Do you know someone who deserves to be considered for the Iowa Master Farmer award? Nominate them. Nominations for the 2026 award are due Sept. 29.
Maybe it’s your parents, a sibling, your neighbors, a friend or a colleague. Perhaps it’s someone you’ve served with on a board, or someone you’ve long looked up to. Candidates also may nominate themselves.
Henry A. Wallace started the Master Farmer award program in 1926 to recognize “good farming, clear thinking, right living.” A panel of judges selects the winners each year. Wallaces Farmer recognizes the winners in the magazine’s March issue.
The Iowa Master Farmer program will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. As times, trends and technology have changed over the past 98 years, dedication to agriculture has remained constant among winners of the award.
From 1926 through 2025, a total of 507 Iowans received an Iowa Master Farmer award. Of those, 475 are farmers, 29 are winners of the Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award and three are Honorary Master Farmers.
The application includes a nomination form and requires letters of support — but no financial information. There’s a rumor that Master Farmer nominees have to share their balance sheet. That’s not true. No one needs to provide that kind of financial information. The judging panel focuses on growth of the farming operation over the years, productivity and community involvement.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates should have a profitable farming operation, be good managers and take care of the land while having a strong family and being involved in the community. Who’s eligible? Here’s a look:
- Candidates must farm in Iowa, deriving the majority of their income from agricultural production.
- Successful nominees have ag production records, are recognized leaders in the community and have given back to the community in many ways.
- Candidates may be individuals, couples or siblings; judging is equally weighted.
- Each nominee should be actively engaged in agricultural production.
The selection committee comprises Iowa ag leaders, past Master Farmers, ag research or university specialists and the Wallaces Farmer editor. Candidates who don’t receive the award the year they are nominated are welcome to resubmit nominations in following years. Notify Wallaces Farmer if you would like to amend your nomination in subsequent years.
Master Farmer winners are honored at the Master Farmer Awards Day luncheon in March.
Application guidelines
Here’s a look at what makes for a successful application:
- Be thorough. In the sections asking about farm history and growth, more information is better than less. Share how the individual(s) got started and how the operation has progressed. No detailed financial information is required.
- Get letters. Attach a minimum of four letters of support, including one from a neighboring farmer. These letters give insight to character and reputation in the community.
- Think local. List all things the nominee does in the local community, and in state and national organizations. These lists are often very detailed. For spouse or sibling nominations, list both individuals’ activities, noting who does what.
- Start early. It’s not a quick process to nominate a Master Farmer. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime award, and the application reflects an entire career.
- Think well-rounded. Community involvement is weighted highly as judges select winners, but so, too, is a farmer’s ag production skills and dedication to family. For this, it needs to switch to chrome.
To nominate a candidate, download the form, complete it with letters of support, and send it to gil.gullickson@farmprogress.com by Sept. 29.