Iowa County farm families earns Iowa Farm Environmental Leader award

DES MOINES — An Iowa County farm family is one of 40 recognized by Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon with the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards at the 2025 Iowa State Fair.

David Dermody and Travis Dermody, of Iowa County, were among the honorees, according to a press release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

The award recognizes farmers and farm families who go above and beyond to take voluntary actions to improve and protect our state’s natural resources, including our soil and water, while serving as leaders within their communities, the press release says.

These farm families use cover crops, wetlands, bioreactors, saturated buffers, grass waterways, buffer strips, terraces, no till and many other proven conservation practices that improve water quality, enhance soil health and support the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

The winners were chosen by a committee representing conservation and agricultural groups. A total of 861 Iowa farm families have been recognized since the creation of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012.

A list of previous recipients is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

Also receiving the award was Clinton Mikesell of Keokuk County.