Victor farm family to be recognized at the Iowa State Fair

VICTOR — Lee and Lois Kovar, fourth generation owners of Kovar Farms, a century farm in Victor, head one of six Iowa farm families that will be recognized with The Way We Live Awards at the 2025 Iowa State Fair.

The Way We Live Award is sponsored by Iowa Farmer Today and WHO Radio, The Big Show. It recognizes Iowa farm families who have demonstrated their dedication to agriculture and strong Iowa farm values.

Since 2009, 95 Iowa families have received the honor. This year marks the 17th year of recognizing outstanding farm families who exemplify hard working farm values and a love for the occupation of farming.

The Kovars, along with their three children and nine grandchildren, will receive the farming award Saturday, Aug. 9 at 11:45 a.m. on the Bill and Anne Riley Stage.

The honor comes on the Lee and Lois’s 45th wedding anniversary.

The family farms crops and raises cattle in the Victor area. Lee’s great-grandfather started the farming operation in 1894, and it has grown in technology, acres and variety and quantity of livestock in the years since.

“We’ve had to change some due to technology through the years, which is definitely for the younger generation,” said Lois.

Lee takes great pride in finding the best genetics across the United States to have as herd sires and maternal cows to not only raise their herd of beef but also finish them out at their feedlot operation.

The Kovars keep all of the calves that are born on the farm and raise them to market beef.

Joining the couple in the farm operation are their two sons, Stan and Mark, who have children of their own helping on the farm.

“Our daughter, Sheila, is married to a farmer from Benton County, and they have their own farm, with many more varieties of animals than we have,” said Lois.

Lee and Lois take great pride in knowing that they have passed on family farming traditions to the sixth generation, their grandchildren.

The couple has been involved with 4-H, and granddaughter, Charlotte, Stan’s oldest daughter, has been involved with Ag in the Classroom where she speaks to students about where their food comes from and presents information about animal care and bi-products.

Charlotte also founded Feed a Farmer outreach through her 4-H Trailblazers Club. The outreach opens the farm kitchen to a crew of volunteers to prepare and deliver hot, home-cooked meals to area farmers during the Fall harvest.

“We fed 232 farmers last year,” said Lois.

In addition to her 4-H work, Charlotte helps bale hay and runs the auger wagon during harvest.

“She is amazing and can out farm a number of people much older than her, and really does a great job,” said Lois.

The couple’s grandson, Garrett, 18, from Garrison/Dysart (Sheila’s oldest son) has been helping on the farm since he graduated from high school.

Their granddaughter, Brooke, 15, has started a business, renting out mini donkeys during Easter. “She took them to two churches in Cedar Falls this year,” said Lois. “She calls it ‘Party Animals.’”

William, 12, is the youngest of Shelia’s three children. He bought his own old tractor and is working on the motor.

“He helps down here when he comes to spend time with us,” said Lois.

The couple’s son, Stan, has four children. In addition to Charlotte, there is Maverick, 8. He has bunnies and bottle calves, and helps with chores and anything else he is asked to do.

“Stetson, 5, is a hellion but also helps with chores,” said Lois.

And Gretchen, who is going to be 2, lives to lay under the combine and chopper or beside the tractor, wrenching bolts with her daddy.

Son, Mark, has two children and they help around the farm as well.

Kaleb, 6, enjoys helping on the farm and is dying to drive anything besides his bicycle.

Lois said grandson Kody, 3, is full of you know what and does anything he can.

“All of our grandchildren help with chores, food deliveries, and generally help out where there are jobs for them,” said Lois.

In addition to their grandchildren, Lois and Lee have a super group of farm helpers, Lois said. Several have been with them for more than 25 years.

“That also is a great thing,” she said. “Our team is really good now.”

The couple remains active in the Ladora Development Committee, hosting dances in June, July and August with Family Fun Day slated for Aug. 23.

The events help raise funds to make improvements to the community.

And the family is owner of the Ladora Stora, a community gas station and convenience store in Ladora.

Lois said that receiving this honor is very gratifying. “To be given this award makes you feel as if maybe we have been working hard for many years, and it’s appreciated,” she said.

“None of us would change it for the world, and with more families to feed here, we have kept expanding,” Lois said. “Trying to make a difference. I’d like to hope that some of the family carries on through the future, as it’s a wonderful heritage that began back in 1894. It makes us very proud.”