Kelly and Irene Tobin

Kelly Tobin has always wanted to farm, and besides the two years he spent in the military, that is what he has spent his whole life doing. He grew up on a farm in Northwest Missouri, met and married his wife Irene who had a career as a consumer science teacher, and had four children. Later the family of six moved to a farm in Taylor County, Iowa. Kelly always wished he had the opportunity to attend college and went back at age 54 to take classes at Iowa State University while farming and earned his bachelor's degree in agricultural business and agronomy in 1987.

South West IowaLiz RipleySeptember 8, 2022Taylor County

Randy Caviness

Randy has been no-till farming for over 30 years. When the 1985 farm bill mandated conservation practices, Caviness purchased a planter for no-till, but didn’t think it would work. After 10 years, tests showed that the organic matter in his soil was increasing, and is ongoing.

South West IowaLiz RipleySeptember 8, 2022Adair County

Barbara Johnson

For Barbara and Stanley Johnson, caring for Iowa’s land and water is second nature. Growing up just a few miles apart in rural Page County, both have learned the importance of protecting Iowa’s fertile soil since childhood. Though they left Iowa for a short time after they married, the couple returned to the area where they had grown up. A respect for the land was key as they made decisions and grew both farm and family over the past several decades. Now retired, Barb and Stanley are passing their knowledge and legacy onto their children and grandchildren.

South West IowaLiz RipleySeptember 8, 2022Page County

Seth Watkins

When he was 10 years old, Seth Watkins nursed a chilled calf back to health, an event that sparked his interest in farming and ultimately led him to his career today. Seth is a fourth generation steward of his family farm in Clarinda, Iowa.

South West IowaLiz RipleyJuly 7, 2022Page County

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