Nominations are open for the 2019 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year award. Iowans are encouraged to nominate a deserving farmer by June 1.

The winner receives free use of a John Deere 6E Series utility tractor for up to 12 months or 200 hours of use. The prize, valued at more than $12,000, is sponsored annually by Van Wall Equipment of Perry and John Deere. The state winner will be announced at the Iowa State Fair. The winner will receive the keys to their tractor at the county soil commissioners annual conference during the Conservation Districts of Iowa annual meeting August 18-20 in Ames at the Gateway Hotel. 

The nomination process is easy. A farmer can be nominated for the award by any Iowan simply by sending a brief letter or email - 100 words or less - summarizing the nominee’s conservation efforts and community support to their county Soil and Water Conservation District (at their county Natural Resources Conservation Service office) by June 1. The SWCD will choose one nomination in each county to advance for consideration for a regional award, and the nine regional award winners will then compete for the overall state award. You can learn more about the award criteria by reviewing the SWCD nomination form at this link. 

The award has been co-sponsored by the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation since 1952. It honors an Iowa farmer who has a proven track record of excellence in soil conservation and water quality improvements and is committed to long-term land and water protection. Last year’s winner was Chad Ide of Union County in southwest Iowa. Ide was nominated by the Union County Farm Bureau.