We partner with farmers all around the state. Read their stories and find connections in your area by clicking on the regions below.
In 1986, Jody and Jim Kerns were 22 and 24 years-old and newly-weds when they began restoring their first 35 acres to forest. Jody had grown up on a farm and Jim’s family owned the Edgewood meat locker in town, but they shared a sense of adventure to try something new on the land. During the first few years of the restoration, the farmers Jim encountered at the meat locker shook their heads at the Kerns’ endeavor.
Read MoreSeven generations have farmed in Floyd County, and Ben Johnson and Andy Johnson hope their sons will continue this legacy. Together they farm and share equipment, while their father, who began no-tilling his beans in the '90s, still has his own operation down the road. Ben, who returned to the farm first, immediately ran with his father’s use of no-till, while also experimenting with practices to achieve greater levels of soil health and water quality.
Read MoreAt 10 years old, Wade Dooley had cattle that he cared for, and at 14, he tended field of row crops on his own. After attending ISU and moving to Florida to grow watermelons commercially, Wade returned to Albion in 2008 to become the sixth generation to farm family land. At the time that he returned, he operated 800 acres of row crops and had a 120 cow herd.
Read MoreGeorge Schaefer had no idea he would return to his family’s century farm in Kalona when he took a job in San Francisco in 1975. He returned in 2000 for his brother Steve’s wedding, who had taken over the operation after their father. After traveling the world, George felt the pull back to his home, and he joined the operation full-time, raising 900 acres of organic and non-organic crops and beef cattle.
Read MoreNorman Lust is a retired farmer and business owner. Norm’s journey to conservation has taken several years, but conservation has always been within him.
Read MoreWhen he was 10 years old, Seth Watkins nursed a chilled calf back to health, an event that sparked his interest in farming and ultimately led him to his career today. Seth is a fourth generation steward of his family farm in Clarinda, Iowa.
Read MoreAt the end of the farm crisis in 1988, Laura Krouse made the careful yet conscious decision to buy some land. After 25 years, she continues to farm and is paving the way as a leader in conservation for male and female landowners alike.
Read MoreCraig Fleishman farms in rural Minburn, Dallas County, where he raises corn, soybeans, oats and hay. He calls his Century Farm “halfway between conventional and organic” and has been using ridge-tillage since 1981 and no-tillage since 1985.
Read MoreDavid Jensen grew up on the family farm three miles east of his current farmstead. He farms with his father, Daryl, and brother Brian, managing 1800 acres. David also manages an 8400-head hog nursery.
Read MoreMark Mueller began farming in 1995 on his farm near Waverly, Iowa. As a fourth-generation caretaker of the land, Mueller recognizes his obligation to protect the soil and water for those that will one day follow in his footsteps.
Read MoreRick Juchems farms in northeast Butler County and northwest Bremer County producing corn and soybeans with cover crops. He also finishes hogs. A long-time activist for conservation, Rick has served as president of Conservation Districts of Iowa and has been involved with the organization for some time.
Read MoreNathan’s farm includes row crop corn and soybeans, a cow-calf herd that is rotationally grazed and other conservation practices such as no-till, strip-till, diverse cover crop mixes, nutrient management, CRP and strategic burning/brush management. In 2017, they expanded their efforts and added a livestock stream exclusion with a watering system.
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