Members of the Kubik family of rural Traer including patriarch Ray Kubik (back row, fourth from left) and his son Alex Kubik (back row, third from right) pictured at this year’s 2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards ceremony held during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The Kubik Farm was one of 44 recipients of this year’s award which acknowledges farmers who take voluntary actions to improve and protect Iowa’s natural resources, thereby serving as leaders within their communities. Also pictured, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg (far left), Gov. Kim Reynolds (second from left), and Iowa DNR Director Kayla Lyon (far right). PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA DEPT. OF AG & LAND STEWARDSHIP

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon recognized on Aug. 14 a total of 44 Iowa farm families including the Kubik family of Tama County with Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards at the 2024 Iowa State Fair. The award acknowledges farmers who take voluntary actions to improve and protect our state’s natural resources, including our soil and water, serving as leaders within their communities.

These farm families use cover crops, no-till, wetlands, bioreactors, saturated buffers, grass waterways and many other proven conservation practices that improve water quality, enhance soil health and support the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. These worthy recipients recognize that the benefits of conservation practices extend beyond their farms, and their leadership encourages others to adopt similar conservation practices.

“Farming and environmental stewardship have always gone hand-in-hand,” Governor Reynolds said. “Today, we’re proud to honor farm families who have gone above and beyond, often for generations, to safeguard the land that feeds the world and makes our way of life possible. Congratulations to the 2024 IFELA award winners and thank you for preserving our state’s natural resources for decades to come.”

“Iowa continues to set records for conservation and water quality practice implementation, and this award recognizes our state’s farm families who are leading the way and serving as positive examples for others,” Secretary Naig said. “We are committed to accelerating our state’s water quality efforts in the years ahead and I am confident that Iowa’s farmers and landowners will rise to meet to this challenge.”

“We take great pride in recognizing these leaders in our farming communities throughout our state who prioritize sound conservation practices,” Director Lyon said. “Their commitment to conservation is paving the way for future generations and inspiring other farmers.”

The winners were chosen by a committee representing conservation and agricultural groups. A total of 821 Iowa farm families have been recognized since the creation of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012.

Tama County recipients Ray and Alex Kubik of rural Traer operate a Century Farm and host field days to showcase their pasture and soil health after implementing conservation practices. Their pastures are split into multiple paddocks where multispecies cover has been incorporated to allow growing and grazing into extended periods of the growing season.

The Kubiks’ conservation practices have evolved over time and are still used today because they reduce erosion and improve water quality.

2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recipients

Tom and Mary Beth Adam, Keokuk County

Green Country Farms LLC/Alec Amundson and Adam Norby, Mitchell County

Balderston Farms/Aaron and Dawn Balderston, Linn County

Bretz Farms LLC/Michael and Lisa Bretz, Buchanan County

Marty and Lisa Danzer, Carroll County

Tamara Deal, Guthrie County

Divan Farms/Jeff and Haley Divan, Winnebago County

Sean and Sara Dolan, Buchanan County

Brandt and Stacy Ferry, Shelby County

Matt Goodman, Marshall County

David and Julie Guthrie Family, Delaware County

Steve Henze and Joan Meester, Grundy County

Conner and Ashley Hildreth, Calhoun County

Jay and Marlowe Jung, Floyd County

Jason and Jordan Klinge, Clayton County

Kubik Farm, Tama County

Hunter Lindgren, Ida County

Dallas and Rebecca Linkenmeyer, Howard County

Keith Lovrien Farm, Butler County

Maxwell Farms, Story County

Andy and Lisa Merron, Kossuth County

Eric A Miller, Dubuque County

Metairie Ltd/Stan and Martha Nelson, Des Moines County

Bloomsbury Farm/David and Karen Petersen, Benton County

Broken Kettle Feedlot, Plymouth County

Kevin Prevo, Davis County

David and Mary Robinette, Montgomery County

Oaklawn Farms/Leon Schau, Lee County

Tony and Shirley Schroeder, Plymouth County

David, Amy, Aaron and Ean Scott, Muscatine County

Nick and Mary Sennert, Buena Vista County

Joseph and Janice Shirbroun, Carroll County

Jessob and Jenna Steffen, Clay County

Sterling Farms, Wapello County

Steve and Sue Anne Stoermer, Clay County

Tim and Jana Terwilliger, Humboldt County

Eric and Tali Vander Stouwe, Sioux County

Tom and Jen Vaske Family Farm, Delaware County

Mark and Brennen Vogel, Guthrie County

Brent and Cara Wells, Pocahontas County

Weston Family Farms/ Luke and Alicia Weston, Buchanan County

Russell and Beth Winterhof, Cherokee County

Brush Creek Henhouse LLC/Mark and Alana Yoder and Sara Yoder, Decatur County

Dennis and Ann Youngquist and Timothy and Amanda Youngquist, Sac County