DES MOINES — The Van Manen family of Kellogg will be named as one of five recipients of The Way We Live Award at the 2009 Iowa State Fair.
The family will be honored in an award ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 10:30 a.m. in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center on the Fairgrounds.
The Way We Live Award, new to this year’s Fair, recognizes industrious Iowa families who demonstrate a daily dedication to animal agriculture and exemplify farm values derived from hard work and a love for the occupation of farming.
Entrants were asked to submit a short essay describing how living on a farm and choosing the occupation of farming has shaped their family’s life.
Five recipients were chosen from a pool of 32 entries representing a variety of commodities and locations throughout Iowa.
The Van Manen family farm dates back to the late 1920s. Today, nearly a century later, parents Kevin and Julie and their children, Jacob and Emily, continue to maintain a sustainable operation raising Holstein steers and hogs.
Each member of the family helps out with chores, fieldwork, gardening, mowing and preparing meals. In addition to their hectic schedule on the farm, both children are heavily involved in basketball and baseball leagues as well as their local 4-H chapters.
Julie spends her mornings teaching math in the Sully Christian School District before heading back to the farm to help with public relations.
The family’s favorite part of farming is opening up their home to their non-farming neighbors - anyone from Boy Scout troops to city relatives.
In addition to being honored in award ceremonies during the Fair, the Van Manen family will receive a prize package including admission to the Fair and $150 cash.
“State Fair Time” in 2009 is set for Aug. 13-23. For Fair information, call (800) 545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.