Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Farmers as teachers as well as students

Back to Leopold Letter Winter 2009

Francis and Susan Thicke produce skim, low-fat and whole milk in their on-farm organic dairy as well as yogurt and cheese, all of which is sold locally. They’ve restored their 236-acre farm near Fairfield with deep-rooted perennials and legumes and rotationally graze their Jersey cows in new paddocks twice each day.

But what impresses Jennifer Steffen the most about the Thickes is how they use their farm to teach others about sustainable agriculture.

“I’m fortunate to have shared time with Francis and Susan on several occasions, including a master conservationist program offered by Iowa State University Extension,” said Steffen, who owns a farm in Van Buren County and represents the State Soil Conservation Committee on the Leopold Center Advisory Board.

“They kindly agreed to host our students and speak about their organic dairy operation, offering thoughtful conversation on different practices,” she said. “I overheard a question one of our students asked a young Radiance Dairy employee who had been helping with the tour. He was asked if he liked his job at Radiance Dairy …his response was, ‘I love my job because Francis is such a good teacher.’”

Steffen presented the 2009 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture to Francis and Susan Thicke during the Iowa Organic Conference in Ames December 5. She said the couple’s business success and commitment to conservation and education that goes far beyond their farm gate led to their selection for the Spencer Award, given to a farmer, educator or group each year for contributions to sustainable family farms in Iowa.

Back to Leopold Letter Winter 2009