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

DES MOINES, IA (07/13/2018) (readMedia)-- Andy and Lisa Hurd of Nemaha, 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 Saturday, August 11 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.

Andy and Lisa Hurd and their children, Will, Chase, and Sydney live on a Century Farm, where this year marks the 110th year farming. Andy and his wife came back to the farm in 1998 after graduating from ISU with agriculture degrees. Currently, they are farming corn and soybeans on rotation and feeding cattle and hogs. Everyone from the adults to the teenagers plays a role in the family farm with each kid owning their own cow/calf herd, raising 4-H and FFA livestock and owning a sweetcorn, green beans, and pumpkin business. As the kids grow up, they are becoming very important to the different operations of the farm. The busy Hurd family enjoys sharing their message about agriculture and makes farming a family affair. They believe an important part of farming is being a part of your community where neighbors share equipment, knowledge, and support for each other and keep each other successful on the very unpredictable journey called farming.

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.