DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that four generations of brothers and cousins from the Christensen family from rural Ogden in Boone county have been named the winners of the April “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.” The Rex, Roger, Daryl, Craig and Cory Christensen and their wives raise pork and also previously raised turkeys.
Jay Johnson, the Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will present the award to Christensen’s on Wednesday, April 11th at the Christensen family farm, 1355 H Ave., near Ogden. The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“The Christensen’s represent family farming at its best, with several generations working together to care for their animals, tend the land and serve their local community,” Northey said. “The Good Farm Neighbor Award is a great opportunity to recognize farm families like this that make Iowa agriculture so special.”
The Christensen family operates a farrow to finish hog operation and also raise row crops. They previously also raised turkeys.
The family was nominated for the award by their neighbors Rod and Julie Pierce. In their nomination the Pierce’s said, “The entire family has been very active on commodity boards for the pork and turkey industries throughout the generations, gladly serving at the local, county, state and national level in various leadership positions.”
The Pierce’s added, “The Christensen families understand the importance of hometowns and solid community relationship and they take it to heart.”
In closing their nomination the Pierce’s said, “The Christensen families lead by example and with genuine enthusiasm. They plan, they record, and they analyze to get the best results. They work hard, they prosper, they give back. They enjoy community and they are good neighbors. The Christensen’s are very worthy of this award.”
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.
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 second term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for our air, soil and water, and reaching out to all Iowans to tell the story of Iowa agriculture.
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