The Iowa State Dairy Association (ISDA) is proud to announce the winner of the 2011 Ralph Keeling Leadership Award. This year’s recipient is Larry Shover, a dairy farmer from Delhi, Iowa.
“Our family is honored to represent Iowa dairy producers in receiving this award,” says Shover, “dairy has been an important, special part of our lives.”
Along with his wife, Nancy, and his mother, Frances, Shover milks 105 registered Holsteins, farms more than 1,000 acres, and operates an independent farrow-to-finish swine operation.
He is a member of the Dairy Farmers of America Corporate Board, serves as treasurer of the Iowa Division of the Midwest Dairy Association, is the secretary of the ISDA board of directors, serves on the Dairy Lab Services board and is Chairman of the ADA of the Midwest. He is a founder and board member of the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation.
Shover is an Iowa Distinguished Dairyman and Iowa State University Dairy Science Club Honorary Member. He has received Conservation Farm, 4-H and Delaware County Dairy Council Service awards and is an FFA Honorary Chapter farmer. He is a member of Golden Prairie Congregational United Church of Christ in Ryan, Iowa, where he is on the board of trustees, is a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher.
“We are thankful that we’re able to work with our cows and the land to produce nature’s most nearly perfect food,” says Shover. “I truly believe that dairy farming can continue to be a vital, economically-friendly, sustainable part of Iowa’s economy and culture.”
The Shovers have one son, Todd, who is an emergency room physician in Waverly, Iowa. Todd and his wife Nickole have three sons, Jack, Sam and Luke.
The Ralph Keeling Leadership Award is given in honor of the late Ralph Keeling. Keeling operated a successful dairy farm and business, devoting much of his time and talents to help the progress of Iowa's dairy industry. Since 1967, this award has been presented annually to outstanding individuals in various fields of the State’s dairy industry.
Nominations were reviewed by a committee consisting of the past three Ralph Keeling Leadership Award winners and a recipient was chosen from the field of excellent candidates.
Presentation of the award will take place during the Iowa State Fair on Friday, August 12, at 7 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. ISDA President, Wayne Dykshorn, will present the award and joining him this year in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Butter Cow is G. Joe Lyon, husband of the late Duffy Lyon, “the Butter Cow Lady.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
