Iowa Corn Farmers Recognized at the Iowa State Fair 

Iowa Corn proudly sponsored Iowa Corn Day at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, August 15, 2025. Fairgoers had the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt across the fairgrounds while Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) members came together for a memorable experience as they flooded the fairgrounds in their green member t-shirts. 

Throughout the fair, many ICGA members and families were recognized for their outstanding leadership in agriculture, those families and their achievements are as follows: 

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizing Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment, their livestock and being good neighbors.  

• Paul and Sara Gieselman are cattle and row crop farmers from Louisa County. Paul serves as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board District 9 Director and is the incoming First Vice President.  

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

• Hatch Farms owned by Shelleen Hatch and daughters Kerrigan and Shelton, and son-in-law Mitchell Hoefling farm in Gladbrook, Iowa, raising commercial corn, sweet corn, seed beans and commercial beans. Shelton also works full-time at Iowa Corn as the District 1 Field Manager.  

• Joe and Shelly Heinrich, along with their family and their respective farms, raise beef cow/calf pairs, milk 60 Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle, and grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats in Maquoketa, Iowa. Joe has been an active ICGA member for over 20 years. 

• Taylor Farms, owned by ICGA member Dan Taylor and family Larry, Karen, Ila Jean, Todd, Noah and Sarah Taylor, farm in Bouton, Iowa. They raise corn, soybeans, peas, small grains and a variety of forage crops in addition to a cow-calf herd, a feedlot for finishing cattle and a hog finishing program for Niman Ranch, using deep bedding and antibiotic-free practices. 

The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award is a joint effort of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, recognizing the exemplary voluntary efforts of Iowa’s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality. 

• Nick Helland, Boone County 

• James Hepp, Calhoun County 

• John Black, Cedar County 

• Brent Swart, Clay County 

• Justin Robbins, Greene County 

• Michael Murphy, Grundy County 

• Jason Murphy, Grundy County 

• Chris Lee, Ida County 

• Bill Benjamin, Lee County 

• Nathan Nieuwendorp, Lyon County 

• Mike Deahr, Muscatine County 

• John Geake, Sac County 

Additionally, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) was proud to sponsor Burt Reynolds, the corn-fed steer in the 2025 Governor’s Charity Steer Show. This year’s steer was accompanied by ICPB President Ralph Lents, a corn farmer from Adair County, and Tucker Freimuth, son of Josh and Tiffany Freimuth and freshmen at South Central Calhoun High School. This year’s show raised $569,000 for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Charities of Iowa. 

For more information on Iowa Corn Day at the Fair visit https://www.iowacorn.org/education/iowa-corn-day-at-the-iowa-state-fair. 

For More Information:

Sydney Garrett, Public Relations Manager, sgarrett@iowacorn.org, 515-225-9242