Goats, a Llama, and a Farmer- Oh My!

Alex Edgington, an Iowa Corn Grower Association member, farms with his family by St. Ansgar, northwest of Osage, Iowa. Alex is the son of Chris Edgington who is the current secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He is also a former member of the Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team.  Due to excessive flooding, 35% of their corn was planted. The remaining acres will now go towards a cover crop. Alex said that they had over 11 inches of rain in the month of May, not including the 10.5 inches of snow in early May. For the month of June they have received 5+ inches in rain, so far.  Alex said his father Chris, who has been farming for 50 years, has never seen anything like this.

Sand left standing

Alex took me on a tour around his farm showing me areas where the rain had washed away the fields, culverts, and bridges. I venture to guess that this year of farming will be a learning experience for this young farmer and will better equip him for the years to come!  From last year’s drought to this year’s flood farmers strive forward taking risks to do what they love. 



Alex and his llama Hawkeye

Alex Edgington represents the next generation in farming. He graduated from NIACC with a degree in Agriculture Business. He has been working with the family on the farm for the last four years now. Along with farming Alex custom feeds cattle. Alex has a fun hobby- 128 meat goats and a llama. I had the opportunity to meet the llama up close and personal! The llama named Hawkeye may cause more problems than not, but Alex says that it keeps the coyotes away. Along with meat goats, he is breeding for show goats.






Kate Sennert is the Communications Intern for Iowa Corn. She will be a senior at Iowa State University in the fall in Agriculture Communications. She will be working on social media, blogging, newsletter articles, attending booth/trade shows, and is doing a comprehensive state-wide farmer interview series this summer. She grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa where her dad raised hogs, cattle, corn, and soybeans.