-Farm News photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
Perry and Stacy Corey's farm reflects the compatibility between cattle production and conservation. Around 2009, the Coreys built a deep-bedded hoop building to house cattle, protect them from the elements and help control runoff, especially since the land to the west of the barn is hilly terrain that leads to Lake Creek.

LAKE CITY — It takes a lot of smart, strategic decisions by multiple generations to help a Century Farm thrive. As Perry and Stacy Corey carry on the Corey family’s farming heritage, the Lake City couple makes conservation a priority on their soybean, corn and cattle farm, which came into their family in 1882.

Their commitment to conservation earned them a 2023 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award. The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award, which was presented at the 2023 Iowa State Fair, recognizes outstanding Iowa farmers who not only implement best-management practices in their own operation, but strive to be leaders for conservation within the farming community. A total of 777 Iowa farm families have been recognized since the creation of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2012.

The Corey farm incorporates a wide range of conservation practices, including cover crops, on their acres. “My parents both grew up in Nebraska, and we’ve been raising rye on our farm for decades, ever since my folks started farming in Iowa,” Perry Corey said. “We definitely make sure to seed the rye on the hills, because it does a good job of holding the soil in place. The rye makes a good cover crop, plus we bale it for forage for the cattle.”

The couple farms roughly 1,600 acres in Calhoun and Webster counties. Soybeans and corn comprise about 75% of the acres on the Corey farm. The Coreys also have nearly 250 acres of land in the CRP. Some of this land is seeded to wildflowers and grasses, all which help attract wildlife.

In addition, the farm includes a cow-calf operation with approximately 140 cows, plus the Coreys feed out about 1,500 head of cattle per year.

-Farm News photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
Perry and Stacy Corey, of Lake City, raise soybeans and corn. They use no-till to help protect soil health, and they plant right into cover crop stubble.

Since many of their fields include some rolling terrain, the Coreys use many feet of grassed waterways and terraces (some of which were installed in the early 1980s and are still functioning) to hold soil in place, controlling erosion and runoff.

Their land also includes filter strips and riparian buffers (narrow bands of grasses and other plants) that help limit sediment, nutrients and more from entering nearby water resources.

In addition, the family also no-till to help protect soil health and plants right into cover crop stubble.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds praises farmers like the Coreys who take voluntary actions to improve and protect Iowa’s natural resources, while serving as leaders in their communities.

“The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recognizes the farmers who have made stewardship a priority. Their commitment to protecting, preserving, and restoring Iowa’s natural resources will ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of healthy soils and improved water quality for decades to come.”

Changing attitudes

toward conservation

The Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) nominated the Coreys for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award.

“We’re fortunate to have many families in Calhoun County who make sound conservation practices a key part of their farm,” said Alan Wedemeyer, a CCSWCD commissioner. “We support farmers like the Coreys who make conservation practices a priority and are setting a great example for other farmers and future generations.”

From the time he was growing up on his family’s farm until today, Perry Corey has seen big changes in farmers’ attitudes toward conservation.

“There are a lot more no-till and cover crops today, compared to when I was growing up in the 1970s and 1980s,” he said. “Practices like strip-till also intrigue me, and I’m interested in learning more about it.”

The Corey family’s commitment to agriculture and conservation has also taken root with their daughter, Hannah. During her years as an undergraduate student at Iowa State University, Hannah participated in the Soil and Water Conservation Club and the Iowa State Soils Judging Team before earning her degree in agronomy with a minor in entrepreneurial studies in 2018.

Community service, family ties

create strong connections

Livestock production can enhance farmers’ environmental stewardship. The Corey family’s farm reflects the compatibility between cattle production and conservation.

Around 2009, the Coreys built a deep-bedded hoop building to house cattle, protect them from the elements and help control runoff, especially since the land to the west of the barn is hilly terrain that leads to Lake Creek.

The Coreys hosted an open house to show visitors how a system like this can help protect soil and water quality, while enhancing livestock well-being.

In the fall, the Coreys fertilize their crop land with cattle manure. They also grid sample the soil regularly to see what nutrient levels are in the soil, so they can make proper fertilizer management decisions.

Perry Corey works with a local consultant, Jeff True of True Potential Ag Consulting, to help make practical, environmentally-friendly management decisions for his acres. (True received the Iowa Environmental Farm Leader award in 2019.)

The Coreys are active members of the Calhoun County Cattlemen’s organization, where Perry Corey serves as the vice president. In the summer, he can often be found behind the Calhoun County Cattlemen’s grill, cooking hamburgers and more at community events, or preparing beef meals at the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters at the Iowa State Fair.

Back on the farm, creating a healthy, inviting environment for people, wildlife and livestock is important to the Coreys. They plant food plots each year for wildlife like pheasants and deer.

“I really enjoy nature and seeing wildlife and livestock on the landscape,” said Perry Corey, an avid hunter who helps teach local young people hunting skills.

Conservation also keeps various branches of the Corey family connected. The entire Corey family, including Perry’s sisters and their families, enjoy a pond they built around 2003 near Lake City. While the pond is near a ravine and was designed for erosion control, it also offers a great place for fishing in the summer and ice fishing in the winter.

Conservation practices like this help support the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy by holding soil in place and improving water quality, said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, who honored the 2023 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award winners. “These worthy recipients recognize that the benefits of conservation practices extend beyond their fields, and their leadership encourages others to adopt similar conservation practices.”