The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award. 

The award recognizes farm families who “demonstrate outstanding voluntary efforts to improve and protect Iowa’s soil and water resources while also serving as leaders in their community.” Typical winners of the award implement conservation practices, such as cover crops, no-till and reduced tillage, nutrient management, grassed waterways, wetlands, saturated buffers, bioreactors and other innovative water quality practices. 

This year’s winners will be announced during a presentation at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on August 19th. Winners will receive a certificate with a special America250 seal on their certificate and have their photos taken in front of an America250 backdrop.

The nomination form can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. An appointed committee of various people representing conservation and agricultural groups will review all nominations and select the winners. The deadline for nominations is May 4th.