Eric Nelson and his family of Woodbury County were awarded the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award on Nov. 7 in Moville.

 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the award, noting the Nelsons’ long history of care for both their land and their cattle.

“Leaders in agriculture are not only implementing best practices on their farms, they are active in their communities and serve many organizations. The Nelsons are great examples of leaders who take pride in caring for their cattle, their land and their community,” Naig said.

Eric Nelson farms with his wife Carol, and children Mark, Matt, John, Paul and Sarah. The family has a cow-calf operation and feeds out cattle.

The Nelsons have practiced continuous no-till since 1993 and know the importance of implementing conservation practices, including grass waterways and grass field borders where appropriate.

The Nelsons operate according to Beef Quality Assurance guidelines, knowing that a low-stress environment is best for raising cattle. They are also stewards of the land, using soil testing to determine nutrient needs and to plan the timing and location of manure field applications.

Each member of the Nelson family is active in community organizations.

Eric has served as the Woodbury County Farm Bureau president for the last three years, is an 11-year member of the Woodbury Central School Board and is vice president of Siouxland Ag in the Classroom.

Carol is a member of the Woodbury County Extension Council and board member of Moville Area Community Development Inc.

Their children are also involved in numerous organizations.

Mark is president of the Woodbury County Cattlemen and treasurer of Woodbury County Farm Bureau.

Mark’s wife, Melissa, is the Woodbury County Beef Team leader and a Siouxland Ag in the Classroom board member.

John is a volunteer firefighter with the Moville Volunteer Fire Department.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award is presented by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Ag Radio Network and is made possible by the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock successfully and responsibly. It’s a partnership involving the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Poultry Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy Association.