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 Brad Harvey, who farm near Akron in Plymouth County, is the winner of the June “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will present the award to Harvey family at their farm near Akron on Monday, June 28.
“Brad takes great pride in how he cares for his animals, the land and the community he lives in, and it shows,” Northey said. “He and his family are active on and off the farm to make their community and our state a great place to live.”
Harvey and his wife Chris have four daughters and live on a crop and livestock farm near Akron. There he raises about 1,500 pigs and also has some cattle. He has about 600 acres of corn and soybeans and 40 acres of hay. Chris is a kindergarten teacher.
Harvey was nominated for the award by his neighbor Julie Ann Madden. In nominating him, Madden said Harvey is active in the community and always willing to help his neighbors. He volunteers to help local FFA students and 4-H members and is always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. She also highlighted how his is willing to open up his farm to tours to help showcase Iowa agriculture.
Madden went on to say, “I am proud to call him neighbor as he has enriched my family’s life. He is someone all people, including myself, strive to be like – kind compassionate, helpful and steeped in traditions of faith, family, friends and farming.”
In addition to his work on the farm, Harvey is a member of the Plymouth County Fair Board, Plymouth County Extension Council and Akron-Westfield FFA Alumni Association. He is also active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus organization.
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 Harvey farm, 17771 K-18 N, near Akron from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 28th.
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.
