The Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture was established in 2001 by an endowment from the Spencer family, and is administered by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize.
About the Spencer family
The Spencer Award honors the beliefs, innovations and stewardship of Norman and Margaretha Spencer, who farmed near Sioux City for 40 years. It serves as a lasting memorial to the Spencers, who believed that it is the obligation of each generation to leave the world a better and healtheir place for the next generation.
Read a tribute to Norm and Margaretha Spencer (PDF)
Past Recipients
2024: Jamie Beyer
Announcement news release 2024
Pollinator champion Jamie Beyer, an advocate for bees and conservation, was honored for his efforts to protect honey bees and native bees -- and lead pollinator education projects for youth and adults.
2022: Mark Quee 
Announcement news release 2022
Mark Quee (left), educator and long-time farm manager at Scattergood Friends School, receiving Spencer Award from Leopold Center Interim Director Stephen Dinsmore at the 2022 Iowa Water Center Conference in Dubuque.
2019: Paul Mugge
Announcement news release 2019
Farmer Paul Mugge and wife Karen with the 2019 Spencer Award plaque.
2018: Paul Johnson and Seth Watkins
Announcement news release 2018
From left: Center Director Mark Rasmussen, Paul Johnson and Elaine Spencer, a member of the family that funded the award.
From left: Seth Watkins, Spencer and Rasmussen.
2016: David and Corrine Williams & Tom Kaspar 
David and Corrine Williams, pictured with Elaine Spencer (center), own a six-generation heritage farm near Villisca and have been farming for 60 years. They practice no-till, installed terraces, and are using cover crops.
Kaspar, pictured with board member Gail Hickenbottom (left), is a soil scientist with the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames. He has been researching cover crops since 1990. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony on March 22, 2017 at the Iowa Water Conference, Ames.
2015: Tom and Irene Frantzen
News release about the Frantzens
Organic farmer Tom Frantzen (center) accepted the Spencer Award from presenter Jody Kerns and Leopold Center Director Mark Rasmussen. The Frantzens have operated their family farm since 1976 and transitioned to organic in the 1990s. The couple are leaders in the organic hog production industry. They also plan to leave their land to Practical Farmers of Iowa. Their will states that the land will continue to be farmed sustainably.
2014: Steve Berger & Leigh Adcock
More about the recipients in the Fall 2014 Leopold Letter
Profiles on Berger and Adcock in the Winter 2014 Leopold Letter
Southeast Iowa farmer Steve Berger (center left) and outgoing director of Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) Leigh Adcock (center right) received the award on March 2, 2015, at the Iowa Water Conference. Leopold Center Board member Bill Ehm, (left), presented the award along with Center Director Mark Rasmussen (right).
2013: Matt Liebman
Photos and comments from the presentation 2013 (PDF)
More about the Liebman in the Winter 2013 Leopold Letter
Iowa State agronomy professor Matt Liebman received the Spencer Award Dec. 5, 2013, at the quarterly meeting of the Leopold Center Advisory Board. Elaine Spencer (right), who set up the award to honor her parents, presented the award, along with board member and farmer Jennifer Steffen and Leopold Center director Mark Rasmussen. Liebman also holds the Henry A. Wallace Chair of Sustainable Agriculture at ISU.
2012: Jan Libbey and Tim Landgraf
More about the recipients in the Winter 2012 Leopold Letter (PDF)
Northern Iowa CSA growers Jan Libbey and Tim Landgraf received the award Jan. 11, 2013, during the Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference. Leopold Center advisory board member Laura Jackson (right) presented the award, along with Center director Mark Rasmussen (left).
2011: Bernard Havlovic and Michael Natvig
2011 Spencer Award Report (PDF)
More about the recipients in the Winter 2011 Leopold Letter
ISU Research Farm superintendent Bernie Havlovic (center) and fifth-generation farmer Michael Natvig (second from right) receive the award at the board's March 1 meeting. They join advisory board members Laura Jackson (right) and Joe Colletti (left) and interim director Mark Honeyman (back left).
2010: Vic and Cindy Madsen
More about the Madsens in the Winter 2010 Leopold Letter
Cindy and Vic Madsen, and Leopold Center advisory board member Susan Jutz.
2009: Francis and Susan Thicke
More about the Thickes in the Fall 2009 Leopold Letter
Jennifer Steffen's comments (PDF)
Francis and Susan Thicke, whose Radiance Farm organic dairy products are marketed in Jefferson County, receive the award from Leopold Center advisory board member Jennifer Steffen, right.
2008: Steven Reinart
More about Steven Reinart in the Winter 2008 Leopold Letter
Russ Brandes (left) presents the award to Steven Reinart. He owns a grass-fed organic beef and seedstock operation near Glidden, where he relies entirely on grazing and forages for his cattle’s nourishment.
2007: Laura Krouse
More about Laura Krouse in the Winter 2007 Leopold Letter
Laura Krouse owns and operates a 72-acre farm in Linn County near Mount Vernon, teaches biology full-time at Cornell College, and runs a Community Supported Agriculture enterprise. Laura Jackson (left) and Susan Jutz (right) present the award to Krouse.
2006: The Rosmann Family
More about the Rosmann family in the Fall 2006 Leopold Letter
Paul Mugge's comments 2006 (PDF)
Ron Rosmann's comments 2006 (PDF)
Ron Rosmann and Maria Vakulska Rosmann and their sons David, Daniel and Mark operate a 600-acre, diversified organic farm near Harlan in Shelby County. They have been leaders in sustainable agriculture at state, regional and national levels. The family receives the award from Jerry DeWitt (left).
2005: Jerry DeWitt
More about Jerry DeWitt in the Fall 2005 Leopold Letter
Elaine Spencer's comments 2005 (PDF)
Jerry DeWitt is an Iowa State University professor whose 30-year commitment to sustainable agriculture ranges from the science of pest management to the art of photography to the administrative wisdom to encourage ISU to establish the nation's first tenured organic agriculture faculty position. He is on the right with Elaine and Bob Spencer.
2004: Dick and Sharon Thompson
More about the Thompsons in the Fall 2004 Leopold Letter
Dick Thompson's comments 2004 (PDF)
Restore the Balance of Crops and Livestock (PDF)
Dick and Sharon Thompson (center) receive the award from Leopold Center Associate Director Mike Duffy (left) and Advisory Board Chair Marvin Shirley (right). The Thompsons own and operate a 300-acre diverse crop and livestock farm in eastern Boone County. In 1985, they were instrumental in forming Practical Farmers of Iowa.
2003: David, Diane and Dresden Petty
More about the Pettys in the Summer 2003 Leopold Letter
Iowa State Fair award presentation from the Fall 2003 Leopold Letter
Elaine Spencer's comments 2003 (PDF)
Jim Penney's comments 2003 (PDF)
The Pettys own and operate the Iowa River Ranch along the Iowa River in Hardin County.
2002: David and Amy Petersen
More about the Petersens in the Summer 2002 Leopold Letter
The Petersons own and operate a dairy farm near Blue Grass, Iowa. They pose for a photo with Bob Spencer, Mike Duffy, Jim Penney, and their two children, Dana and Nolan.