Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the Knupp family of Washington County with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award during an open house on Friday, Sept. 4. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farm of Tanner Knupp, located between Washington and Kalona. The award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment, their livestock and being good neighbors in their communities.
Marc and Mary Ann Knupp are part of a Washington County farming legacy that stretches back more than 170 years. The Knupp family has farmed in the county since 1854, with Marc representing the sixth generation. This year marks Marc's 51st crop on some of the same farmland he first rented and planted in 1975. Today, he farms both independently and as the primary operator of the Knupp & Sons grain operation, working closely with his nephew, Tanner Knupp.
Livestock has been central to the family farm for generations. Marc's father raised hogs and cattle after returning home from World War II, and Marc and his brother, Carl, began a farrow-to-finish hog operation in the 1970s before transitioning to contract finishing in 1994. The family's hog barns are now transitioning to the next generation, including nephews Tanner and Austin Knupp, while Marc continues to farm corn and soybeans and utilize manure as an important nutrient source.
“Six generations on the farm represents an incredible legacy, but what stands out about the Knupp family is their willingness to continually adapt while staying rooted in the values that have sustained their family for generations,” said Secretary Naig. “Marc and Mary Ann have embraced new opportunities, cared for their land and livestock and invested countless hours in their community while creating opportunities for the next generation to lead. That same spirit is evident throughout the Knupp family, whether they're farming, building agricultural businesses or serving agriculture at the local and national levels. Their commitment to leaving their farm and community stronger for future generations makes them very deserving of the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”
In addition to corn and soybeans, Marc has produced seed corn and seed soybeans and currently grows specialty plots for Corteva. During challenging commodity markets from 1983 through 1991, the Knupps also diversified by growing tomatoes for Heinz, reflecting a longstanding willingness to pursue new opportunities.
Conservation is another important part of the family's generational approach to farming. The Knupps utilize filter strips, terraces, grassed waterways, minimum tillage and began incorporating cereal rye cover crops on rolling ground in 2021. Marc's goal is to continually improve the land and ultimately pass it to the next generation in better condition than he cared for it.
Source : iowaagriculture.gov