Ron Rosmann and Maria
Vakulskas Rosmann, along with their three sons, will be
honored as recipients of the 2006 Spencer Award for
Sustainable Agriculture.
The Rosmanns operate a 600-acre, diversified organic
farm near Harlan in Shelby County. They have been
leaders in sustainable agriculture, hosting visitors
from all over the world on their farm.
Ron is a founding board member of the grassroots
organization, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and is a former
president and board member of the California-based
Organic Farming Research Foundation. Maria operates the
family’s private label, direct market organic meat
business, which they started in 1997. They also market
organic pork and beef to Organic Valley Family Farms.
Their sons actively participate in the farming
operation. David, 24, is a research assistant at the
Iowa State University organic agriculture lab. Daniel,
22, returned to the farm after earning his ISU agronomy
degree. Mark, 20, is a junior majoring in agronomy and
history.
The Rosmanns have received local and regional soil
conservation awards for their use of buffer strips,
terraces, windbreaks, rotational grazing and development
of wildlife habitat.
The Spencer Award recognizes farmers, researchers and
educators who have made a significant contribution
toward the stability of mainstream family farms in Iowa.
The award honors Norman A. and Margaretha Geiger
Spencer, who farmed near Sioux City for 40 years. It
includes a $1,000 gift and has been presented annually
since 2002. The award is funded by an endowment from the
Spencer family and is administered by the Leopold
Center.
The award will be presented at the Iowa Organic
Conference November 20.