The 2019 Iowa State Fair is coming soon, and during the festivities some Dallas County farmers will be recognized for their efforts to protect the land.

The Farm Environmental Leader Awards will be presented on Wednesday, August 14th at 10 a.m. in the Penningroth Media Center of the fair’s cattle barn. Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon will recognize a total of 53 Iowa farm families for their environmental stewardship. Among the honorees are a pair of families from southern Dallas County: Brarada Family Farms, operated by Dale and Vera Golightly, Brad Golightly, and Randy Golightly; and Jeff, Diane, Kendra, Megan, and Benjamin Koch.

The award recognizes farmers who take voluntary actions to improve or protect the environment through practices such as cover crops, wetlands, bioreactors, and saturated buffers. The winners were chosen by a committee representing both conservation and agricultural groups. Since the creation of the Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012, more than 500 Iowa farm families have been recognized. The awards ceremony is free to attend and open to the public.