March 29, 2024

In the family

Multiple generations of Jasper County locals gather for Heritage Farm, Century Farm awards

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The centerpiece of the Poots family farm in Newton is a giant, almost-three-ton boulder firmly planted in the ground. Jerry and Cynthia Poots are proud of that big stone, which was carved from one of their fields years ago and rolled onto their property. There it will stay for several more generations. Embedded into the surface of the rock is the family’s surname, a silhouetted image of a cow and the year the farm was established: 1869.

For 150 years the farm has withstood the test of time, enduring several harsh winters and difficult harvest seasons from generation to generation. The farm is still seeing practical use today, too. Jerry and Cynthia mostly farm cattle and corn on their 320 acres these days, but there was a time when hogs were raised on the property. Their son, Todd Poots, regularly checks in to lend a hand with chores.

To commemorate their hard work maintaining a farm for one-and-a-half centuries, the Poots family received a Heritage Farm Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Farm Bureau during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Iowa State Fair. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig shook family members’ hands and congratulated them as they made their way onto the stage in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.

Preston Poots-Jacobsen, a sixth generation family member and grandson of Jerry and Cynthia, submitted the application and surprised his grandparents with the news. With fewer generations adopting and maintain their family farms, Preston said the award is a testament to his family’s dedication to routinely return to the farm and work when needed.

Todd added, “We’re trying to enable Mom and Dad to be there as long as they can. We do a lot for them. I take 100 percent of my vacation days to help out on the farm. For me, it’s still enjoyable to get out from behind an office job to go down and help on the farm. I have a different perspective of hard work when I was growing up when I had to do it versus now when I’m helping out.”

The family is still looking toward the future of their farm. Todd’s son, Clayton Poots, is finishing up classes at Iowa State University and has dreams of production agriculture.

“We don’t want it to end at 150,” Todd said.

The Poots family was one of six Heritage Farm Award recipients from Jasper County. Other Heritage Farms from this area include:

• Jim Emmert, Jeff Emmert, Jan Yost and Jo Julian of Sully.

• Mark McConeghey of Monroe.

• Melvin and Karen Poortinga of Reasnor.

• Rodger J. and Ceil Slings of Prairie City.

• Donald A. Swihart of Baxter.

Mark and Jane McConeghey said it was “cool” to see the farm receive the award, adding it was something they were very much looking forward to. Ceil Slings was elated to receive the certification, noting that it “takes a lot to keep a farm in the family for 150 years.” The Heritage Farm Award, she added, was icing on the cake.

Cristen Clark, Slings’ daughter, said, “It’s so inviting to see all these families get together and experience this together. Just think about what this means to the previous generations. Could they imagine seeing seven generations of this farm in one family?”

Also honored at the Iowa State Fair this year were 332 Century Farms, which are required to have been around for 100 years. Three properties in Jasper County received the Century Farm certification:

• Paul W. Gannon Revocable Trust of Colfax — Dennis J. Gannon, Brian Gannon, Patricia A. (Gannon) Holdmeyer and Nina M. Gannon.

• R&Y Rethmeier Family Farm, LLC of Newton — Ronald James Rethmeier and Jeanie Lynn Rethmeier.

• Donald Rethmeir Trust of Laurel — Donald and Joyce Rethmeier.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com