The Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa Hawkeyes are teaming up to celebrate Iowa farmers during the 6th annual America Needs Farmers (ANF) Game Day on October 22 when the Hawks take on the University of Wisconsin.  One lucky fan will win the experience of a lifetime during the big game including four game tickets to the October 22 ANF game, a football autographed by coach Kirk Ferentz, ANF gear, and the opportunity to spend a quarter of the game on the sidelines with the Hawkeyes. 

To enter the contest to win the “ANF Game Day On-Field Experience,” go to AmericaNeedsFarmers.org, click on the ANF Game Day On-Field Experience, and watch one of the videos on the contest page to see a few of the many ways farmers are adopting new, research-based practices to improve water quality and protect the environment.  Contestants can watch all six videos to enter the contest up to six times.  The contest winner will be announced on October 17, 2016.

“The rich history and tradition of the ANF program is an important way to reach new audiences who want to understand more about how their food is grown today and learn about the successful conservation practices Iowa farmers are implementing on their farms,” says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Hill.  “With one in five Iowa jobs attributed to agriculture, farming plays a very important role in our state, especially with a rapidly growing global population requiring more food production while using fewer resources.”

The story of ANF began in 1985, in the midst of the Farm Crisis that claimed thousands of Iowa farms.  Fans can learn why legendary Hawkeye Coach Hayden Fry created ANF, hear why Hawkeye greats like Dallas Clark, Chad Greenway, and Jared DeVries support ANF, purchase ANF gear that supports Iowa’s food banks, and meet the farm families who grow our food and embody the reasons ANF remains important today on the newly redesigned www.AmericaNeedsFarmers.org.

“We are excited to continue our successful ANF partnership with Coach Ferentz and the Hawkeyes this year to provide a lucky fan an exciting on-field experience, while also celebrating the important contributions of today’s farm families,” Hill says.