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| Pork producers from Cherokee to receive January’s Good Farm Neighbor Award
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Posted Jan. 22, 2010
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Pingel Family, who farm in Cherokee and Buena VistaCounties in Northwest Iowa, are the winners of the January “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”
Northey will present the award to the Pingel family at the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Winter Pork Picnic during the Iowa Pork Congress from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27. WHO Radio’s Big Show will broadcast live during the “free” luncheon.
“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 1870s. Throughout their time on the farm, they have had diversified crop and livestock production. They currently raise 10,000 hogs a year.
Blaine Perry, a neighbor of the Pingels, nominated the 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 also is active in their local church, have served on the school board, supported the local ISU Extension service 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, HenryA.WallaceBuilding, Des Moines, IA 50319 or emailed to Communications@iowaAgriculture.gov.
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