Fox Family of Mitchell County Receives Good Farm Neighbor Award

08-14-2015 in Awards

The Fox family of Mitchell County was recognized Tuesday as recipients of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award during a ceremony at the Fox Farm in Elma, Iowa. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Fox family with the award at an open house with family, friends and neighbors.

“Along with running a clean operation, the Fox family is also very active helping neighbors and their community,” Brian Waddingham, executive director at the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, said. “This award recognizes Iowans like the Fox family who show who we’d all like to have as a neighbor.”

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, sponsored by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock, and being good neighbors.

Fox custom feeds cattle and hogs, raises corn for silage and also does custom field work. Karl has three children – Seth (17), Lee (14) and Mary Ann (11), who are also active on the farm, along with 4-H and FFA.

In addition to their work on the farm, the family is very active in the local community and in ag industry groups. Karl, an Elma, Iowa, native is very active in the community. Currently, he’s active on the school board, president of the Mitchell County Agricultural Society, a Mitchell County Farm Bureau board member and a St. Peter’s Catholic Church finance committee member. He has also been involved in the county corn growers and pork producers associations.

“It’s hard to be a good neighbor unless you have better neighbors,” Karl Fox, recipient, said. “Our fathers and grandfathers came here and settled this area since the late 1800s and we’ve been a tight-knit community ever since. I’m honored and glad to have the opportunity to be recognized. It’s nice to open our home and farm to show how we help feed the world.”

Fox was nominated by Rod Koch, who also serves on the Mitchell County Farm Bureau board. In the nomination, Koch highlighted Fox’s passion for serving agriculture, noting he holds leadership roles in numerous organizations “not just to look good, but (he) actually contributes.”

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, presented by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Iowa Ag Radio Network in partnership with CSIF, is presented nine times annually to an Iowa farm family who raises livestock. It’s given in honor of distinguished WHO Radio farm broadcaster Gary Wergin and recognizes families who take pride in being good neighbors and stewards of the land.

To nominate a deserving livestock farmer or farm family, contact Waddingham at bwaddingham@supportfarmers.com or (515) 225-5531.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock responsibly and successfully. It’s a joint partnership involving the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy Association.

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