-Submitted photo
The Berg family received the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award on July 14. At the ceremony were, in back, from left, Brian Waddingham from the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke, Kelli Berg, Josh Berg, Bob Quinn of WHO Radio, Morgan Pothoven of the Iowa Turkey Federation, and Gretta Irwin of the Iowa Turkey Federation. In front, from left, are Lincoln Berg, 9, and Lauren Berg, 7, with Jackson Berg, 4, in the very front.

EARLY — Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke — on behalf of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig — presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Josh and Kelli Berg family on July 14 at their family farm near Early.

“When I think about next generation farmers,” said Menke, “I think of the Berg family and their farm leadership position. It started with Jym Covey who, in 2009, was looking to transition his family farm. He was seeking out a young, motivated couple to carry out his legacy, and Josh and Kelli Berg have done just that. Their focus on animal health, animal care, stewardship of their land and environment, and care of their community through agricultural, church, and civic organizations has shown that they are a shining example of the future of Iowa Agriculture.”

The Bergs raise corn, soybeans, finisher turkeys and brooder poults. Josh and Kelli started taking over Covey’s operation in 2013. They also rent Kelli’s father’s land. In April of 2015, the couple bought their first three-barn finisher site. In 2019, they purchased land to build a 10-pen turkey brooder facility, which came into operation in early 2020. In October of 2020, the Bergs bought another three-barn turkey finisher site. From 2014-2022, they sold Wyffels Hybrids to provide additional income.

Animal care is a top priority for the Bergs, and they use the latest technology to ensure their birds live in a low-stress environment. Through technology, the Bergs monitor humidity, feed availability and water usage and automate fan times, feed timing, and ventilation.

With multiple sites, they are attuned to their biosecurity protocols to ensure disease, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is not introduced to the farm or spread from site to site. Josh, Kelli, and all full-time employees have completed Tyson’s biosecurity certifications.

On their crop acres, the Bergs have been 100 percent no-till in the past. Currently, all bean acres are no-till, while they lightly disc corn acres to incorporate turkey manure. They use and believe in terraces, buffer strips, and grassed waterways to reduce nutrient loss from the soil.

They rotate crops every year to increase soil health and reduce insect and disease pressure.

They manage and monitor nutrients to minimize loss from the soil to surrounding surface water.

“What an honor it is to be recognized for the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award,” said Kelli

Berg. “We have been blessed to have help and mentorship along the way, and we feel this award says more about those people than it does us.”

The Bergs are actively involved in the Sac County Farm Bureau, with Kelli Berg serving as a past president. They are involved in the Iowa Turkey Federation, with Josh Berg having served as both a board member and vice president. Kelli Berg has been a judge for the Iowa Turkey Gobble Up contest since 2021. Both Kelli and Josh are involved in numerous committees and events for the Storm Lake St. Mary’s school and are active in the St. Mary’s Church. Kelli Berg is also a youth sports coach, a member of the Sacred Heart Guild, and is on the nominating committee for Farm Credit Services of America.

Although not present for the ceremony, Naig issued a statement concerning the Berg’s qualifications for this award.

“With a young and growing family, the Bergs not only take good care of their farm, but also have stepped forward to provide valued leadership within their school, community and agriculture organizations,” he said. “Because of their dedication to their community and school, their stewardship of their farm, and contributions to Iowa agriculture, I am honored to present the Bergs with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers and The Big Show on WHO Radio. This award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock and have demonstrated a commitment to their community. The award is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.