Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

2012 Iowa Pork Congress Re-Cap
One day, two awards for Wapello Co.
pork producers
Jan. 25 turned out to be a pretty
big day for Ryan and Lana Reed of
Ottumwa. Before receiving the 2011
Environmental Steward Award from
the Iowa Pork Producers Association
that evening, they were presented
with the “Gary Wergin Good Farm
Neighbor Award” for January.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill
Northey presented the award to the
Reeds at the “Winter Pork Picnic”
during the Iowa Pork Congress in
Des Moines. The presentation was
broadcast live on WHO Radio’s Big
Show.
“It is exciting to be able to recognize
a young family like the Reeds that
not only take great care of their
livestock, but also go above and
beyond to care for their neighbors
and reach out to the community,”
Northey said. “The Good Farm
Neighbor Award was created to
recognize families like this that are
an example of the great livestock
farmers we have in this state.”
The Reed Family has a 4,800-head
tunnel-ventilated pork facility on
their home farm and has additional
production at another site.
with their neighbors and the
community.
“When the Reeds first approached
us about building their barn in 2007,
the very first thing we discussed
was trees. The Reed family farm
aesthetics are second to none.
They have coordinated with the
Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers,
Trees Forever and the Iowa Nursery
Landscape Association’s Green
Farmstead Partner Program to plant
an astounding 1,200-tree buffer
around their facility to limit odor and
particulate matter and provide a home
to wildlife,” read the nomination.
The Reed family also hosts an
annual Fourth of July picnic for area
residents to visit the farm, learn
about pork production and ask any
questions. “This shows the Reed’s
strong commitment to neighbor
relations and communications,” the
Hollingsworths said.
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.
Ryan and Lana have three children:
Conner, Kylee Jo and Colt Ryan.
Gary and Debbie Hollingsworth
nominated the Reeds. “We have
been lifelong friends and neighbors
of Ryan’s family and it is great
to see him and his young family
succeeding in livestock agriculture,”
the nomination read.
The Hollingsworth’s went on to
praise the Reed’s efforts to care for
the environment and communicate
Pictured from left: CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham,
Ryan and Lana Reed, Debbie and Gary Hollingsworth
and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.)
(Photo courtesy of Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.)
March 2012
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