Mashek family to receive November Good Farm Neighbor Award

11-09-2012 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – November 9, 2012 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Dennis Mashek family of Winneshiek County for their outstanding efforts as neighbors and community leaders. Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jay Johnson will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award on Monday, Nov. 19th at the Mashek farm at 1701 253rd Ave., Calmar.

“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 Masheks 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:

Award to be presented on Nov. 19 at the Mashek farm near Calmar

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Dennis and Barb Mashek family from Calmar in Winneshiek County have been named the November winner of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jay Johnson will present the award to the Mashek family on Monday, Nov. 19th at the Mashek farm at 1701 253rd Ave., Calmar. 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. on Nov. 19.

“It is great to be able to recognize a Mashek family who are not only great farmers, but leaders in the dairy industry and active in their community,” Northey said. “In addition to caring for their animals and protecting the land, they go to great lengths to educate non-farmers about what they do on their farm and show visitors where food comes from.”

The Mashek family operates Hilltop Acres Dairy Farm along with their children Josh, Kylie, and Tanner near Calmar. The family has built an internationally known heard of 170 Brown Swiss cows on their 470 acre farm.

Carrie Corlett a field representative for Dairy Farmers of America from Castalia nominated the family for the award. In her nomination she highlight the care the efforts of the Mashek family to care for their animals and the land. “In addition to maintaining a high-producing, healthy heard of dairy cows, the Mashek family focuses its attention on being good stewards of the land,” Corlett said.

The Mashek family is also active in the community and has taken a leadership role in opening their farm up to a wide range of visitors to teach them about dairy farming and Iowa agriculture. They regularly give tours to school children, international visitors and other dairy farmers to showcase what they do on their farm. They even have a Facebook page that can be found at www.facebook.com/hilltopacres.farm.

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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