By Jolene Bopp
This Friday meet Nicole Vernon of Jones County, Iowa, where she raises cattle, corn, soybeans, and hay. Nicole started her farm in 2016, purchasing 100 acres just before her senior year at Iowa State University. Nicole moved to the farm soon after purchasing the land, splitting her time between classes and the field. Now, 10 years later, Nicole and her husband, Jon, farm alongside her parents where their cows rotate through pastures, cover crops and feed.
Raised on Conservation
Conservation is almost second nature to Nicole. Raised on her family’s farm, Nicole credits her parents, Jeff and Shielly, with instilling her conservation ethic and the value of implementing conservation practices, like no-till, celebrating earthworms as “God’s natural plow,” and learning pasture management.
“It’s how she grew up, riding in the combine and helping with crops,” said Jeff. “We never did tillage and she was always curious about the soil and why it was important.”
In 2025, she was named the Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year by the Iowa Conservation Partnership, an award honoring women who advance conservation in meaningful ways.
Cover Crops and Cattle
She started her farming journey with a beginning farmer loan from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to help her purchase the land. Since then, she’s also used FSA’s operating loans to purchase equipment.
Source : farmers.gov