Metzger Family to Receive Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

06-15-2016 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – June 15, 2016 –The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Metzger family of Lyon County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. They have been named recipients of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award. Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the award to the family on Friday, June 24th. The ceremony will be at the Forster Community Center located at 404 Main St., in Rock Rapids.

“Iowa farm families go to great lengths every day to provide the best possible care for their animals and the environment, while still being good neighbors and active community members,” CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham said. “This award is a great way to recognize people like the Metzgers who represent who we would all like to have as a neighbor.”

The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of CSIF, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award. For more information, visit www.supportfarmers.com/goodneighbor.

The full release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is below:

METZGER FAMILY FROM LYON COUNTY NAMED WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNERS

Award to be presented June 24 at the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids

Contact: Dustin Vande Hoef, 515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Metzger family from Lyon County has been named the winners of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.

Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the award to the family on Friday, June 24th. The ceremony will be at the Forster Community Center located at 404 Main St., in Rock Rapids. The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“The Metzger’s are a multi-generation farm family that showcases how the values of livestock farmers are passed on from one generation to the next. They do an outstanding job caring for their animals and protecting the environment while also serving their neighbors and being leaders in their community. It is my honor to help recognize the Metzger family with this award,” Northey said.

Marv and Joleen Metzger, Dana and Kary Metzger, Reed Metzger, Brett and Melissa Metzger and Evan and Kristi Metzger, and their families, operate Multi-Rose Jerseys dairy farm. The farm was established in the 1940s by Jacob Metzger, Marv’s father. On the farm they milk approximately 1350 cows and raise dairy calves and heifers. The family also raise hogs from wean to finish and raise crops on approximately 1,800 acres.

Conservation is priority for the family and they have built terraces and use contour planting. They have also adopted precision farming tools to increase productivity while better protecting the land for future generations. They also designed and built dairy barns to most effectively manage manure so that it can be stored and the nutrients used as fertilizer for crop production. Slatted floor freestall barns for the dairy allow all manure to be captured in 12-foot pits and then applied as fertilizer to field.

The Metzger’s have also been active in a number of community and agricultural organizations over the years. The family hosts many tours at the dairy, including the annual June Dairy Month open house for Western Iowa Dairy Alliance in 2013. About 1500 people visited the farm to learn about modern dairy farming as part of that event. In addition, Evan Metzger is on the board of directors of Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, currently serving as Vice President. Marv has also served on the local Lyon County Dairy Association for 10+ years and continues to promote Dairy by leasing out ice cream machines throughout the Tri-State Area each year.

The family was nominated Matt Schelling, who is president of the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, saying: “They are a great example of a farm family that tries to do a lot of ‘little things’ right, and over time, all those ‘little things’ add up to making a big difference for their farm, their community and their environment.”

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Anyone interested in nominating their neighbor for the award should write a letter or e-mail explaining why their neighbor should receive this designation. Applications may be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, Henry A. Wallace Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or emailed to Communications@iowaAgriculture.gov.

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