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Ringgold County Cattleman Named Regional Environmental Stewardship Winner

July 19, 2005

Lee Faris (left) with NRCS Grassland Conservationist Brian Peterson. Faris keeps cows and their calves fenced from ponds, like the one in the background, in their rotationally grazed paddocks.

Lee Faris (left) with NRCS Grassland Conservationist Brian Peterson. Faris keeps cows and their calves fenced from ponds, like the one in the background, in their rotationally grazed paddocks. (photo by Jason Johnson)

Lifelong cattleman and conservationist Lee Faris of Mount Ayr, Iowa was recently selected as Region III winner of the 2005 National Cattleman’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award. Region III nominees include producers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. A national winner will be named later this year.

Faris operates a 190-head crossbred cow herd on about 400 acres of improved pastures. He owns a total of 956 acres and rents another 80 acres. Faris grows corn and soybeans on 400 acres, oats on 40 acres and alfalfa hay on 200 acres. About 40 percent of the corn and all of the oats are fed to cattle. Soybeans are marketed to a soybean processor in Creston, Iowa and surplus alfalfa is sold to local cattle producers.

Row crops on Faris Farms are grown primarily on “bottom” ground. Steeper slopes are used only for grazing or haying. Brian Peterson, State Grassland Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), said Faris is an excellent conservationist because he makes good land use decisions.

“Lee’s continuous row crop is limited to ridges and bottomland; marginal soils are used for pasture and hayland,” said Peterson. “In addition to these good land use decisions, Lee has installed terraces, waterways, and uses contour farming and conservation tillage to protect his farmland from soil erosion and maintain good water quality.”

Over the years, Faris has taken a leadership role in stewardship and conservation of the land. He is past-President and a current member of the Ringgold County Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. He currently serves as Vice President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation and Commissioner for the Ringgold County Soil and Water Conservation District, a position he has held for 16 years, eight as Chair. His resume also includes Chair of the Iowa State Soil Conservation Committee, member of the NRCS State Technical Committee, Co-Chair of the Iowa Grassland Alliance, and charter member of the Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee.

“His service to these boards and organizations has helped foster environmental stewardship beyond his own family farm,” said Jim Gillespie, Field Services Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation. “His efforts have assisted farmers and ranchers across the state of Iowa and impacted national programs as well.”

Faris and his late wife Martha started Faris Farms in 1958 when they purchased 80 acres soon after their marriage. They have three children, Rodney (Elizabeth), Jacqueline Stewart (Russ), and Jennifer Byrd (Shawn), and eight grandchildren. All family members live near Mt. Ayr.

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Contact:
Jason Johnson
Public Affairs Specialist
USDA-NRCS
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-323-2701