wall of Honor, which salutes former University of Iowa football players who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic, and character of the Iowa farmer. Previous ANF Wall of Honor recipients include Casey Wiegmann (2012), Jared DeVries (2013), Bruce Nelson (2014), Robert Gallery (2015), Dallas Clark (2016), and Chad Greenway (2017).

Kampman will be introduced to Hawkeye fans on-field during the game, and a special ANF presentation by the Hawkeye Marching Band will happen during the pregame.

A gold ANF decal was placed on players’ helmets during the Hawkeyes’ 1985 Rose Bowl season by head coach Hayden Fry to show support for farmers during the 1980’s Farm Crisis. The Hawkeye helmets still have the special decal on them today. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of ANF, a longstanding tribute to America’s farmers, and the eighth year IFBF and University of Iowa have partnered to help connect Iowa’s farm families to consumers to learn more about the production of food, fuel, and fiber.

Fans can show their ANF and Hawkeye pride by purchasing ANF merchandise during game day in shops around the stadium with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Iowa Food Bank Association. This year, sales of ANF merchandise have contributed over $13,000 to the Iowa Food Bank Association with more than $150,000 being raised to feed hungry Iowans since the program’s inception in 2011.

For more information about ANF and Game Day activities, visit www.americaneedsfarmers.org.