June Good Farm Neighbor Award to be presented to Daufeldt family

06-21-2012 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – June 21, 2012 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Don and Pat Daufeldt family of Muscatine County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award on Friday, June 29th at the family’s farm, 1215 Eliason Ave, West Liberty IA.

“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 families like the Daufeldts 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:

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Don and Pat Daufeldt from West Liberty in Muscatine County have been named the June winner of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Northey will present the award to the Daufeldt family on Friday, June 29th at the family’s farm, 1307 Hwy 6, near West Liberty. 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.

“June is National Turkey Lover’s Month and it is great to be able to recognize turkey farmers like Don and Pat Daufeldt who are great farmers and caring neighbors,” Northey said. “This award was designed to recognize families like the Daufeldt’s who work hard to care for their animals, protect the land and still go out of their way to serve their community.”

Don and Pat raise approximately 120,000 turkeys per year and also have a row crop operation. They have four children, including three sons who are farmers as well.

The Daufeldt’s were nominated for the award by their neighbor Diane Beaver. In nominating the family Beaver said, “The Daufeldt’s are a very hard working farm family. They continue to improve their farm with terraces and use ‘no till’ for erosion control. Don and Pat are passing along good land stewardship and livestock practices to their sons who are also good stewards of the environment.”

In closing Beaver added, “I have been neighbors to the Daufeldt family for 35 years. Part of their farm surrounds my 5 acre property and home. During these years they have plowed my lane during winter storms and rescued me from snow drifts.”

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.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his second term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for our air, soil and water, and reaching out to all Iowans to tell the story of Iowa agriculture.

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