Iowa Environmental Steward Award
Pork producers are constantly looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact as they work to feed the world. The Environmental Steward Award from the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) annually recognizes those producers who go above and beyond in caring for the environment.
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: manure/nutrient management, soil and water conservation, air quality, public relations, wildlife habitat, and environmental management innovations. Other considerations are the commitment to the We Care® principles, and the contributions they make to their community.
Nominees must be IPPA members. Only one award is given each year. The recipient is honored at the Iowa Pork Congress Banquet in January where they will receive a $2,500 cash award. In addition, the person nominating the award recipient will receive $500. Questions can be directed to Ben Nuelle, or call 515-225-7675.
Nominations for the 2025 Awards will open April 15 and are due July 14, 2025.
Download the full list of past winners, or watch the profile of the 2024 award winner below.
Mike Ver Steeg — Inwood, Lyon County
Mike Ver Steeg’s journey in the swine industry began after completing his degree at Iowa State University when he returned home to work alongside his father, Dr. Eugene Ver Steeg, on their farrow-to-finish operation. In the early 2000s, Mike took ownership of the farrowing herd and later the finishing side, after becoming a shareholder in Pipestone-managed sow units and a member-owner of Wholestone Farms.
Mike’s nursery site was built in a less pig-dense area to ensure pig health. Initially run as a continuous flow nursery, it transitioned to all-in/all-out production to support the growing operation. The manure from this nursery is applied via a drag line, minimizing soil compaction and incorporating it into the soil to reduce odor and prevent runoff. Ver Steeg also uses a nitrification inhibitor to prevent nitrogen leaching.An early adopter of conservation practices, Ver Steeg employs no-till soybeans, strip-till manure application, and cover crops to prevent soil erosion and build organic matter. He plants soybeans directly into a living rye cover crop and experiments with different cover crop options. Mike’s innovative practices include using a bale shredder to spread corn stalks over earthen lagoons, minimizing odor, and utilizing grassed terraces and waterways to filter runoff and protect local streams.
Ver Steeg’s passion for the agriculture industry is also evident through his active community involvement. He has served as President of the local county pork producers’ organization, is currently on the Iowa Corn Growers Association board, and is a member of the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s public policy committee. He also currently serves on the board for Greenstone Farmers, a carbon farming company. Over the years, Mike has been an advocate for agriculture, serving on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee, volunteering at the Pipestone farrowing display at the Sioux Empire Fair, and working with the Coalition to Support Iowa Farmers.
Mike and his wife Sarah, along with their three children—Cody, Evan, and Ella—are dedicated to environmental stewardship. In 2009, they received the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award for their commitment to sustainable farming practices. In addition, Mike and Sarah were honored by IPPA as Master Pork Producers in 2004 and as Pork All Americans in 2009.