Geake Family Receives 2018 Iowa State Fair "Way We Live" Award

DES MOINES, IA (07/13/2018) (readMedia)-- Tom and Kaitlin Geake of Wall Lake, Iowa will be recognized as one of 10 recipients of The Way We Live Award at the 2018 Iowa State Fair. The family will be honored in an award ceremony on Thursday, August 16 at 11:30 a.m. on the Christensen Farm Stage in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center.

The Way We Live Award recognizes Iowa families for their hard work and love of farming. Each family exemplifies a dedication to animal agriculture and strong farm values. Each entrant was asked to submit a short essay describing how the occupation of farming and living on a farm has shaped their life. Ten families were chosen out of forty entries from a variety of commodities and areas in Iowa.

Tom's great-great-grandpa, David Law, homesteaded on 60 acres in Wall Lake in 1877. In addition to row crops, the farm started with registered Holsteins and hogs, and in the late 60's they focused on hogs and beef cows and have added ewes in the last couple of years. The entire family is involved from family member's age 93-years-old to 1-years old enjoying what the farm has to offer and staying active in their community. Tom and his wife Kaitlin along with children Elaina, Claire, June, Cecelia, and William farm with John (Cathy) and William (Lucille) have continued the interest in conservation techniques, built terraces and implemented conservation practices on the farm, like no-till, before it was common. Tom is a certified conservation farmer and enjoys talking to others about conservation needs and practices. Using their land as a display of how conservation practices can be used and how they can be beneficial. They believe that farming is a constantly evolving lifestyle and in order to keep generations coming back you have to practice being grateful, never stop learning, you have to have an innate love for raising animals, seeing crops pop up every spring and see that combine fill every autumn.

The Way We Live Award is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer, Iowa Farmer Today and the WHO Big Show. The award started in 2009 has recognized 62 outstanding Iowa farm families so far.

Each award winning family receives a prize package of $250, complimentary admission tickets, free parking, various coupons and recognition in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center during the Fair.

For more information on past award winners or the current 2018 Way We Live Award winning families, visit http://www.iowastatefair.org/participate/way-we-live-award/.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to Iowa State Fair Moments, August 9-19, 2018. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.