Paustain family to Receive Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

07-30-2015 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – July 30, 2015 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Paustain family of Scott County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. They have been named recipients of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the Paustian family on Monday, Aug. 3 at the family’s farm at 6520 215th St., Walcott.

“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 Paustains 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:

 

PAUSTIAN FAMILY FROM SCOTT COUNTY NAMED WERGIN GOOD FARM NEIGHBOR AWARD WINNERS

Award to be presented Aug. 3 at the Paustian farm near Walcott

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Paustian family, who raise hogs in Scott County, have been named the winners of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the Paustian family on Monday, Aug. 3 at the family’s farm at 6520 215th St., Walcott. 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 Paustian family does a great job raising livestock while also caring for the land and serving their community. It is my honor to help recognize this family. They are another wonderful example of the livestock farms all across Iowa that add so much to our state and local communities,” Northey said.

The Paustian’s farm is a multi-generation operation. Kent and Marcia Paustian and Kent’s brother Ross are all actively involved as well as Ross’s son Tom and Kent’s son Mike and his wife Amy.

The farm includes a 1,000 sow farrow to finish hog operation that raises 22,000 head of pigs annually. They also raise corn and soybeans that they use to supply feed to the hogs. All of their feed is milled on the farm.

In addition to their work on the farm, the family is very active in the local community and in ag industry groups. In addition, Ross is currently serving in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The family was nominated for the award by Will Moon with the Iowa 80 Group. The Paustian’s farm is located next to the “World’s Largest Truck Stop” which has over 2 million customers a year and is operated by the Iowa 80 Group.

In nominating the Paustians, Moon said, “The Paustian family realizes the value of sustainability for their farm. They have established many conservation practices on their farm. They have seeded buffer strips around creeks, used grass waterways to control erosion, established headland buffer strips on hills and have planted cover crops the last four years.

“The family’s hog sites are very well kept. The sites are routinely mowed, the sites have grass buffer strips around them, they plant trees around the barns, and the family places special consideration in siting by locating the barns back off the road and away from neighbors.”

In closing his nomination Moon added, “The Paustian family farm is 1,600 feet from our corporate office. We don’t notice the farm. I receive all the complaint cards from our customers and have never received a complaint card about odors from a livestock farm. We are proud to be a family based business and recognize the importance of family businesses like the Paustians.”

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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