Just across the Iowa border in Warren County, Ill., a farm kid grew up with the goal of fighting for the health and well-being of American livestock and their owners. That farm kid ended up relocating to the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., then returned to the Midwest where he eventually took the helm as Iowa’s emergency management coordinator.

Dr. Andrew Hennenfent started his job last November, and has been tasked with the duty of ensuring the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s emergency response plans are up to date.

Farm background

The job is important to not only him, but ...