Dennis and Terri Schmitt, pork producers from Early, were recently chosen as the recipients of the Good Neighbor Award. The award, sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Ag Radio Network, honors, each month, a livestock producer who is simply being a good neighbor. "Iowa is the premier agricultural state in the nation and our livestock industry plays an important role. Producing livestock has created economic opportunity across this state," said Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge. "Some days all we hear about are the problems, but there are a lot of good things happening. Let's take a little time to celebrate them." The Schmitt family runs a pork production operation and grows corn and soybeans. Jim Meyer, a retired legislator and producer, nominated his neighbors, the Schmitts, for the award. In his nominating letter, Meyer stated, "Their farmstead is always neat and well cared forThe Schmitts provide a model for the neighbors to follow. Our community is much better off because they farm in the neighborhood." The Schmitts are environmentally conscientious and have sound manure management and conservation tillage practices. An award plaque is given monthly to an Iowa livestock producer who exhibits the qualities of a good neighbor; a livestock producer that takes not only great care of the livestock, but also shows great care and concern about the environment and neighbors. A six-member selection committee made up of representatives of the agriculture and environmental community make the selection.