DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Pingel Family, who farm in Cherokee and Buena Vista Counties in Northwest Iowa, are the winners of the January “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to the Pingel family at the “Winter Pork Picnic” during the Iowa Pork Congress on Wednesday, January 27.
The “Winter Pork Picnic” is at Capital Square in downtown Des Moines from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on January 27th. During the picnic Pork Producers offer a free a free pork lunch. WHO Radio’s Big Show will broadcast live during the lunch.
“The Pingel family has multiple generations working on the farm, and they all are committed to taking care of the land and taking care of their neighbors,” Northey said. “They go above and beyond in their care of their animals, their land and their neighbors.”
The Pingel Family has been farming in eastern Cherokee and western Buena Vista counties since the 1870’s. Throughout their time on the farm they have had diversified crop and livestock production. Currently they raise 10,000 hogs a year.
Their neighbor Blaine Perry nominated the Pingel family for the award. “They have literally lived down the road from me my whole life. Community service for them is a family affair. They are innovators in their farming practices as well, being instrumental in a local sow coop, ethanol plant, and most recently a state of the art feed mill. I’m glad to see this family operation receive this award, it is well deserved,” Perry said in nominating the family.
The family is also active in their local church, have served on the school board, supported the local ISU extension and 4-H groups and been involved with the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
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 care for their farms, neighbors, and the environment. 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.
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are the opportunities in renewable energy, conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.
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