Stout recognized by ISA

ANKENY ? An up-and-coming high school student, innovators in research and environmental conservation, a dedicated farm family that?s hosted the Chinese president and the state?s top executive were recognized by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) during its annual awards banquet held Dec. 15 in Ankeny.

The Environmental Leader Award, presented by Monsanto, was awarded to Rob Stout, of Washington, for his commitment to conservation and championing water quality practices. He has been heavily involved in conservation since he returned to his family soybean, corn and livestock operation in 1978. Stout is also highly involved with ISU and ISA research. He?s involved in a 10-year research project on cover crops, participates in numerous On-Farm Network® trials and late spring nitrogen tests and helped start the West Fork Crooked Creek Watershed Group. Stout has installed a robust set of conservation practices on his farm near Washington including no-till and cover crops, waterways, terraces and buffer strips. In 2015, Stout installed a bioreactor ? the first in southeast Iowa.