Four farmland-owning sisters were selected as the recipients of Practical Farmers’ 2020 Farmland Owner Legacy Award – from left to right, Carol Bouska, of Minneapolis; Ann Novak, of Burlington, Washington; Peg Bouska, of Iowa City, Iowa; and Sally McCoy, of Edgerton, Wisconsin.

When the Bouska sisters inherited their family farm in 2009, after their father Edward’s death, they became joint owners of the 450-acre farm they grew up on near Protivin, in northeastern Iowa.

Over the years, the sisters have taken increasingly deliberate steps to map out their vision for the farm while creating space to navigate sometimes difficult emotional dynamics and differences of opinion with love and compassion.

They have also progressively increased conservation practices on the land, and last year made the bold commitment to convert the farm to a regenerative agriculture system within 10 years.

Read more about the Bouska sisters and see more information about the ceremony to honor them further down in this email.

Beginning farmers, don’t miss this opportunity to use the Savings Incentive Program to grow your farm. Applications are open will close on Monday, Oct. 12.

If accepted, you will spend the next two years working on building a successful farm with a group of other beginning farmers who are doing the same. You will graduate with a network of peers and mentors, the tools to use a business plan and a savings match of up to $2,400 for your farm. Be part of the 2022 SIP class!

With this automated system, you'll get updates delivered straight to your inbox highlighting virtual events occurring that day.

Check out our full slate of 2020 field days. Details and registration are now available.

Missed a virtual field day that you wanted to attend? There are a few ways to watch recordings:

Hosted by: Randall Vos

On the heels of the derecho, PFI is organizing three high tunnel builds in the Cedar Rapids area from Oct. 10-12. These workshops will be two days each, with limited attendance (nine attendees at each site).

Adam Montri, high tunnel building master of Ten Hens Farm, will be leading the builds.

The Farmland Owner Legacy Award is granted annually by Practical Farmers to landowners who use their land to help the next generation get started, advance land stewardship and promote long-term sustainability of farm businesses, environmental quality and rural communities.

Join us for this event honoring the 2020 recipients of the award. This year’s recipients are the Bouska sisters: from left to right: Sally McCoy, Carol Bouska, Peg Bouska and Ann Novak

Tom Wind of Jamaica was featured in Drovers: Livestock: A Powerful Tool

Ruth Rabinowitz of Santa Cruz, CA, was featured in Environmental Defense Fund's blog: How female farmers are conservation leaders on the farm and beyond

Mary Swander of Kalona and AgArts was featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette: Art meets agriculture in program that invites artists to live on Iowa farms

Tom Frantzen of New Hampton, Jacob Jungers of St. Paul, MN, and Aaron Heley Lehman of Polk City were featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette: Growing alternative crops in Iowa can bring risks and rewards

Greg Padget, PFI's next generation director, was featured on YourFortDodge.com: Greg Padget – Practical farmers of Iowa – Savings Incentive Program

Have you been featured in the media? Tell us when and where to find a link to the article, and we'll feature you in a future issue of Practical News.

Contact: tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org