Posted April 16, 2012
The Christensen family from rural Ogden is the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award winner for April.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey made the announcement earlier this month that four generations of brothers and cousins from the Christensen family from rural Ogden in Boone County had been selected as the award recipients.
Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jay Johnson presented a plaque to the Rex, Roger, Daryl, Craig and Cory Christensen families on their farm on Wednesday, April 11. WHO Radio’s “Big Show” carried the event live.
“The Christensens 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 has a farrow-to-finish hog business and also raises row crops. They previously raised turkeys.
Neighbors Rod and Julie Pierce nominated the Christensens for the award. “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 said, “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 Christensens 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 toCommunications@iowaAgriculture.gov.