Sanny family to receive December Good Farm Neighbor Award

12-03-2012 in Good Farm Neighbor

West Des Moines, Iowa – December 3, 2012 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) commends the Eric and Stacia Sanny family from Polk County for their outstanding efforts as neighbors and community leaders. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award to the Sanny family on Friday, Dec. 7th at the ADM facility at 1877 NE 58th Ave., Des Moines.

“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 Sannys 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 Dec. 7 at the ADM facility in North Des Moines

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Eric and Stacia Sanny family from Bondurant in Polk County have been named the December winners of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the Sanny family on Friday, Dec. 7th at the ADM facility at 1877 NE 58th Ave., Des Moines. 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 Dec. 7.

“It is great to be able to recognize the Sanny family who go above and beyond to care for their animals and the land and to also be good neighbors,” Northey said. “Iowa is fortunate to have so many farmers like the Sanny family that are focused on doing things right both on their farm and in their community.”

The Sanny family has a 35 head Angus cow-calf operation and row crop and pasture land in Polk County. Eric and Stacia have two kids, Carter and Elise, and farm with Eric’s father, Ervin. In addition to the work on the farm, Eric works for ADM in Des Moines.

The Sanny’s were nominated for the award by Jim Nelson from Mitchellville. Nelson said, “Since Eric lives in Polk County he is very focused on being a good steward of the land and takes a great deal of pride in how he and his father manage their row crop, hay and pasture ground. Eric and Ervin strive to be as neighbor-friendly as possible and use crop rotations, waterways and minimum tillage practices to keep the soil in place.”

The Sanny family is also active in the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and Eric serves on the Polk County Fair Board.

Nelson went on to say, “The Sanny’s represent what the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is all about – being a good neighbor, being a good stewards of the land and their livestock and being active community members.”

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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