2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards

The 2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards were presented at the 2024 Iowa State Fair

on August 14, 2024. Forty-four farm awards were presented. Opening remarks and presentations of awards were given by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and DNR Director Kayla Lyon.

Recognized and representing Keokuk County for 2024 were Tom and Mary Beth Adam. They farm near Harper in which they raise corn, soybeans, winter wheat, cover crops, CRP and a few head of cows.

Tom and Mary Beth were recognized as a Century and Heritage (150) farm, their farm has been in this operation for 173 years. They have installed 62 water and sediment control basins, five ponds, 2 alternative blind tile inlets and have implemented many cover crop acres.

Tom serves on the Iowa Soybean Association and has been for six years and currently serves on the executive committee as secretary. He is a Township Trustee, serves on the Holy Trinity Cemetery Coard, Country Club volunteer and an American Soybean Association member. Tom is and has served on the Soil Aquaculture Alliance and World Initiative Soy in Human Health for five years and has participated on various farmer panels in Greece, Columbia to promote soybeans in their culture. He has also hosted a Blind Inlet Field Day this last spring. Mary Beth is a retired Pharmacist, and they have been a host family for Foreign Exchange Students. 

Tom and Mary Beth’s motivation as a fifth-generation farmer is to leave the soil in better condition as they turn their operation over to the next generation.

Recognized and representing Wapello County for 2024 were James (Jim) and Joan Sterling for Sterling Farms. They farm in the Hedrick-Martinsburg, Farson area and are diverse in the farming operation. They custom feed hogs, own a cow/calf herd, finish out 500 head of feeder cattle, raise corn and soybeans, while managing hay and pasture. Their family farm has been in operation for over 90 years. 

Jim is a very involved member of his farming community. Last year, a tornado came through his area and hit his and many of the surrounding farms. Jim worked with a team of neighbors to go around and cleanup the disaster site. He is a Township trustee, a member of the Pekin Ruritan’s club, the Farm Bureau and active in his local church. Joan works with farmers every day at Corteva.

They have installed numerous terraces, buffer strips, contour strips, grassed waterways, grass

strips, cover crops and CRP.

Jim and Joan’s motivation to implement conservation practices is “I want to hold the dirt in it’s place. We have five generations on our family operation, and I want to hand it onto the next generation just as good as I got it.”