New stewardship award given: Two farms earn honor from ISDA, Weaver Popcorn

INDIANAPOLIS — Two farms were honored with the inaugural Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship Award, presented by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing.

The award is presented to Weaver Popcorn growers who are committed to improving soil health and water quality on their farm.

Guernsey Farms in Jamestown in central Indiana received first place and a $20,000 cash prize.

Guernsey Farms grows popcorn, soybeans, seed soybeans and hay. Conservation practices implemented on the farm include no-till, cover crops, grassed waterways, filter strips and drainage water management structures.

“This is the future of agriculture,” said Bruce Guernsey of Guernsey Farms. “We want to leave the land better for the future.”

New Vision Farms in Napolean in northwest Ohio received second place and $10,000. The farm produces popcorn, green beans, cucumbers, soybeans, wheat, edamame and field corn.

Conservation practices implemented on the farm include grassed waterways, filter strips, blind inlets and reduced tillage.

“I believe it is our job to be good stewards of the land and to leave it better than we found it, and it is our responsibility to manage and improve it” said Nick Rettig of New Vision Farms.