Red Oak Chamber and Association honors local farmers
The Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Fair Board, hosted the second annual Agriculture Business Appreciation Breakfast during National Agriculture Week on March 8.
The free breakfast, held at the Montgomery County Fairground, drew 95 area farmers and agricultural industry participants who enjoyed a buffet breakfast cooked by the Red Oak Ambassadors.
Ray Gaesser, member of the Board of Directors of the Amiercan Soybean Association, was the featured speaker for the event. Three awards were also presented at the breakfast: Emerging Leader in Agriculture, Farm Family of the Year and Service in Agriculture.
Dennis Carlson was presented with the Service to Agriculture award. Dennis has been farming for 45 years since graduating from Iowa State University in 1967. Dennis’ wife Susan assist him in the farming operations, as well as working full time. Dennis and Susan have a daughter Marcia Shannon, a PhD in swine nutrition, who is presently working for the University of Missouri as a swine nutrition specialist. They also have a son, Mike Carlson, who is involved in farming and agriculture.
Andy Larson was presented with the Emerging Leader in Agriculture Award. He started farming after graduating from high school in 1979 on the family farm. He worked at Red Oak Machine from 1984 through 2004, while farming part-time. He started farming full-time in 2004. He is a member of the Mills Montgomery Cattleman’s Association and has been on the board for the past 8 years. He has served on the Montgomery County Fairboard for the past 5 years. He is a member of the Stanton Booster Club, the Mutual 20 group and the Double Dozen.
Keith, Karen, Spencer and Danielle Klocke were presented with the Farm Family of the Year Award recognition of the fact that they are full-time farmers, are active in their community and schools and have demonstrated leadership in the agricultural community.
The breakfast was sponsored by: KCSI-FM/KOAK-AM; United Farmers Mercantile Cooperative; Montgomery County Fair-board; Montgomery County Farm Bureau; Fareway – Al Thole; Bank Iowa; Mont-gomery County Extension and Parker-Norris Financial Inc.
National Agriculture Week, which ran from March 4-10, is designated as a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and others recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.