Member Awards
Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award
Practical Farmers of Iowa gives this award to the person who has been most influential in creating vibrant communities, healthful food and diverse farms.
Laura Krouse
Laura Krouse is a pioneer of the local food movement in Iowa, although she would never call herself one. Humble, stoic and a trained agronomist to boot, Laura has been farming in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, operating Abbe Hills Farm since 1988.
Whether it be her years cultivating open-pollinator sweet corn, packing shares of vegetables for her community supported agriculture members, participating in PFI's farmer-led research program, hosting field days, mentoring young farmers and so much more, Laura's contributions to her community and sustainable agriculture at large are vast.
Past Award Recipients
- 2025: Suzanne Castello and Barney Bahrenfuse
- 2024: Joel Gruver
- 2023: Dean and Judy Henry
- 2022: Jan Libbey and Tim Landgraf
- 2021: Paul and Nancy Ackley
- 2020: Paul and Karen Mugge
- 2019: Doug Alert and Margaret Smith
- 2018: Earl Hafner
- 2017: John and Bev Gilbert
- 2016: Dan and Lorna Wilson
- 2015: Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice
- 2014: Susan Jutz
- 2013: Matt Liebman
- 2012: Fred Kirschenmann
- 2011: Tom and Irene Frantzen
- 2010: Ron and Maria Rosmann
- 2009: Vic and Cindy Madsen
- 2008: Kamyar Enshayan
- 2007: Francis Thicke
- 2006: Paul Johnson
- 2005: Denise O'Brien
- 2004: George Beran
- 2003: Rich Pirog
- 2002: Rick Exner
- 2001: David Williams
- 2000: Mark Honeyman
- 1999: Jean Wallace Douglas
- 1998: Neil Hamilton
- 1997: Dennis Keeney
- 1996: Michael Duffy
- 1995: Dick and Sharon Thompson
- 1994: Richard Cruse
- 1993: Larry Kallem
- 1992: Jerry DeWitt
- 1991: John Pesek
- 1990: Alfred Blackmer
Farmland Owner Legacy Award
The Farmland Owner Legacy Award was created to call attention to the need for improved landowner partnerships with farmers, and of the vital – but often unacknowledged – role non-operator landowners play in shaping the agricultural landscape, rural communities and opportunities for beginning farmers.
Ruth Rabinowitz
Practical Farmers of Iowa has named Ruth Rabinowitz of Madison County as the recipient of the 2025 Farmland Owner Legacy Award for her commitment to improving conservation on farmland in Iowa and South Dakota. The award was presented on Thursday, Oct. 23, during a celebration in Winterset. Ruth manages 800 acres of family farmland across Iowa and South Dakota, where she works to enhance soil health and wildlife habitat.
Past Award Recipients
- 2024: Tim Kelley
- 2023: Founders of Hidden Falls LLC
- 2022: Chris Henning
- 2021: Michael and Rosemary Roelf
- 2020: Sally McCoy, Ann Novak, Peg Bouska and Carol Bouska
- 2019: Lee Tesdell
- 2018: Maggie McQuown and Steve Turman
- 2017: John and Angela Tedesco
- 2016: Rob and Susan Fleming
- 2015: Dale Nimrod, Faith Sherman and Vance Nimrod
- 2014: Charlotte Shivvers and Martha Skillman
- 2013: Helen Gunderson
Master Researcher Award
The Master Researcher recognizes the efforts of those who have conducted extensive on-farm research and demonstration. The recognized farms have each conducted 20 or more on-farm research trials and spoken at or hosted at least five Practical Farmers events to share the knowledge gained over the years.
Past Award Recipients
- Rick Exner – Ames, Iowa (Story County)
- Dick and Sharon Thompson – Boone, Iowa (Boone County)
- Paul and Karen Mugge – Sutherland, Iowa (O'Brien County)
- Tom and Irene Frantzen – New Hampton, Iowa (Chickasaw County)
- Ron and Maria Rosmann – Harlan, Iowa (Shelby County)
- Dordt College (Ron Vos) – Ireton, Iowa (Sioux County)
- Neely-Kinyon Research Farm (Bob Burcham) – Atlantic, Iowa (Cass County)
- Jeff and Gayle Olson – Winfield, Iowa (Henry County)
- Doug Alert and Margaret Smith – Hampton, Iowa (Franklin County)
- Don and Sharon Davidson – Grundy Center, Iowa (Grundy County)
- Dave and Lisa Lubben – Monticello, Iowa (Jones County)
- Dan and Lorna Wilson – Paullina, Iowa (O'Brien County)
- Mark Quee – West Branch, Iowa (Cedar County)
- Bruce Carney – Maxwell, Iowa (Polk County)
- Rob and Tammy Faux – Tripoli, Iowa (Bremer County)
- Dick Sloan – Rowley, Iowa (Buchanan County)
- Jack Boyer – Reinbeck, Iowa (Tama County)
- Jill Beebout – Chariton, Iowa (Lucas County)
- Dave and Meg Schmidt – Exira, Iowa (Audubon County)