From conservation-minded livestock producers in Lyon County to a growing goat creamery near Alton and a new water quality project at Dordt University, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says Northwest Iowa continues to showcase some of the best of Iowa agriculture.
Nieuwendorp Family Recognized for Stewardship
Naig recently presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to Nathan and Jacklyn Nieuwendorp of rural Inwood. The award recognizes livestock producers who demonstrate excellence in animal care, environmental stewardship, and community involvement.
Naig says the family exemplifies what the award is all about.
“This whole idea that, hey, we are responsible for leaving something better than we found it.”
The secretary also praised the family’s involvement in their church, community organizations, and agricultural leadership groups.
Favorite Creamery Showcases Value-Added Agriculture
Naig also recently visited Favorite Creamery near Alton, one of the early members of the state’s Choose Iowa program. He says operations like the Korvers’ and Dykstras’ demonstrate the growing demand for locally produced food and agricultural products.
“We’ve got folks wanting to buy local, which creates an opportunity to supply that market and grow that market.”
Naig says programs like Choose Iowa not only help farm families diversify and create additional revenue streams but also keep more dollars circulating in local communities.
Dordt Project Highlights Collaborative Water Quality Efforts
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recently awarded Dordt University funding for its planned prairie stormwater pond project in Sioux Center.
Naig says improving water quality requires cooperation from both urban and agricultural communities.
“Let’s do things the Iowa way, which is we work together.”
He says projects like the one at Dordt serve not only as conservation projects but also as educational opportunities that can inspire similar efforts elsewhere across Iowa.
Northwest Iowa Setting an Example
Naig says the three projects collectively demonstrate the innovation, stewardship, and community-minded approach that continues to make Northwest Iowa an important part of Iowa agriculture’s future.
“It’s good for business. It’s good for those farms, but it’s also good for awareness around the things that we consume in our homes.”
