The letters of support that accompany Iowa Master Farmer nominations provide a glimpse at the honorees’ character that has been forged through farming, community and industry activities.
Here’s a look at what friends, neighbors, business associates and others have to say about the 2025 Iowa Master Farmer class:
Roger and Ellen Buehler
“My husband and I and our two sons moved to this community in 2004. Roger and Ellen were some of the first people to welcome us to the community, and we have remained close friends ever since that day. They really helped us acclimate to our new neighborhood and introduced us to many local people.”
—Carmen Witzke, commodity broker
“Roger and Ellen both take great pride in caring for the history of Sac County and maintain the Richland cemetery. Whenever you are in Odebolt or at any Sac County event, it is almost a guarantee that the Buehlers will be there to help or support the event.”
—Lauren Mohrhauser, vice president office manager, United Bank of Iowa
“I would note that Roger was one to always be thinking of how to improve their operation. For example, when he returned to the farm, he worked with the area Extension livestock specialist, Earl Mobley, to develop a program of feedlot closeouts for the 1970s. This morphed into a feedlot monitoring program when it wasn’t a popular thing to do. Today, this has wide acceptance.”
—Maynard Hogberg, professor emeritus, Iowa State University, Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award recipient in 2015
Craig and Patti Hill
“[Craig’s] family, which includes wife Patti, daughter Abbie and son Adam, has been instrumental in allowing for his involvement in [the] Farm Bureau. His strong family support over the years has made it possible for him to be absent from the farm and livestock operation and be a leader in Iowa agriculture.”
—Will and Deb Frazee, 2017 Iowa Master Farmers
“Craig often participates in field research trials on his farm. His participation has led to better production information for his farm as well as all Iowa farmers accessing the research results.”
—Marty Schwager, executive director, Iowa Farm Bureau
“Throughout my years as a Farm Bureau employee, Craig and Patti have also showed genuine concern for employees and members of the organization, asking how our families were doing and extending their congratulations on family and career milestones. Forging those personal connections with staff as well as Farm Bureau members helped maintain [the] Farm Bureau’s place as Iowa’s leading grassroots organization during Craig’s tenure.”
—Tom Block, Iowa Farm Bureau news services manager
John and Joan Maxwell
“Rotary International’s signature goal to eradicate the wild polio virus from the face of the planet inspired John to travel to India with a Rotary delegation, which administered the polio vaccine to children. With the onset of the Russian-Ukraine war, John and his wife Joan have sponsored five Ukrainian refugee families who fled the fighting so that they might live in peace here in the United States.”
—Jeff Ashcraft, president and CEO, Empowering Abilities
“Because of their leadership skills and insight into where the dairy industry is going, they have helped the Jersey breed to be one of the most sought-after dairy breeds in the dairy industry.”
—Allan Klema, Big Gain Dairy nutrition adviser
“I have had the privilege of working closely with the Maxwells for over 25 years in my capacity as their agronomist. What sets them apart is their unwavering focus on soil conservation. They were among the first in our area to join the Soil Health Partnership, underscoring their commitment to improving the health of their soils.”
—Scott Madden, agronomist for the Maxwells
Stan and Karmen Mehmen
“We are lucky to work with some of the best production managers in our market area. Stan and Karmen Mehmen would be considered one of the best managers, from a production standpoint, in our area.”
—Steve Willemssen, president, First Bank
“Stan and Karmen have always helped their neighbors when in need. When I was laid up for a week, Stan had arranged for his hired man to come to my farm and help with my livestock and take care of any needs until I was on the mend. This was done without expecting or asking for help. It was because that is what good neighbors do for each other.”
—Ron Leerhoff, neighbor and farmer
“You won’t find a farm family more committed to innovation on their farm than the Mehmens. In addition to piloting autonomous grain carts, they are pioneers in carbon capture and regenerative farming practices.”
—Daryl Pohlman, member coach, UnCommon Farms