Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon recognized 33 Iowa farm families with Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards during a ceremony at the 2026 Iowa State Fair.

The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recognizes farmers and farm families who demonstrate outstanding voluntary efforts to improve and protect Iowa’s soil and water resources while also serving as leaders in their communities. This year’s recipients utilize a wide range of conservation practices, including cover crops, no-till and reduced tillage, nutrient management, grassed waterways, terraces, wetlands, saturated buffers, rotational grazing, prairie restoration and other proven practices that improve water quality, protect soil and strengthen the long-term productivity of Iowa’s farmland.

“Generations of Iowa farmers have helped build and sustain our country and make it the exceptional nation it is today. This has been possible because of our rich natural resources and we all have a responsibility to protect them,” said Secretary Naig. “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, these 33 farm families are carrying that proud tradition of stewardship forward. Through their leadership and conservation efforts, they are protecting our soil, improving water quality and leaving our land in better condition for future generations. These conservation-focused families represent the very best of Iowa agriculture.”

The 2026 recipients were selected by a committee representing conservation and agricultural organizations. Since the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award was created in 2012, 894 Iowa farm families have received the recognition.

The 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recipients, listed alphabetically by last name, are:

Manley and Linda Bigalk
 Howard County

Jeremy and Norman Buck
 Buck Farms
 Marshall County

Robert Busch
 Tri-B Limited
 Bremer County

Sharon L. Chism
 Palo Alto County

Gene De Bruin
 Mahaska County

Chris and Tammy Eibey
 Delaware County

Paula and Jeff Ellis
 PJ Family Farms LTD
 Lee County

Arlen and Patricia Fisher
 Iowa County

Caleb and Ted Hamer, Scott Beenken and Kyle Mesch
 B & H Ag Services
 Black Hawk County

Chris Hansen
 Hansen Farm
 Black Hawk County

Scott Hilgerson
 Penny-Royal Farms
 Clayton County

JD and David Hollingsworth
 Hollingsworth Farms
 Jefferson County

James Holz
 Holz Brothers
 Greene County

Lawrence “Larry” Howard
 Story County

Andrew and Matthew Hurd
 M & A Farms
 Sac County

Roy Jensen
 Jensen Family Farming
 Kossuth County

Kim and Chad Kischer
 Buena Vista County

Jeremiah and Meghan Koch
 Black Hawk County

Neil and Sandy Krummen
 Clay County

Kevin and Pamela Luers
 Keokuk County

Margaret McQuown and Matthew and Jocelyn Vermeersch
 Resilient Farms and Root & Raise Land and Livestock
 Montgomery County

Jerry Ouverson
 Jerdon Farms Inc.
 Cerro Gordo County

Phil and Amy Patterson
 Adair County

Joe and Paige Roberts
 Wright County

Joe Rowe
 Rowe Farms
 Mitchell County

Riley Schnell
 Jasper County

Doug and Glenda Schroeder
 Schroeder Angus
 Cedar County

Steve and Kathleen Struecker and Andy and Brittany Struecker
 ABS Farms LLC
 Kossuth County

Gene Ver Steeg, Mike and Sarah Ver Steeg, and Cody and Kaylee Ver Steeg
 Lyon County

Jon and Nicole Vernon
 Jones County

Steve and Patty Weeks
 Weeks Family Farm
 Madison County

Dallas Wessels
 Pleasant Valley Family Farms
 Grundy County

Matt and Cassie Winters
 Spring Valley Ranch Land and Cattle
 Clayton County

A list of previous recipients is available on theIowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. High-resolution photos will be available within one month of the ceremony on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Flickr page.