DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Moffitt family from Warren County has been named the winners of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award. Maurice Moffitt farms with his sons Damen and Kurt and raise purebred cattle and have commercial cattle as well as a cow/calf operation. They also raise 4-H sheep for kids to show at the Warren County Fair.
Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the award to the family on Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Farmers Chapel United Methodist Church near Indianola on 160th Avenue. The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“The Moffitt family is another great example of a multi-generation farm that is working together to do things right in caring for their animals, protecting the environment and serving their neighbors and community. Iowa is fortunate to have outstanding livestock farmers like the Moffitt family all across the state that add so much to our state and communities,” Northey said.
The family was nominated for the award by their neighbor Bret Thies who live across the road from Kurt’s family and their cattle operation. In his nomination he highlighted the family’s care for the land, including that Damen operates a tiling business and is focused on helping farmers be a good steward of the soil.
The family is also very active in the community, including 4-H where their children show sheep and cattle at the Warren County Fair and the Iowa State Fair.
In closing his nomination Thies said, “They are just wonderful hard working people and great neighbors. They are truly a class act family.”
The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.
Anyone interested in nominating their neighbor for the award 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 Communications@
— Iowa Department of Agriculture
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