Dustin Vande Hoef
Communications Director
515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)
or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Chad and Jody Van Regenmorter, who farm near Inwood in Lyon County, are the winners of the April “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.” Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Karey Claghorn will present the award to the Van Regenmorter family at the Inwood Community Center on Tuesday, April 27.
“Chad and Jody are a great example of farmers who are committed to doing things right in how they care for their animals, the land and their community,” Northey said. “They are active on and off the farm to make their community and our state a great place to live.”
The Van Regenmorter’s have a hog operation and also raise crops on their farm near Inwood. They have two daughters, Rebecca and Emily.
The Van Regenmorter family was nominated by Mike and Sarah Ver Steeg of Inwood, who are also past recipients of the Good Farm Neighbor award. In their nomination they highlighted the pride the Van Regenmorters take in caring for their animals and the crops they grow. “Chad and Jody have their priorities in order and deeply care about faith, family, farm and community,” Mike Ver Steeg said.
The Van Regenmorter’s house their sows in deep bedded pens with access to the outside. Farrowing and nursery pigs are housed inside while most of their finishing pigs are on outside lots.
They also take conservation seriously on their crop ground, using narrow rows, plant on contours, use grid soil sampling and use terraces and grass waterways to prevent erosion.
In addition to their work on the farm, the family also purchased Oak Street gas station in Inwood. They invested significant capital to upgrade the facilities and have added a blender pumps to offer higher ethanol blends to their customers.
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.
WHO Radio’s Big Show will broadcast live from the Inwood Community Center, 103 S. Main St., in Inwood from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27th.
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.
