WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – February 5th, 2026 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was integral in helping the De Bruin family bring their vision of a new cattle barn to life. By providing guidance on site selection, regulatory compliance, and long-term planning, CSIF ensured the project aligned with the family’s goals for animal care and environmental stewardship.
Jason De Bruin, an Iowa native and lifelong livestock producer, operates Black Oak Angus alongside his family just outside of Leighton and reached out to CSIF for guidance. “We wanted to keep animal care and stewardship at the forefront of our plans and knew that CSIF had a proven track record of helping other livestock farm families successfully make changes to their operation, so they immediately came to mind when I wanted to add a new barn to our farm,” De Bruin said.
CSIF assisted in identifying the ideal location and ensured that the new barn would complement the family’s existing cow-calf operation while meeting all rules and regulations.
“The barn was built to replace the farm silo and conveyor bunk system,” says De Bruin. “Our goal was to significantly improve cattle care by providing a cleaner, safer environment, while also reducing nutrient runoff and capturing manure in a sustainable and responsible way.” The bed pack barn measures 45×320’ including a 48’ covered bay in the center for manure.
“Jason first reached out to me several months before he planned to start construction on his new cattle barn,” says Brian Waddingham, CSIF executive director. “He had questions about what other cattlemen thought of their own deep-bedded barns, the things they liked and things they would do differently. He was also very passionate about doing things right – from finding the best location for the barn to exceeding the rules and regulations to safeguarding the environment to being a good neighbor. Jason was also very adamant that he wanted an open house for community members to learn more about the benefits of livestock to their community and get their questions answered directly from him.”
CSIF is an organization that assists livestock farmers who want help interpreting rules and regulations, guidance on good site locations for barns, counsel on enhancing neighbor relations and tips on how to protect the environment at no cost. Providing programs such as the Green Farmstead Partner Program and the Building Your Livestock Legacy Program to help established and beginning farmers with windbreaks and educational efforts. For more information, call 1-800-932-2436 or visit www.supportfarmers.com.
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock responsibly and successfully. It’s a partnership involving the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Egg Council, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy.
