Sterling Farms receive 2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award

The 2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards were presented at the 2024 Iowa State Fair on August 14, 2024. Forty-four farm awards were presented. Opening remarks and presentations of awards were given by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and DNR Director Kayla Lyon.

Recognized and representing Wapello County for 2024 were James (Jim) and Joan Sterling for Sterling Farms. They farm in the Hedrick-Martinsburg, Farson area and are diverse in the farming operation. They custom feed hogs, own a cow/calf herd, finish out 500 head of feeder cattle, raise corn and soybeans, while managing hay and pasture. Their family farm has been in operation for over 90 years.

Jim is a very involved member of his farming community. Last year, a tornado came through his area and hit his and many of the surrounding farms. Jim worked with a team of neighbors to go around and cleanup the disaster site. He is a Township trustee, a member of the Pekin Ruritan’s club, the Farm Bureau and active in his local church. Joan works with farmers every day at Corteva.

They have installed numerous terraces, buffer strips, contour strips, grassed waterways, grass strips, cover crops and CRP.

Jim and Joan’s motivation to implement conservation practices is “I want to hold the dirt in it’s place. We have five generations on our family operation, and I want to hand it on to the next generation just as good as I got it.”