Meet Iowa Farmer Mark Heckman

Meet Iowa Farmer Mark Heckman

Mark Heckman of West Liberty was recently elected to the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Heckman has served as an ex-officio director and as a director for district six on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “I enjoy talking about corn, explaining the benefits of this crop to the public and I enjoy exploring the possibilities of what can be done with this magnificent crop that we produce,” says Heckman. “A colleague has said, ‘we produce, food, fuel and oxygen,’ and it is a privilege to work with this industry – who else can say that?” Mark is currently serving on the ICPB’s Utilization and Production Committee.“I want to use my farming and work experience on this committee so that we can discover what will be the next ‘ethanol’ or the next great corn-based product,” Heckman adds. "I also want to make sure that farmers' checkoff dollars are being spent in a productive and responsible way."Heckman raises corn and soybeans in partnership with his brothers and parents near West Liberty in Muscatine County. He has been farming with his family for more than 25 years. He is a graduate of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development Program (I-LEAD) and is a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Heckman is a graduate of Iowa State University. Mark and his wife, Rhonda, have five children.