Welsh Family to be Honored at Iowa State Fair

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The Welsh Family

DES MOINES, IA (07/08/2010)(readMedia)-- The Welsh family of Lansing, Iowa, will be named as one of five recipients of The Way We Live Award at the 2010 Iowa State Fair. The family will be honored in an award ceremony on Saturday, August 21, at 10:30 a.m. on the Christensen Farms Stage in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. "Non Stop Fun" is set for August 12-22.

The Way We Live Award recognizes industrious Iowa families who demonstrate a daily dedication to animal agriculture and exemplify farm values derived from hard work and a love for the occupation of farming. Entrants were asked to submit a short essay describing how living on a farm and choosing the occupation of farming has shaped their family's life. Five recipients were chosen from a pool of entries representing a variety of commodities and locations throughout Iowa.

The Welsh Family Farm has been dedicated to land preservation and raising healthy livestock for three generations. Gary and Kim Welsh and their adult son Clinton raise approximately 120 beef cattle and 12,000 turkeys while farming 600 acres of crops in one of Iowa's leading organic family farming operations. Clinton was honored with the Gen-O Award in 2008 from Organic Valley, a major purchaser of the Welsh's livestock products. The award recognized his dedication to farming and educating others about organic farming through the open discussion forum he helped found with other area organic farmers. In addition, The Welsh family takes time to give back to their community through their founding of and involvement in the Lansing Blackhawks 4-H Club when their two sons, Clinton and Clayton, were in grade school. Both sons competed several years at county and state fairs, showing animals and further promoting the organic farming lifestyle that is central to this family farm.

In addition to being honored in an award ceremony during the Fair, the Welsh family will receive a prize package including admission to the Fair and $150 cash.

The Iowa State Fair is set for "Non Stop Fun" August 12-22, 2010. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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