DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Secor family – Bill Sr., Bill Jr. and wife Tammi, Dr. Janet, and others – of Fort Dodge in Webster County are the winners of the January “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”
“The Secor’s exemplify the care for the land and concern for their neighbors that this award was designed to recognize,” Northey said. “The family is on the forefront of the industry, they are dedicated to the environment and bettering Iowa. Like other farmers throughout the state, the Secor’s are always there to lend a hand to neighbors in need.”
In nominating the Secor’s for the award, their neighbor Richard Merrill said, “They are a family of two generations of both crop and livestock farmers who have been very environmentally friendly over the years and have been great neighbors. They’re always helping out.”
The Secor’s have a hog operation and also farm acres of row crops. They are committed to the environment and are also breaking into the wine industry. The entire family is involved in the farm.
The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award is made possible through the financial support of The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. WHO Radio’s Big Show will broadcast live from the Secor farm on Monday, January 21. Bill Northey will present the award to the family during the broadcast.
The award recognizes Iowa livestock producers who care for their operations and their neighbors and is named for Gary Wergin, a former WHO Radio broadcaster who helped create the award.
To nominate, a neighbor 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 to tess.capps@idals.state.ia.us.
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are the opportunities in renewable energy, conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.
